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Developer says State Highway 50 access would make small Salem Hills project financially infeasible
Summary
Developer Dan Schopp told the board the Salem Hills concept for roughly 10 homes does not include State Highway 50 access and that required state intersection improvements would require many more lots to be financially viable; trustees urged further study of haul roads, turning lanes and neighbor impacts.
Developer Dan Schopp of Bear Real Estate Group presented the Salem Hills concept and briefed the Village of Salem Lakes board on whether State Highway 50 access is feasible or necessary. Schopp told trustees the company is not proposing Highway 50 access for the current concept, saying intersection improvements and median work on a 55 mph corridor would make a 10-home plan uneconomic.
"We are not proposing State Highway 50 access," Schopp said, explaining that the size of required improvements would mean "you'd need significantly more homes to make this pencil." He described physical constraints including wetlands, existing guardrail and median cuts and said the state would require engineering and traffic analysis to consider an additional access point.
Trustees suggested alternatives such as adding a westbound turning lane, using a temporary haul road for construction traffic, limiting heavy movements to non-freeze-thaw periods, or having a road bond and documented pre-construction condition for offsite roads. Trustee questions focused on cul-de-sac length limits, emergency-vehicle access, potential road ownership, screening and impacts on neighboring properties. Schopp said options such as a haul road from Highway 50 could be considered for construction access and that developer commitments could include road videotaping and bonds to address potential damage.
Board members did not take a formal vote on access at the meeting; Schopp said he needed clarity from the board on whether Highway 50 access was required before proceeding to engineering, and several trustees urged him to consult with the village engineer and adjacent property owners while moving to the next design stage.
