Mayor Mike Muzychka is glad development of the Miller Meadows subdivision is finally moving forward.
Last month, town council approved an area structure plan (ASP) for the land. The 40-acre parcel of land is in the south end of town, off 57th Avenue, bordered by 60th Street and 53rd Avenue.
It took three tries over nearly two years to get the ASP approved.
Previous ASPs were rejected because nearby residents said the population density in the development would be too high. Some still expressed disappointment with the density after the latest ASP was given the thumbs-up.
“It’s fantastic, we finally got to a place where we could approve it. It’s great, great news,” Muzychka said.
He says it's an opportunity to create much-needed affordable housing in the town.
“It’s going to create quite a bit more attainable housing, housing that’s a little bit lower end and not quite as expensive,” Muzychka said.
“A lot of these jobs that we’ve got being created by the cannabis industry and other industries coming into town are not huge paying jobs. It’s good to have a base of attainable housing.”
Muzychka says the development will also provide an opportunity to fix a drainage problem in the area.
“In past years, we didn’t have to. This year, we’ve had to pump water out of there in the spring that cost us a bit of money which we didn’t like having to spend.
“They’re going to fix that drainage problem right out the gate and do the stormwater system which will be a great help to the residents and to the town in that area,” Muzychka said.
Doug Bender, president of Enzo Developments (the company developing Miller Meadows), shared Muzychka’s excitement about the approved ASP.
“You know, it’s a good feeling. It’s not uncommon in land development to go through various variations in planning,” Bender said. “It’s great to accomplish this and we’re quite excited to proceed.”
Like the mayor, Bender says Enzo Developments' plan is to offer a range of housing options for potential buyers.
“Our goal is to be able to provide the community with not just large, single-family homes but smaller lots and a diversity of housing,
“What this does is create an opportunity for not just young families, which I think is important for any community but also for senior housing.
“Where do people move to retire? Where do they go when they want to downsize their homes? So Miller Meadows and the plan we have now put forth and has been approved is going to create opportunities for this full spectrum of people,” Bender said.
As for when development is expected to begin, the company is currently doing engineering for the project and needs to obtain a development permit before proceeding.
“I’m hoping that we would be able to have builders start construction in the spring of 2020,” said Bender.
