The town of Coupeville could see more homes cropping up in the next couple of years as a local developer is working on an 11-home subdivision on Pennington Hill.

The new development will be placed on a 3.37 acre plot of land located on Pennington Hill on the west side of town south of Fourth Street.

Dan Miranda, a local builder, said that he would sell some of the lots to others and that he would build homes on other lots.

He added that each home built in his development would be subject to design review. To provide access to the homes, a new road, Albion Street, would be built that connects to Fourth Street.

Miranda crossed a hurdle last week when the Coupeville Planning Commission forwarded the plan to the Coupeville Town Council, recommending approval.

During the Tuesday evening public meeting, concerns about the project ranged from whether the trees would be preserved to drainage issues.

Miranda said that the future of the trees would be left to the individual homeowner.

Interim Town Planner Larry Kwarsick said that drainage and water issues will have to be resolved before the project would be approved. He also pointed out that many of the written public comments about the project also related to drainage and water issues.

The town attached several conditions to the development that have to be resolved before it can go forward.

Miranda has to submit a Large Parcel Erosion Control Plan that controls erosion, sediment runoff and stabilizes exposed soils during construction.

He also has to develop an approved stormwater plan that complies with the town code and Puget Sound Water Quality Standards, and he has to ensure the homes meet water guidelines for fire flow.

The plan was unanimously approved by the commission 3-0. Although all five commissioners were present at their regular, monthly meeting, two of them didn’t cast a vote.

Commissioner Buell Neidlinger recused himself from the hearing because of his friendship with Miranda, who had helped him remodel his house.

Commissioner Jeff Tasoff abstained from voting because he talked with Miranda about buying one of the lots on the hill.

You can reach News-Times reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewstimes.com or 675-6611.