Manson Community Council debates on Blackcap Farm support

MANSON – Blackcap Farm representatives were present at the Manson Community Council meeting on Sept. 18 to request the council’s support for the Sept. 19 hearing.

“Blackcap Farm has come out and spoken to the public, there’s an email I received from Guy and it has information and details about the process and I have the staff report right here from the County,” said Council Chair Kim Ustanik.

“The staff has recommended approval, it is a good report of the public process, the modifications and the plan they have taken place in response to this project,” added Ustanik.

She clarified that Blackcap Farm requested that they make affirmative vote or statement on these things, “the project fits into the zoning as prescribed by the Community UGA in 2009, the project has followed all applicable rules and has modified details in line of public comment, the project offers needed housing to Manson community, the project features an inclusive design with trails and open spaces that connect it to the larger neighborhoods, said Ustanik.

Real Estate agent Guy Evans, developer Ed Gallaudet and architectural designer/engineer Jonathan Davis, were present to answer any question the council had regarding Blackcap Farm.

The first to talk was Evans, “the project has come a long way .. it doesn’t allow any vacation rentals as we discussed, we are just here to request the support from the council.”

Both Kathy Blum and Kathy Miller did not get a chance to look at the staff report before the meeting. Due to this a member of the public requested the council to postpone making a decision that night and waiting for the next meeting.

“The hearing is tomorrow, so depending on what these folks right here say or agree to, if there is a comment, it would be made by us as a group or we would decline to make a comment. Those who have had the opportunity to read or will read it tonight will have the opportunity to make their own individual comment,” replied Ustanik.

Regardless of this request by Blackcap Farm, Miller stated that she addressed a letter to the Chelan County Department of Community Development. “I did have concerns, basically being an orchardist, I really have a problem with the prime development being so close to an active farming orchard. They said that they were going to advise to whoever bought the homes in that area that there will be an orchard practice next to them … I still have a concern with rental properties, I think it is neat idea but they could only have 30 day rentals which I find it very hard to enforce … I have a great deal of concern with the closeness of the homes and not having adequate position for the EMTs and emergency department to get close to a fire and the homes being so close together,” said Miller as to what some of her concerns were.

Along with that, Miller stated, “I don’t think there has been adequate notice of the public hearing, I heard some people were not even aware that this meeting was going to be due on the 19.”

Miller informed the representatives that Brian Patterson made the council aware that the hearing was going to take place, she also stated that the County didn’t informed them about the hearing until about a week and a half ago.

“Knowing that the community was so against this project before, I would like to see another open meeting just to receive some information … I would support this project if we had another open meeting,” Miller said.

On the other hand Kathy Blum stated, “I agree with Kathy’s point on the housing being near the orchard and the practices that are going on there.  My problem is, one gentleman was killed there this summer because he was walking in the middle of the street in the dark and numerous times this summer, there were people walking on Manson Boulevard towards Manson and I watched a lot of people hit the brakes, go around. I am not saying that it is Blackcap’s responsibility to build sidewalks all the way to town, it would nice if it was, but I think the County is out of mind in not having adequate infrastructure to go with these type of developments that are going up on a rural area.”

To Blum Blackcap Farm, “is nothing like Manson has, Manson is little country town, this is just going to stick out. It is nothing like in this community or in Chelan.”

Member Jorge Valencia also added to the conversation, “since the last meeting, did you guys do any chances based on the concerns people have on the project, any changes at all?” he asked.

Davis answered, “there’s a list conditions that were attached to the staff report which kind of address many of the concerns that were brought up, soil issues, sprinkler fire, traffic, all of that is in there.”

Gallaudet claimed that changes were made based on four different presentations to the public, “since then we have been tweaking things and addressing concerns and have been put in the report. We have been refining it, I do want to say one of the requirements for the rentals is not a 30 day but a 90 day rental period.”

Since Secretary Jeremy Jaech was absent at the meeting, he left some comments for the council. Ustanik read Jaech comment on this issue out loud, “number one I support the Blackcap Farm as I currently understand it, I will be fine with either providing a letter of support or just stating we do not have any issues with it.”

“We as a council should vote on whether or not we are going to send out a letter,” said Blum.
Blum wants the planning department to be aware of the fact that a lot of community members feel that they were not given adequate information that addressed issues and concerns for such a large project such as this one.

To add to this Miller asked the representatives if they ever considered hosting another open community meeting.

“The project has been discussed for over a year so … I think we are all struggling with limited amount of time resources … we have to make some decisions and get some work done,” Evans said.

“It is clear that two perhaps three of you are not in support of the project based on your believes and on other’s that you talked to and that’s a valid point that needs to be heard by the county. I just don’t know the council well enough to know which of those two it is,” he added.

Evans also hinted at the council that they should put all their personal opinions aside and see pass them, “they have done everything they need to do.”

To this comment Ustanik responded, “I am going to avoid giving any personal opinions at this time, but I would like to express that at least as far as I understand, the process in the County whether they stumble all over their own feet and fall on their faces, they are struggling right now … at this point the Manson Community Council is supposed to be representing the community, we are the pulse and the opinion and as Kathy said as far as she can understand it, it appears that you guys have done what you have been asked to do, you have done your indulgence according to the rules and County and whatever the case is and there are feelings, our role is to give our perspective on how our community feels about something.”

A couple of community members had comments and questions regarding the development.
Sarah Cushing reported to the council that she attended all Blackcap Farm meetings and that the concerns from the community had to do with vacation rentals, house density and affordable housing. “Where is the declaration that says there are not going to have rentals? Where are those declarations? I read the staff report and it is not in there,” asked Cushing.

“They are being drafted and we do not finalize them until typically we are building the houses and things,” replied Davis.

“One of the conditions is that the rentals are 90 days or more … we will make sure it’s written there and the CCNRs will have to support that. So will make sure that condition is there, it will run with the land,” added Gallaudet.

Blackcap Farm committed to change from vacation rentals to long term rentals  back in May.
Gallaudet also clarified that only a week ago the staff report was issued and that was when they saw it, “we have been going through it every day, making sure everything on that report is to our understanding what we are expecting.”

Brian Patterson didn’t agree with some of the items listed in the report that the representatives claimed they have met.

John Olson from Chelan was also present at the meeting, “we are going to see more of these developments and all of these are changing, its going to look like something different when all this happens,” he stated.

At the end the Manson Community Council agreed on passing a motion in which they stated their position in regard to Blackcap Farm.

In conclusion, they were in  agreement with the notes provided in the report, however there’s concern with not providing enough notice to the community from the Planning Department and there are other concerns that remain, including failure to hold an additional community meeting.

In other business:
    •    The Manson Community Council revisited the Bob Knauss re-request for text change regarding residential on lower level behind main roads once again after the County requested the council to say something about it. After further discussion the council approved to drafting a letter to approve the text amendment to only allow the properties Bob Knauss is representing to have residential on ground level.