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A sidewalk to the school?

In January 2014, West Hills Development submitted a development application to Washington County for an 81-lot subdivision, currently called “Findley Heights,” on a 14.38 acre parcel of land on Saltzman, north of Thompson. The land, part of the old original Findley family farm, is currently owned by Elaine Paul, sister of Ken Findley. Arbor Custom Homes will be building the houses.

A public hearing was held on April 17 to review the application. Among the issues brought up at that hearing was a concern that elementary school students from the new subdivision, who would be attending nearby Findley Elementary, would have no safe way to walk to the school and would have to be bused.

The lot between the proposed development and Findley Elementary is owned by Karl Schmidt, and includes the family residence and some plant nursery operations of Martin Schmidt & Sons. The existing right of way (land adjacent to a road that is available to the county for expansion) between the Schmidt property line and Saltzman Road is no more than seven feet wide. At the time of the hearing, Arbor stated that they were willing to construct a pathway along the right-of-way, but that they had not yet reached an agreement with the Schmidts about any additional land to increase the width and improve the safety for kids on the way to school.

The hearings officer, in the decision published on July 1, required Arbor to, “use its best efforts to obtain County Engineer approval to construct a pedestrian pathway and associated improvements across the street frontage of property at the south to provide pedestrian access to Findley Elementary School.”

Neighbors were concerned, because the county decision also stated, “Should the applicant demonstrate to the satisfaction of the County Engineer that it is not practicable to construct the pathway either by obtaining the necessary approval from the property owner(s) to the south or within the existing right of way, the applicant shall not be required to construct the pedestrian pathway.” Some neighbors said they would appeal the decision to ensure a path is constructed between this subdivision and the neighborhood school.

West Hills/Arbor has created preliminary plans for a five-foot-wide asphalt path that would fit inside the right-of-way. They have received a letter of approval from the Beaverton School District stating that the plan satisfies the District’s request for pedestrian access to the school. Reportedly the County Engineer is satisfied that these preliminary plans will meet county requirements as well.

Dan Grimberg, Director of Land Development for Arbor Homes, says that they are still working with the Schmidts to increase the width of the path to a full sidewalk by purchasing a little more land along the frontage. “Karl and Julie Schmidt have been great to work with, and want to work out what’s best for the community,” he said. These agreements mean that the development can go forward without the likelihood of an appeal from community members.

Arbor has generally been responsive to community input regarding their many local developments. We hope the full-width sidewalk is available for the children who will live in Findley Heights. The project is scheduled to begin construction in Summer, 2015.

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