Chelan City Council approves revised code for accessory dwelling units

CHELAN – Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Isenheart led the Chelan City Council Jan. 8 regular meeting in which they tackled various items on the agenda.

The council heard from the Lake Chelan Arts Council’s members on two sculptures that could adorn Chelan’s streets in the future. For $15,000, the Huckleberry Daze, a “life-size, more realistic, but non-threating grizzly bear,“ created as a limited edition bronze sculpture was offered to the Arts Council.

The grizzly bear, will be placed where the Cougar sculpture currently sits, on Woodin Ave. in front of BC MacDonald’s. The price of the Huckleberry includes, delivery and installation by the artist.

Barb Koenig of the Lake Chelan Art Council also informed the council on a small sculpture that was recently donated to the Arts Council. “It’s called Hunter Warrior and it’s beautiful,” she said, “the Board voted to donate it to the City.” With the City’s help the Arts Council will purchase a stand to place the sculpture in, which will then be placed in the library.

Planning Director Craig Gildroy presented a motion consideration for accessory dwelling units. “The proposal revises the existing accessory dwelling code that currently allows attached ADUs within single family zone without a permit and in the downtown attached and detached accessory dwelling units,” he said.

The revisions made to the code will provide additional housing options within the City of Chelan, to promote efficient land use by increasing the residential density without extending City’s utility and road systems,  to provide potential income for property owners, to increase housing including affordable residential units and to provide consistency within the dwelling units in all zoning districts.

“We are using the Downtown code as the base, it has the standard codes in it … we made some specific requirements in each zone but we point back to the Downtown code,” said Gildroy.

Gildroy answered questions and addressed concerns the council had. “It’s good, it adds flexibility and options to people and it helps increase density as well diversity,” said councilmember Tim Hollingsworth.

After the discussion, the council voted to approve the revised requirements, no one was opposed.

Parks and Recreation Director Karen Sargeant addressed to the council the three year Lake Chelan Sailing Association Marina use agreement.

Most of the agreement is the same, “however, there was a clause put into this agreement about the storage of the boats … if the City deems another use more appropriate or beneficial to the City … the Sailing Association has 60 days to vacay that property,” said Sergeant.

The clause was added as a request from the City’s administration, “it’s giving them enough time for them to come up with a plan of where to store their boats.”

Councilwoman Kelly Allen, was not a fan of adding the clause to the agreement. “This has been an ongoing long relationship that we have had with them and it has value to our community. I feel that if we are going to replace them or utilize that location for other purposes, we should as the City take the responsibility in helping them find another place for those boats … I want to make sure we are being delicate on this agreement with them,” Allen stated.

The agreement, is a win-win for everyone explained Sargeant.  “It’s just a matter of covering the City’s interest, that’s all that is and I have been talking to them in length through the last three years,” Sergeant added.

City Administrator Mike Jackson informed the council that the Sailing Association has reviewed and signed the new agreement. With that being said the council moved on and voted on approving the agreement with them with no other questions raised.