The day the asphalt was laid in a 20-lot subdivision west of Craig was the most exciting day of developer Jay Oxley’s life.

He thinks his wife will understand.

Oxley and his partner, Mike Anson, submitted their sketch plan in January 2004, and it will be at least two weeks before the subdivision — the city’s first in 20 years — is complete.

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“We’re darn close,” Oxley said.

The Overlook Subdivision, at the end of Ridgeview Road, is the first phase of what Oxley hopes will be a large subdivision. He has developed seven of the 65 acres he owns. When the first lots are sold, he will continue to develop more.

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“If these sell like we think they will, then we’ll start on the next ones,” Oxley said.

And he has no doubt that will be sooner rather than later.

“Everyone just feels we’re just on the edge of growing,” he said.

The last time there was major development in Craig was 20 years ago, and it has taken that long to fill the lots that were created then. Oxley has owned the property since 1994 and just now feels the time is right to develop them.

“I’ve been sitting on (the property) ever since then waiting for the right time,” he said. “We hope it’s the right time.”

Available lots will range from 9,000 to 18,000 square feet and will be in the $35,000 to $50,000 price range.

There will be covenants in place that prohibit manufactured homes and set landscaping requirements and square-footage requirements. All homes will have to have some brick or stucco, and no propanel roofs will be allowed.

“We want people to have variety, but at the same time, we want it to be the same so property values stay high,” Oxley said.

He and Anson will act as the homeowner’s association until 50 percent of the lots are sold and a homeowner’s association can be put in place.

The subdivision will not be an extension of Ridgeview, Oxley said.

Two of the lots are spoken for, and Oxley said he has received nearly 40 calls from those interested in the others.

“There has been lots of interest, but I think people are waiting to see if it gets built,” Oxley said.

It has been a learning process following regulations that haven’t been in use for 20 years, he said.

“No one has had to go through the process, so it has been a learning experience for everybody,” he said. “None of us have gone through the paper process with the city.”

The experience has prompted a look at the city’s subdivision regulations. The city has retained Katers and Associates to help do that.

“We’re starting with subdivision regulations because we’re seeing a lot of subdivisions,” Building Inspector Dave Costa said. “We’ll make (the new regulations) as clear and understandable as well as precise and accurate.”

He said there are several inconsistencies and contradictions in the existing regulations. He expects the subdivision regulations to be ready to present to City Council by Aug. 15.

Another development is planned west of town and developers are talking.

“I just smile and say ‘I hope you have as much fun as we had,'” Oxley said. “It’s a long process.”