Cottage Grove OKs annexation.

Byline: DEVELOPMENT REPORT By Joe Harwood The Register-Guard

COTTAGE GROVE - The City Council last week approved an annexation proposal that will allow developer Todd Alberts to bring about 90 acres of residential land into the city.

Alberts, who is also working on subdivisions elsewhere in Lane County, is planning a 250-lot subdivision on property just outside the northwest corner of Cottage Grove's city limits, west of Hidden Valley Golf Course.

The tract approved for annexation by the City Council is less than half of the total property Alberts purchased from the Hibbard family on Nov. 19.

Alberts bought two parcels from the Hibbards totaling 186 acres for $4.3 million, according to deeds on file with Lane County. Alberts then transferred the property to Sunrise Ridge LLC, financing the deal with a $5.5 million line of credit he obtained from MML Properties Inc. of Springfield, according to deeds. Alberts said Sunrise Ridge is a partnership between himself and MML - whose principals include Dennis McNally, Randy McPherson and Greg Leach.

Only the approximately 90 acres proposed for annexation is inside Cottage Grove's urban growth boundary. Obtaining approval to expand the boundary north to encompass the remaining acreage would be an expensive, complex process requiring not only a thumbs-up from the city, but from state land-use regulators as well.

Even though the city approved the 90-acre annexation request, Sunrise still must get the OK from the county Boundary Commission.

The southern portion of the land is fairly level, but begins to rise toward the northern edge, up the south side of Mount David. The city's comprehensive land use plan designates the property for low-density residential use.

Alberts said he hopes to get started this summer on the 80-lot first phase of the development. He said the planned community eventually will include four distinct neighborhoods with homes selling for $170,000 up to $300,000, depending on location.

Alberts also is finishing the 27-lot second phase of Hidden Valley Estates subdivision, east of the 186-acre parcel. Those lots are selling in the $70,000 to $90,000 range, with a handful well more than $100,000, according to deeds.

Alberts isn't the only developer interested in the Cottage Grove area. Immediately to the east of Sunrise Ridge, sandwiched between Mount David and the golf course, is a 65-acre parcel owned by Eugene developer Ross Murry and four minority partners.

Doing business as Emerald Heights LLC, the group raised the ire of some Cottage Grove residents two weeks ago when crews moved in and cut down most of the trees on the butte in preparation for building a single-family development with as many as 200 lots.

Murry said clearing the trees and brush was inevitable, and that leaving a few trees up presented a safety issue because of possible blow-downs.

"Most of the people I know, including some who live in the neighborhood, recognized (that development) was going to happen at some point in time," said David Hemenway, a Cottage Grove real estate broker and a partner in the venture. "Even though they are not happy about it, they understand."

About three-fourths of the property goes up the southeast side of Mount David, with views of the golf course. Hemenway said an annexation application is in the works. Murry said he hopes to begin site preparation work this summer. The property is inside the city's urban growth boundary and is designated for residential development.

Hemenway led a group of buyers who purchased the property in 2001 for $460,000, according to deeds on file with the county.

Development Report runs Tuesdays. To suggest items, contact Joe Harwood at 338-2364 or [e-mail].