Early last year, when test pits were dug by developer William Buchan Homes in and around Sammamish’s Chestnut Estates without the developer first obtaining a permit, neighbors were not happy.

Buchan developed Chestnut Estates in 2010 after a 13-year approval process. When Chestnut Estates was developed, 8.3 acres was set aside as permanent open space. But when the earth started to move on that open space last year, neighbors took notice.

The city required Buchan to restore the property to its former condition, requiring re-planting.

“It’s beginning to look like a forest floor again,” said Evan Maxim, Senior Planner for the city, who visited the property in November with planner Mona Davis.

The property is close to Ebright Creek, a kokanee habitat, which saw a significant run of the fish in November due to a combination of factors including ideal lake conditions, heavy rains at the end of October, the Issaquah Hatchery’s supplementation project and a new culvert installed by long-time neighbor Walt Pereyra.

The kokanee returning to the creek added a whole new twist to Buchan’s plans, Pereyra said. “It highlights the importance of Ebright Creek.”

Maxim said the city has received letters from the Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie tribes, the Lake Sammamish Kokanee Work Group and the Washington Department of Fish and Game expressing concern for the kokanee in Ebright Creek and the affect the development will have on the fish.

Maxim said Buchan is still pursuing Chestnut Estates West, the new phase to the project, and that the city is still reviewing plat and design components. He hopes some decisions will be made by the end of the month. When the city has enough information to make a recommendation, Maxim said the plan will most likely be turned over to a hearing examiner.

Although the 8.3 acre piece, known as “Tract K,” was intended originally as open space, Maxim said Buchan may want to relocate some of the open space for better protection of the creek.

Greg Nelson, land development specialist for Buchan, said it is still pursuing the application. Nelson said Buchan received 70 comments from the city in August 2012, all of which they responded to by November. Nelson said most of the inquiries by the city were just details.

“There are several open space tracts in this proposal,” Nelson said.

Nelson said it’s now a re-plat of the old plat. The lots will all be generous in size, like the original Chestnut Estates, with 15,000 to 20,000 square feet. The proposed homes will be similar to those in Chestnut Estates he said.