The sixth and final phase of the Tofte Farms residential subdivision on the south side of town was unanimously approved by the Canby Planning Commission last week.
The final phase will include only 16 additional homes, situated on a 4-acre parcel of existing farmland just south of SE 13th Avenue. On the original Tofte Farms development, this was the property’s northeast corner, and it still holds a series of large barns just off South Redwood Lane, which will be demolished to allow for the residential build-out.
The size, shape and even number of the lots was more or less defined by the size of the parcel and the existing roads that serve the Tofte Farms development. As one of the developers put it at the meeting, this was “the project the roads designed.”
Under the plans approved by the Planning Commission, the developers will extend SE 13th Place, SE 14th Avenue and South Redwood Street, and will also improve a portion of SE 13th Avenue that fronts the property, including right-of-way dedication and new sidewalks.
One property in the extreme northeast corner of the Tofte Farms development is owned by someone not involved with the development, so SE 13th Place and South Redwood Street will dead-end at the boundaries of their property for the time being.
No one spoke in opposition to the development, and only one member of the public spoke at all. Canby resident Bob Cambra said he was neutral on the project, but is concerned about the nearby intersection of South Ivy and 13th.
As it turned out, the Dec. 9 meeting of the Planning Commission was that board’s final meeting of the year. A public hearing had been scheduled for Dec. 23 on a proposed 90,000 square foot cooler storage, warehouse and office building in the Canby Industrial Park, which would be the new home of Tualatin-based Caruso Produce.
But Planning Director Bryan Brown announced last week that the hearing would be pushed back to Jan. 13, on account of the developer needing more time to prepare.
