Chelan Board of Commissioners adopts 12 zoning related ordinances

The Chelan County Board of Commissioners met for a public hearing on January 31 and continued on February 7 to further discuss zoning and proposed Urban Growth Area Amendments. The proposed Leavenworth Urban Growth Area Amendments contained 14 ordinances that were meant to regulate land use in Leavenworth. 12 ordinances were adopted, however, two of the items on the docket were not passed. These ordinances (1650 and 1651) mostly related to the rezoning of Urban Growth Areas RL10 and RL12 which would be downsized to the R8 district to create smaller parking lots. According to the Comprehensive Amendment Plan Staff Report, the R8 district “permits single family residences, duplexes, and accessory dwelling units, with a minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet” (Comprehensive Plan). This leaves residents near Skill Hill Drives slightly relieved, as the news relates to creating unwanted lots near the residential areas and rezoning portions of the land. Another important ordinance (1654) was adopted to establish the Affordable Housing Incentive Program which sought out to encourage construction of housing that is affordable for workers of the service industry and those with low or moderate incomes. They are seeking to incentivize development with regulations that “are modified pertaining to density, lot coverage, front yard setbacks, alley access, parking, and design standards” (Comprehensive Plan). Ultimately, this hearing allowed for the Commissioners to agree upon changes for zoning and housing issues that will affect the town in a multitude of ways.