After years of delays attributed to the recession and sewer issues, developer Randy Hall said Thursday he expects to begin construction on the first phase of his Cressmoor Estates subdivision this summer.

“We’re finally drawing this long-winded process down to putting a shovel in the ground,” Hall told the plan commission.

“My hope is to have shovels in the ground this summer,” Hall said.

The Hobart Plan Commission unanimously approved the preliminary and final plat of the proposed 234-lot subdivision, with the conditions that a third party inspect the infrastructure, a surety bond be placed with the clerk-treasurer and a 20-year preliminary plat be approved.

City planner Sergio Mendoza said the first phase of the development would consist of 38 single-family homes where Lake Park Avenue and Rand Street intersect and head north on the 113-acre property.

The planned unit development will be on the former Cressmoor Country Club property.

“It’s been a long, long process with quite a number of hurdles to cross. Once it’s on its way and completed I think this will be very, very beneficial to the community,” Councilman John Brezik, D-5th, said.

Hall had asked for several deferrals on the project during the Great Recession, taking it back several years. The lack of a sanitary sewer was another drawback.

The city’s sanitary/stormwater board is installing a sanitary sewer that will serve Cressmoor Estates and nearby areas as part of a bond it issued to pay for several projects throughout the city.

City engineer Phil Gralik said the sanitary sewer should be operational in about a month.

In other matters, the commission approved an amended site plan and final plat for the proposed 48-lot Eagle Creek Crossing subdivision to be at the northeast corner of Arizona Street and 61st Avenue. The approvals were made with several contingencies, including that a surety bond be placed with the clerk-treasurer, a temporary fence or barrier be installed and drainage issues be mediated.

Luke Oil received approval to build a gas station and convenience store at the northwest corner of Ridge Road and County Line Road, contingent upon the delineation and mitigation of wetlands if necessary.

“This will be a great improvement to that corner,” Councilman and plan commission member Dave Vinzant, D-4th, said.

Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.