Saying their plan won’t pencil out, developers of The Grove want to almost double the number of lots in the Coles Road development in Langley.

The city gave the green light to the 24-lot residential subdivision on Coles Road last year. But the developers, Pacific Crest Partners, have come back to the city for approval to increase the number of lots in the new neighborhood.

Developers proposed to carve 46 lots out of the property, up from the 24-lot subdivision approved by the city. The change would also reduce open space from 23 acres to 20.66 acres.

“Yes, we have approached the city to request additional lots for Grove,” said Bob Libolt, principal of Pacific Crest Partners.

“We have completed most of the clearing for the roadways and trails, constructed the trails and rough graded the roads. Having completed this work and more extensive cost and market analysis we have concluded the project with only 24 lots is not financially feasible,” he added.

But plans for the housing project may change again. Representatives from Pacific Crest Partners, which is based in Bellingham, met with city staff last week to discuss the proposal and will now resubmit yet another proposal, said city administrator Walt Blackford. The exact number of additional homes is not clear at this point.

Libolt said factors for an amended housing project include the need for a new water reservoir and a new sewer lift station.

It was also evident after road grading was completed that there was a good opportunity for additional lots by using the existing street and utility layout, Libolt said.

“There are many good reasons for the city to reconsider the 24-lot limit,” he added.

The city’s growth plan and the state’s Growth Management Act require dense development.

“And with the clearing and trail work already completed on the site, there is a better opportunity for the city to actually see how these additional lots could be accommodated without adding any significant impact,” Libolt said.

Last year, the city approved development on the 40-acre property, and approved the plan for a mix of clustered residential housing, open space and public and private trails.

Concern is growing in Langley about the proposed change. A public hearing on Nov. 1 set for the new request has been cancelled at the request of the city council.

The council will discuss the Grove on Nov. 15, but it will be a presentation by the developers instead of a public hearing. The meeting is open to the public.

The most outspoken people opposed to the original Grove were nearby homeowners living outside of Langley. The clear-cutting of the property, that is still ancored in the memory of many, remains a sore point for some in Langley.

The company acquired the property after completing an 18-month process to annex this property into the city of Langley. While construction of a public and private trail system and rough grading for the project is completed, Pacific Crest Partners wants to modify the layout of the subdivision before proceeding with infrastructure construction.

The 40 acres were annexed to the city of Langley in 2005, and several conditions were set for the developer in the annexation agreement. The development was limited to 24 single-family homes, and the city required that 30 acres be left as open space.

To make changes now, the annexation agreement would have to be amended.

The timing of the amended plat will depend on the city’s process to first amend the annexation agreement, and then consider a new preliminary plat application.

The developers say that increasing the number of homes could lead to lower housing prices within the project.

“It was our hope that we could make the 24-lot project work, but we now believe the costs will force the lot prices to a level that will result in homes that are unaffordable to most Langley and South Whidbey residents,” Libolt said.

Homes would likely be priced in excess of $500,000.

“That was never our intent for The Grove. The additional lots will make it possible for The Grove to be a much more affordable option for Langley,” he said. “How affordable will depend on the number of lots and other conditions the city would include in any change to the plat.”

“We are also exploring a way to involve a land trust in a portion of the plat to help even more with the affordability challenges,” Libolt added.