Washington County planning commission approves Timberline Estates Part III, forwards residents' concerns to supervisors

On March 25, 2025, the Washington County Land Use & Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the Final Plat of Timberline Estates Part III but directed that residents' concerns about stormwater, road improvements and well impacts be forwarded to the Washington County Board of Supervisors for follow-up.

Chairperson Andrew Hora opened the meeting and said its purpose was "the approval and public comments regarding the final plat of Timberline Estates Part III." Scott Ritter of Hart-Frederick Consultants presented the layout, saying the subdivision will have one entrance through the neighboring subdivision, a short gravel approach and internal roads that are seal coated. Ritter told the commission that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had been on site and had approved the project.

Developer Todd Hahn said there are "approximately 50 homes" in the earlier Timberline subdivisions. Hahn and attorney Joseph Moreland said the development will have central water and individual septic systems, and that well permits must be obtained from the DNR; the DNR will withhold a permit if it finds the wells would harm neighboring supplies. County Engineer Jacob Thorius told the commission a road improvement agreement for 135th Street will go before the Board of Supervisors next week; the county has not yet received a bond and no exact cost estimate was available.

Thorius described upgrade triggers included in the agreement: after 12 lots are developed the county requires 135th Street to be improved to a chip-seal surface on a stabilized base from Hwy 218 to the first Timberline entrance; after 20 lots the developer and county will enter a five-year maintenance agreement. Ritter said additional right-of-way—"approximately fifty feet"—has been dedicated for future improvements. The developer has installed catch basins and added silt fencing beyond what was required, Ritter said, to reduce runoff risk.

Neighboring residents raised several objections. Resident George Gerot asked whether the new plat would increase flood risk for homes in Timberline Estates I and II; Ritter said it would not and noted DNR review, and Thorius said the developer's engineer had signed off and the Final Plat meets Washington County's subdivision requirements. Gerot disputed those assurances and cited a prior court ruling in his favor after a neighbor redirected stormwater onto his property; he warned that "if there isn't any additional mitigating that this will result in another successful ruling in his favor but those who approve the plat would be involved." The commission did not overturn the plat on that basis and instead forwarded the concerns to the Board of Supervisors.

Other public concerns included the short dirt approach that Parton said would carry mud onto improved roads and create safety risks, and a question from Barb Simon about whether additional wells could cause a water shortage. Parton said he had been told the approach would be gravel the entire way; Thorius did not recall that conversation. Commissioners noted the local fire department had signed off on the subdivision plan.

Commissioner John Trier moved to approve the Final Plat; Layne Twinam later moved to amend the approval so that public concerns would be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors. On a unanimous vote the commission approved the plat with public concerns forwarded for supervisory review. The next procedural step is the road improvement agreement scheduled for the Board of Supervisors' consideration.

The commission adjourned at 6:48 p.m.