Lakeside 6 subdivision's development slowed by rains

JMC Homes' venture north of Venture Drive and Foskett Ranch has been mired in mud.More than three months ago, the homebuilder began grading the site for a new subdivision, Lakeside 6. But with all of the recent rainy weather, further development of the 105-acre site has been stalled."We haven't put any pipes in the ground yet," said JMC Homes' John Mourier IV.Crews are waiting for dry weather, and Mourier admitted he did not know when the infrastructure would go in.Despite the rainy weather, Mourier said JMC Homes is still on target to open model homes in August.JMC Homes has 257 lots in the Lakeside 6 subdivision, while Premier Homes has 149. The city of Lincoln owns 52 lots, Mourier added.JMC Homes plans to build one- and two-story single-family residences, Mourier said. The homes will range in size from 1,500 square feet up to 3,200 square feet. There will be three- and four-bedroom models, with two or three baths, and two-car garages.Mourier said the company has not decided upon a price for the homes yet."We do not set a range or actual prices until a few days prior to a community's grand opening," said Lorie Steel of JMC's public information office. "Anyone registered for e-news on the JMC Web site, www.jmchomes.com receives information, including grand opening, release and pricing information first."Mourier noted the first occupancy of the homes is expected late this year or in early 2007.Among the amenities planned for the development are a couple of neighborhood parks, Mourier said.The parks will be an acre in size or less, said Rod Campbell director of community development for the city of Lincoln. They will have perhaps picnic benches and a small tot lot play area.Originally, the city planned to use its 52 lots for the development of a regional park, Campbell said. The proposed future regional park was part of the city's General Plan and the Lincoln Air Center program, he added."It's only 13 acres," Campbell said of the city's property, noting the city decided it was too small for everything the city wanted to locate in the regional park and will sell it.The city ended up purchasing 40 acres elsewhere in the Foskett Ranch development, adjacent to the Foskett Ranch Elementary School, which opened last fall. Eventually, the regional park will have four soccer and baseball fields as well as a pool complex, restrooms, picnic areas and playground equipment."It's pretty elaborate," Campbell said of the regional park's design.Lincoln City Manager Jerry Johnson said the city expects to open bids for the first phase of development at the regional park in May. Construction of the ball fields, restrooms and picnic facilities could begin in July. He added the fields would be ready for use by the summer of 2007.The pool complex is not part of the first phase, and Johnson added he did not know when it would be constructed.The regional park is in close enough proximity that Lakeside 6 residents will be able to utilize its facilities, Campbell said, citing one reason why the two neighborhood parks planned for the subdivision are so small and lacking any major play structures or ballfields.- Richard Myers can be reached at richardm@goldcountrymedia.com.