Four partners have a plan to subdivide and sell eight lots of lakefront property on Lake Totten to prospective homebuilders.
The proposed lots would be the first homes directly on the lakefront. The parcel for the lots actually extends into Lake Totten. Cap Allen, a partner with Totten Land LLC, said he, his wife and another couple purchased the 38-acre property from Empire Electric Association Inc.
Allen said the partners decided to divide the property into eight, 1-acre lots and to keep the remaining 30 acres as common land for the eight families.
“You could chop it up into eight parcels, but that means the lakefront becomes unique and private to that parcel, and we thought it was too valuable a resource to do that, so lakefront becomes common to all eight owners,” Allen said.
The Montezuma County Planning Commission on Thursday night voted unanimously to send a positive recommendation for planned unit development application. There were a few concerns discussed, including the specifics on how that common area would be managed between eight homeowners and members of the public.
“It’s going to create some problems in this community, I’ll tell you that,” commissioner Bob Clayton said.
Allen said the covenants, conditions and restrictions for a homeowners association have not been drawn up at this point, but he said he imagines light public use of the property would be allowed, like walking or fishing near the shore.
County Planning Director LeeAnn Milligan said in an interview that one of her concerns is making sure that the septic tanks are compliant and engineered correctly so nothing hurts the lake. But Allen, who is an engineer, has worked with the health department and Milligan said she’s confident it won’t be a problem.
“Their only concern is making sure the infrastructure is stable,” Milligan said.
Allen said the eight homes will have four driveways. The county road department has approved the project. He said the four partners will not be involved with the homebuilding process. Rather, they plan to sell the lots to individuals who want to build custom homes.
“The pattern in Montezuma County seems to mostly be what they call custom homes, which is an individual lot owner buys the lot and then has a builder build it,” he said.
After hearing details from Allen, commissioners expressed support.
“It’s a great idea, it’s a great fit for that area, I believe,” commissioner Kelly Belt said.
The planned unit development proposal will now head to the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners for final approval.