By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Williston City Council members have given preliminary approval to Country Lane Estates, a 100-lot major subdivision in the northwest portion of the city.
Preliminary plat approval means A-Plus Homes doing business as Armstrong can begin permitting and engineering the subdivision, but the company will need final plat approval by the city council before lots can be sold.
The vote to approve the preliminary plat was unanimous though Councilwoman Debra Jones made it clear the developer must abide by city requirements for minimum lot sizes.
City Planner Laura Jones said 71 lots would be located inside the subdivision and 29 outside the subdivision. She said many people remember the subdivision as Ghost Town.
She said the developer would have to address traffic impacts on adjoining streets and neighborhoods and the developer will be encouraged to connect the subdivision to the city’s natural gas utility.
The subdivision is located off NW 4th Ave. between NW 4th St. and NW 7th St.
Common areas and drainage easements will be conveyed to the Country Lane Estates Homeowners Association for management and maintenance of those areas.
Surveyor Steve McMillen, representing the developer, reminded council members that the subdivision existed under another name 16 years ago before the economy collapsed.
“It was called Park Place. We never did call it officially Ghost Town but that’s how everyone knows it,” McMillen said. “It became Park Place – 96 to 100 lots. It got approval for the preliminary plat. Right about then the economy crashed and the whole thing went away.”
McMillen said the subdivision should be a good addition to the Williston economy.
“We’re back up and running again. It’s going to be a big one. It will bring a lot of people to town, bring a lot of people we can hire, a lot of people to sit on boards. This ought to be a good, good solid thing for the city in the long run,” McMillen said.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the preliminary plat. McMillen said the preliminary plat met minimum lot sizes two weeks ago when the advisory board recommended approval.
McMillen said the city council probably won’t see him again regarding this subdivision for a year and a half. The engineer, deputy city manager, and McMillen will have regular communication behind the scenes before he comes back for final plat approval.
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Photo from City of Williston Agenda Packet Country Lane Estates
City of Williston Regular Meeting March 2, 2021; Posted March 5, 2021
