by Richard Uhlhorn
Agritourism code amendments:
After months of debate and discussion the Chelan City Council unanimously approved the Agriculture Based Short Term Rental Code ordinance.
The proposed code changes went through an arduous process by the Planning Commission who reviewed the proposed udates to the Agricultural Tourism Code at meetings on April 17, May 15, July 17, August 21, September 25, October 16 and November 20, 2024.
A public hearing was held on November 20 to receive public input on the code amendment. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendments including the retention of a five-acre minimum lot size. On February 25, 2025, the City Council held one more public hearing on the amendments.
The recommended amendments can be read in the following chapters of the Chelan Municipal Code
Chapter 17.46 – Special Use District Chapter
17.47 – Agricultural Tourism Chapter
17.77 – Short-Term Rentals Chapter
17.56 – Conditional Use Requirements (introducing new provisions for agriculturally based rentals)
The new amendments to the code will permit small scale, agricultural based short-term rentals within the SUD (Special Use District), providing the property meets the following criteria: a minimum lot size of 5-acres with at least 51 percent of the property used for agriculture.
GMA 2025 docket:
City Council unanimously approved the 2025 Growth Management Act Comprehensive Plan Docket along with several other amendments.
Each year the City updates its annual work plan under the GMA. This year the docket includes work on climate resiliency, housing affordability, zoning code refinements and infrastructure planning. In addition, there are several development regulation amendments that remain in the docket.
Most interesting is the Housing Action Plan which will focus on alternative housing types, density incentives, and accessory dwelling unit flexibility.
Interlocal agreement for legal services:
City Administrator Wade Farris reported that the Chelan/Douglas Regional Port Authority was requesting an additional $1,000 from the City to continue its legal efforts against the state to contain the illegal diversion fuel taxes for the purposes. “They have been diverting these funds illegally,” said Farris. The City authorized $1,000 last year towards the effort.
The Council approved this expenditure.
Indigent Criminal Defendant legal services:
City Attorney Quentin Batjer reported that Kottkamp, Yedinak & Esworthy, PLLC defense of indigents arrested in Chelan has exceeded the Primary Attorney’s quarterly caseload limit and needs to assign overflow to Hankins, Tibbits Law Firm who has agreed to accept the excess caseload at a cost of $600 per case.
Apparently the overflow is due to an increase of property theft at WalMart.
Ecology funding for sewer project:
Chelan Public Works completed a funding application in the fall of 2023 for a sewer main replacement project from Don Morse Park to Columbia Street from SR150 to Lift Station No. 1. The City’s application was approved and awarded in 2024.
The City staff is working with the Department of Ecology (DOE) on the scope of work, grant and loan administration, design and construction, construction management and change order allowances.
The $5,411,000 funding amount is on a 20 year repayment plan at 1.2% interest.
The Council approved the motion to finalize the agreement with DOE.
Administration reports:
Public Works Director Jake Youngren reported that Public Works opened six proposals for the downtown water and sewer pipe replacement project and has accepted Selland Construction’s bid of $2,468364.92. Selland Construction was the second lowest bidder n the project. Ascent Foundation and Moore bid $2,420,103.37, but had several anomalies on their bid which led to the City rejecting it.
Interestingly, the bids came in below the Engineers Estimate.
Landscape architecture for lift station 1 is something the Public Works Department has been working on. Lift Station 1 is located at the northeast corner of the Woodin Avenue Bridge at the entrance to Riverwalk Park.
The above ground structure will be removed and the lift station will go underground with landscaping to help disguise it. “We are collaborating with the PUD,” said Youngren. “We are amending the current landscape element to what their goals are for landscaping and our needs,” he added.
Councilman Tim Hollingsworth asked if Youngren had any concerns about groundwater table. Youngren replied, “We are confident we will be able to construct subsurface without a problem.”
Speed limit reduction on Hwy 97A. Youngren stated that Public Works is looking at reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph from city limits to SR 97A mile post 231and from mile post 231 to 232.88 to 35 mph. From there to mile post 233.66 to 30 miles per hour and from there to 25 mph t mile pst 234.49 before the speed limit resumes to higher speeds.
“It is kind of a confusing ordinance,” said Youngren. “I will come back to you. We’ve been working with all the property owners.”:
Wayfinding signs. Community Development Director John Ajax told the council that the planning department has been working on the wayfinding signage for 10 years. “The signs are waiting to be installed. We didn’t know that we were going to have a Lakeside Trail,” said Ajax. “We need to repurpose the signs with the Lakeside Trail.”
The signage will go from Lakeside all the way to the Lookout. Youngren stated that downlake winds could be problematic and they were looking at brackets to withstand high winds. Mayor McCardle asked what the next step was? Ajax said he has to get together with the city engineer.
Proposed 2025 budget amendment No. 1. Finance Director Jackie Tupling presented the Council with the first budget amendment of the 2025 fiscal year.
City Council will reconvene on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
All Things Lake Chelan 