Lance Pogones and Jonathan Olson are moving closer to seeing their proposed Turtle Creek Estates residential development become a reality.

At Tuesday's regular meeting of the Mower County Board of Commissioners, the five-member board gave its unanimous approval to the next stage of the development.

The developers are seeking to develop 96 lots in the rural area for homes estimated to cost more than $250,000 each. If successful, the development would be the largest of its kind in the greater Austin area.

Acting on advice from Mower County Attorney Patrick A. Oman, the commissioners scheduled a public hearing for both a preliminary plat and an environmental assessment worksheet on the project for 10 a.m. Nov. 26.

Pogones and Olson appeared before the county board Tuesday with their attorney, Craig Johnson. The three said the developers want to begin road construction for their proposed residential development along the banks of Turtle Creek traversing the Lansing and Austin townships' dividing line west of Austin before winter.

Daryl W. Franklin, county planning director and zoning administrator, said the developers are meeting all the required conditions of their conditional use permit.

David Hillier, 3rd District county commissioner, questioned plans for surface and sub-surface drainage from the 2.5-acre lots to be developed around cul de sacs and the developers and their attorney said they were working with the Turtle Creek Watershed Association on the best method for storm water considerations.

Johnson said the closest feed lot to the site is that of Larry and Sue Rasch and that his clients are beyond the minimum required distance from the farming operation.

The Mower County Attorney was able to convince the commissioners that a pubic hearing requiring first a preliminary plat would be advisable before scheduling a hearing to consider accepting the development's final plat.

Richard P. Cummings, 1st District, and Ray Tucker, 2nd District, said they both wanted more information and that a preliminary plat's hearing would be the opportunity to collect it.

Tucker wants to know about the developer's plans to construct retention ponds and their proximity to Turtle Creek.

Cummings wants the Turtle Creek Watershed Association kept abreast of the developers' plans for drainage into the creek.

The developers agreed to comply with the requests by the Nov. 28 public hearing.

In other action, the county commissioners:

n Approved request from Diana DeBoer, Lyle city clerk, to change use of tax-forfeited property in Lyle from recreational to residential along Fifth Street. This marks third time the Lyle Economic Development Authority has taken over tax-forfeited properties and developed them into residential housing.

n Gave Mike Hanson, Mower County highway department engineer, permission to take delivery and pay extra $1,575 of two new tandem dump trucks. The trucks will be accepted without box or wing plow blade and help the county avoid paying a premium interest amount to the manufacturer.

n Rejected offer to allow construction of billboard on county property along Interstate 90.

n Heard county engineer report on progress of 18th Avenue NW reconstruction. Blacktop paving of south double-lanes could begin by week's end. Four-way traffic stop at the U.S. Highway 218 intersection may continue through winter. Tentative plans call for ribbon-cutting ceremonies this fall and a formal grand opening of the project next year, when decorative street lighting, sidewalks and other improvements are made.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com