Port advances agreement for proposed O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Cashmere

CASHMERE — A commercial development proposal tied to the same Cashmere parcels that drew significant public backlash during a failed Dollar General proposal earlier this year may soon return to the table, this time anchored by an O’Reilly Auto Parts store.

During a May 26 meeting, the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority authorized staff to move forward with a new purchase and sale agreement involving property in the Cashmere Mill District, where developers are now exploring construction of an O’Reilly Auto Parts location rather than the previously proposed discount retailer.

Port CEO Jim Kuntz said the prospective project would involve the same general development group that had pursued the Dollar General proposal before ultimately withdrawing.

“[But] this is not Dollar General,” Kuntz told commissioners during the meeting. “This is O’Reilly Auto Parts.”

The earlier Dollar General proposal generated organized opposition in Cashmere, where residents circulated petitions, attended meetings and raised concerns about the potential impact on downtown businesses and the community’s character. The proposal was later withdrawn before construction moved forward.

During the May 26 discussion, commissioners and staff acknowledged that while cities can regulate zoning, infrastructure and land-use compatibility, they generally cannot prohibit specific types of businesses from locating on commercially zoned property if the proposed use otherwise complies with city code.

Discussion during the meeting suggested the proposed auto parts retailer may not generate the same level of resistance that surrounded the earlier discount-store proposal, particularly given the site’s longstanding commercial zoning and location within an already developing business corridor.

Commissioners emphasized that the Port’s role centers primarily on development agreements, infrastructure coordination and ensuring proposed projects align with permitted land uses.

The proposed development remains in its early stages, and final site plans and permitting details have not yet been completed.

Kuntz said the project would still need to proceed through the city’s normal review and permitting process before any construction could begin.

The Cashmere Mill District has become one of the Port’s most active redevelopment areas in recent years as former industrial properties continue transitioning into a mix of commercial and light-industrial uses.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media