INDIANOLA — After 12 years of planning and court cases, a major goal has been achieved for the property owners of the White Horse development.
On July 25, the Kitsap County Hearing Examiner approved the preliminary plat to subdivide 450 acres into 224 single-home lots through phased development.
The proposed planned unit development (PUD), located near the intersection of Indianola and South Kingston roads, also includes a golf course.
JoAnn Vidinhar, a planner with the Kitsap County Department of Community Development, said the public has until Aug. 8 to appeal the decision to the county commissioners.
If no appeal is filed, property owners Robert and Janet Screen will be able to apply for a final plat decision.
The preliminary plat shows how the developers are going to meet the conditions of the PUD, Vidinhar said. There are 45 stipulations that must be met, including county regulations on utility facilities, soil studies, stormwater drainage and road construction. Once the preliminary plat is approved, the developer will then present the plat to the county commissioners for final approval.
If approved, the developers can then apply for a site development activity permit, which allows them to begin pushing dirt on the site, Vidinhar explained.
Hearing Examiner Stephen Causseaux wrote in his July 25 conclusion that the preliminary plat was consistent with the previous proposed plats, including the site plan that was submitted at the public hearing in 1996. This plan includes changes and amendments approved by the county commissioners.
The Screens said they were pleased with the decision, yet overwhelmed by all the support they’ve received.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the response,” said Robert Screen. “Some people say ‘Hey, way to go.’ Some people are wondering how they can buy a lot. Some people are asking when they can play golf.”
“We knew we had support from the community,” Screen added. “This was just a nice chance to find out.”
Screen said he expects Charlie Burrow and Jim Halstead of the North Kitsap Coordinating Council to file an appeal to the decision, as they have done so for every decision made on the property in its 12 year history.
Burrow said he does plan to appeal and the he believes the Hearing Examiner did not properly analyzed the issues brought up by the coordinating council.
In related news, an appeal hearing will take place Aug. 14 for the DCD issuance of a site development activity permit for the golf course, Vidinhar said.
