Plans are advancing for Madrona Ridge, a middle-income housing development, which could add 167 single-family homes to Port Townsend in years to come.

The proposed subdivision is being developed by Montbanc Management and will be situated on 40 acres of land bisected by Rainier Street North of the Discovery Road and Rainier Street roundabout.

The proposed neighborhood will have sinresidential lots ranging in from 3,600 square feet to 5,951 square feet, according to the development company’s environmental review.

The terrain of the 40-acre lot is a rolling landscape with slopes up to 25 percent, along with seven wetlands on-site, according to application materials submitted to the city. The wetlands make up around 34 percent of the property.

One of the first parts of the development project will be stripping the site, grading roadways to remove potholes and irregularities, installing utilities, and forming stormwater ponds.

Montebanc Management is aiming for the proposed neighborhood to be a middle-income subdivision, according to the developer’s environmental report.

“This is not an affordable housing project; it’s going to be market-rate housing,” said John McDonagh, senior planner for the city of Port Townsend.

According to the development company’s marketing letter, the neighborhood will include “Victorian-themed” features around the subdivision.

“Madrona Ridge will include Victorian-type elements such as street lighting, benches, public promenades, and other site features incorporated into the subdivision consistent with the existing historic character of Port Townsend,” the developer’s marketing letter said in the permit application.

Montbanc Management did not respond to The Leader's request for comment.

Before lots can be sold, the 40 acres of land must be connected to water and sewage lines provided by the city of Port Townsend.

“There’s a lot of infrastructure that they would be installing. Typical things like roads, water, sewer, and stormwater [infrastructure],” McDonagh said.

After connecting water and sewer lines, extensions and improvements to the existing Rainier Street will be added along with a 50-foot-wide public road named Madrona Boulevard, which would connect the subdivision to Rainier Street, according to the developer’s environmental review.

The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe has reviewed the proposed location of the subdivision, but has not cited potential cultural artifacts or resources on the land.

“The Tribe has no information regarding cultural resources within the project area of potential effect at this time,” said Allie Taylor of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in an email correspondence with the city.

The housing development is expected to break ground sometime in June 2022 after the permitting phase is complete and the project passes a hearing examiner review.

The development period for the project is expected to be around 18 months to complete infrastructure requirements and before putting lots on the market, according to Monbanc’s environmental report.

Another proposed benefit is the addition of numerous paved multi-use trails spanning 3/4 of a mile around the subdivision. The new trails will connect to the existing ones along Rainier Street.

The city’s review of the project is expected to wrap up soon.

“We expect to be through with permitting with them in late February, early March,” McDonagh. “We’re going to make sure it complies with all city codes.”

Multiple public comments were submitted on the project, with some pointing out potential problems with the land’s development.

“Besides seeing all that wooded area being torn out, I am concerned about adding more market-rate housing when most people in Port Townsend can’t afford it,” wrote Kate Nichols. “When people are paid $15 an hour or even $20 an hour, they can’t afford to buy a $400,000 to $500,000 market-value house.”

“Given how desperately our city needs affordable housing … and then reading the development plan, I’m unsure if this development will help meet that need or not,” noted Rebecca Kimball.

“As a classic sprawl-style development, we are concerned about the significant climate impacts of the Madrona Ridge project,” wrote John Talberth of the Center for Sustainable Economy.

To learn more about Madrona Ridge, visit cityofpt.us/development-services/page/madrona-ridge-lup21-064-21-066-21-067.