Despite controversy over its relative location with regard to Apex Airport, Kitsap County Hearing Examiner Kim Allen recently approved Scott Delhaute’s proposal for a 151-home, 76-acre housing development on Anderson Hill Road — with a few stipulations.
“The conditions of approval are just fine and as we expected,” Delhaute said. “We are very happy that the hearing examiner has approved our project.”
Resistance came from the Apex Property Owners Improvement Association when the development was first proposed because association members were concerned about losing their airport due to complaints filed by would-be residents of Delhaute’s neighborhood.
Sterling Hills Estates, as it will be known, is being developed by Delhaute’s Silverdale-based company, Sterling Custom Homes, and Delhaute is confident he’ll have homes available by fall 2010.
“It is our goal to begin plat construction in the spring of 2010,” he said. “We should have affordable, energy-efficient homes coming to the market in the fall of 2010.”
Delhaute said the project will not only have 151 homes, but the nature and beauty of the wetland areas will be preserved and used to enhance the peacefulness of the area.
“The project will have walking trails on site, recreational facilities, serene meadows and a peaceful country environment, yet be close to shopping, restaurants and entertainment,” he said.
As part of the stipulations, Delhaute has agreed to upgrade a turn signal at Provost and Anderson Hill roads and build sidewalks and bike lanes inside and around the development.
The next step for Delhaute is financing.
“Now that we have our approval we are going to be better able to get our project funded, which we think will happen in the next couple of months,” he said. “We have been working with several lenders who see the potential for a successful project here in Silverdale which is the No. 1 real estate area in the nation according to “US News and World Reports,” June 2009.”
Delhaute said the approval of his project means a big boost to the economy of Kitsap County.
“We will help to stimulate the local economy by injecting over $30 million through the creation of new jobs, hiring of subcontractors and purchases of building materials from local suppliers,” he said.
And Delhaute said his project will continue to help Silverdale and the county earn more revenue even once the project is complete.
“Our project will be of great benefit to Kitsap County,” he said. “We will generate approximately $500,000 of revenue every year in the form of property taxes for local government which can be used to improve schools, roads and emergency services.”
Delhaute said there is a need for affordable housing in Silverdale and he feels he can supply that need.
“When was the last time you could buy a new home in Silverdale for $280,000?” he asked. “It has been many years. The citizens of Silverdale want and need more affordable new housing. We will build that for them.”
