River Bend Drive homeowners press city council on access to KOA

There is a new road being constructed which would provide a new entrance to the KOA campground, located behind Safeway in Leavenworth. River Bend Drive homeowners have long advocated this, hoping, at long last, the campground traffic would no longer be routed through their neighborhood.
However, the dander of the River Bend folks was raised a bit recently when city officials opined the River Bend Drive access to KOA should be kept open to service vehicles, not completely closed.
Local attorney Steve Demarest addressed the Leavenworth City Council on Dec. 12 representing the River Bend Park Homeowner’s Association, which is about 33 residences. He explained they are not voters for the city, but they are in the urban growth area, so are entitled to the benefits of the Leavenworth Municipal Code or LMC.
“We’re thankful for the work that has been done by the Planning Commission and by the city council on a matter that is important to us which is the access of the KOA through the River Bend Drive,” Demarest said. “We have different roles on this. The KOA ownership, quite properly, came before staff and said we’d like to see changes to the code. We have experience with the code and here’s what we would like to recommend.”
Demarest said staff correctly vetted those changes trying to figure out what was good and bad, then moved it to the planning commission.
“That was done in this case with respect to access through River Bend Drive. We’re perfectly happy how that happened. The next step in the process was 2016, as it relates to our issue. It came to the planning commission. The planning commission had a recommendation from staff to eliminate something from the code which prohibited campground access through a residential street,” Demarest said. “We participated in that process. Our voices were heard. Other voices were heard. The planning commission voted unanimously to reject the changes proposed by KOA and proposed by staff.”
The planning commission recommendation came to the city council.
“We participated in that process, as well. Not only the evening session, but also the planning session in the morning. We were shepparding this process through, making sure our voices were heard,” Demarest said. “Our voices were heard and the council voted unanimously the LMC would continue to have the prohibition that says, campground traffic shall not go through a residential district.”
There is a conditional user permit pending on the campground, Demarest said. The campground wants to build their new road and continue to use the existing road, he said.
“We don’t want that to happen. We don’t think the LMC allows it to happen. We’re disappointed Joel Walinski (city administrator) wrote a letter in the name of the city of Leavenworth. Got to the hearing examiner saying the city’s position is, the city would like continued access through River Bend Drive for service vehicles,” Demarest said.
Demarest said they don’t feel this reflects the will of the planning commission or city council.
“We’re disappointed and we’re concerned and we’re asking for the city council to make sure its staff executes the policy that is derived at after the political process that we’ve participated in,” he said.
Outspoken River Bend resident Duane Goehner said he was concerned about the city stating opinions outside of the LMC that violate the clear intent of the code.
“This relates to the plan that to close the entrance to KOA from River Bend Drive due to the traffic, the people, the animals and all the things up there. The other issue relates to promoting a position that would potentially violate a previously agreed civil contract,” Goehner said. “You know what I’m talking about. I think it is really important.”
The River Bend Park Homeowner’s Association and the KOA have had an agreement, Goehner said.
“Seems like some of the statements that have been recently made have threatened or made that questionable. That is a concern to me. I feel like the best things to do when communicating publicly is to quote the LMC related to issues,” Goehner said. “I hope the council will consider, when statements are made, if the can keep to the LMC, it would be appreciated.”
These comments were made to the council as part of the meeting set aside for topics not on the city council agenda. City staff and the city council took these comments without providing a response.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.