NCW Real Estate Blog

The May Building Insight Magazine from the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) has, on page 4, an article about a court case where the Eastern Washington Growth Board ruled that Kittitas County’s development regulations violate the Growth Management Act because they allow rural densities of one home per three acres. 

The Seattlebased left wing environmental group, Futurewise, has taken its anti-growth agenda over the mountains into central Washington. The group filed two lawsuits against Kittitas County within the last year alleging the County’s regulations violate the Growth Management Act (GMA). [Read more →]

Tags: General Interest, Land Use by Al Lorenz
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After discussing the issue at numerous meetings since February, a majority of Chelan County PUD commissioners voted Monday to allow more permits for private docks over PUD-owned land on Lake Chelan and the Rocky Reach reservoir.

Commissioners Norm Gutzwiler and Werner Janssen voted against the proposal. Janssen stated that he did not feel the resolution was fair for the majority of customer-owners. He said, “Since we spend so much money mitigating fish problems, it just doesn’t make sense to allow more docks.”

Gutzwiler did not comment on his vote. Supporting the measure were Commissioners Ann Congdon, Randy Smith and Dennis Bolz.  

The Water Street area in Chelan may be reconsidered later, as the city in the process of determining its interest in a possible “micro” park there.

The resolution contained the following conditions:

• Continue to issue permits for private docks on PUD-owned land above and below the water;
• Charge market rates for permits, with adjustments at least every five years — and as often as annually if the market changes abruptly;
• Continue a 90-day cancellation provision, but add that it would be for District need. 

Tags: General Interest, Land Use, Local by Al Lorenz
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From the PUD today:

Following more discussion on the policy allowing permits for private docks over PUD-owned land on Lake Chelan and the Rocky Reach Reservoir, commissioners asked staff to present a final proposal for a decision on May 12.  The policies discussed Monday are available here and are worth a look.

Commissioners reviewed options from staff and listened to comments from five community members on Monday. They also agreed to exempt the Water Street area in Chelan from the policy until the city determines its interest in a possible “micro” park there.

Commissioners asked staff to prepare a resolution that [Read more →]

Tags: General Interest, Land Use, Local by Al Lorenz
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The Manson Sub Area Plan meeting was very well attended last night.  It was standing room only at the Ray Bumgarner building with several folks standing in the back throughout the meeting. 

There were a number of new faces who gave lots of great testimony and opinion to the Manson council.  There are folks who are worried about growth and change in almost every way imaginable.  A couple of young families who own acreages said they would like to be able to divide and build their homes on their property.  There were a few orchardists who talked about having some flexibility that would allow [Read more →]

Tags: Land Use, Local by Al Lorenz
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The Wenatchee World reports in this article that the County Commission went ahead and approved some rezones in Sunnyslope and south of Wenatchee that the City Community Development Director opposed.  It goes on to state the points of view of the City’s new Community Development director and the Commissioner’s points of view. 

Never fear for Mr. Smith, City Community Development Director, being the only city employee who may not agree with county policies.  Public Works will have their opportunity to find out how badly the county commissioners, and the county citizens, want to tax themselves to build Wenatchee a new bridge across the river. 

Tags: Land Use, Local by Al Lorenz
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The City of Wenatchee is accepting applications to consider amendments for the 2008 comprehensive plan updates.  The applications need to be into the Department of Community Development no later than March 31.

Tags: Land Use, Local by Al Lorenz
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You gotta love these guys!  I found something that may have been on the Chelan County Website for a long time, but I just noticed it today.  With the sun coming out and more visitors starting to frequent these parts, it is worth pointing folks towards.  It is based on western writer Zane Grey’s code of the West and gives a good perspective between living in Chelan County and other, more urban areas.  The link I found was on the Chelan County Board of Commissioner’s page and states:

It is important for you to know that life in the country is different from life in the city. County governments are not able to provide [Read more →]

Tags: General Interest, Land Use, Local by Al Lorenz
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Despite all of today’s national news that January saw a continued decline in the housing market, this is the story that caught my eye!  Of course, readers of this blog already know that in the Chelan market, January was not a bad month.  They also may not be surprised that growth management is driving up the price of housing.  But, did you know in Seattle that developers are offering condos as small as 298 square feet, and they are selling [Read more →]

Tags: Land Use by Al Lorenz
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That’s what the Wenatchee World says in yesterday’s article on the avalanche stricken house near Lake Wenatchee.  But, I wasn’t convinced by the article.  It doesn’t say when the house was built, but Kahler Glen has been around since the late 1980’s according to the history section on their web site and the geo-tech report was from 1993.

Of course, a bunch of insurance companies and attorneys will probably eventually litigate to some sort of conclusion of blame or financial responsibility for the destruction of this home.  I don’t know how things worked in Chelan County in the 1980s, but today the decision of which lots  [Read more →]

Tags: General Interest, Land Use, Local by Al Lorenz
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There have been a couple of recent studies that show how much regulation has driven up housing prices in the Seattle area as well as a study I just read showing how high housing prices have impacted the entire economy in Boston.  Wages have been driven down and wild housing price fluctuations have been a result of regulation of the housing supply in Boston. [Read more →]

Tags: Land Use by admin
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