Posted: 8/24/04
Easement, plat approved
County commissioners approved a plat north of La Crescent and an easement for a cell phone tower near Houston at their August 18 meeting.
The plat was for Horse Thief Ridge north of Crescent Hills and south of the former Lautz orchard property in section four of La Crescent Township. It has 22 lots on 50.4 acres.
Developer Joe Van Alsten said that it will be the first subdivision in La Crescent with turn-abouts that have islands in the center. ìIt really works well for the emergency vehicles.î
Commissioners Larry Graf and Kevin Kelleher expressed concern with the steep slopes on parts of the plat. Developer Rick Beyer said that two lots are not buildable because they are too steep, but most of the lots are quite flat. Each lot will have individual septic systems. There will be two community wells.
ìThe slope is the particular issue for me,î Kelleher said. ìWeíve had some disasters.î Graf added that issues like erosion are a concern.
Van Alsten said initial buyers understand those issues, but the problem comes when the lot is re-sold.
Graf said the added traffic on La Crescent city streets will be a concern for the city.
Cell phone tower coming to Houston
The board also approved an easement request from Midwest Wireless to access property that they are leasing from Kenny Ranzenberger to build a cell phone tower in section 28 of Houston Township. There is already a road on the site.
ìAnd when is it going to get there, thatís what I want to know,î Kevin Kelleher asked at the August 17 meeting
ìThey actually want to get started next Tuesday [August 25],îCurt Walter, who does site acquisitions for Midwest Wireless, responded.
Caledonia Argus
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