Friday, March 29, 2024

Manson residents weigh in on suggested changes at community council

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MANSON - The Manson Grange was packed for the regular Manson Community Council meeting on Tuesday, April 18.

The main topic for discussion was a suggestion from resident and long time local Bob Knauss to change the height limit from 35 to 50 feet, adding a residential use on the ground floor in the downtown corridor and changing the zoning south of Harris street. 

Although Manson residents filled the room, Knauss commented that the purpose of the meeting was a courtesy for the council and community to come together and make something work. 

“No formal applications have been made, nothing is set in concrete and we’re not trying to ram this through,” Knauss said in the beginning of his presentation. “The [councl’s] job is to represent the community, so you need to voice and express your opinion.” 

Knauss explained that if the new height limit went into effect, 50 foot buildings wouldn't line the lake, or look like a wall. 

“There are lots that it will have an effect, but that is just apart of growing,” Knauss commented. “In general there are three things, the height limit used to be 50 feet but was changed to 35 feet, second, under current zoning residential is not allowed on the ground floor and third, the single family houses now zoned in commercial currently aren’t an allowed use. So some things need to be looked at.” 

Knauss said that no plans that he is aware of are in the works for development. 

“This is the time to come together, there has been nothing formally submitted, so if someone wants to throw a number out there - for height restriction -  we can talk,” Knauss insisted. “There have been a number of property owners that would like to be included in the conversation as well, and some of these people in the current downtown area are interested in a height restriction change.” 

When asked about parking, Knauss said that issue is dealt with at the county level and is a standard of the project that a developer would have to meet. 

Overall, the majority of attendees expressed they didn’t want something to change the character of the town. 

“It is conceivable that when you drive from Chelan to here, you can be driving through a canyon with a Lake House on either side,” one attendee commented. “It will reduce the economic value of the property people built, so what do we want in downtown Manson?”

Manson council member Kathy Blum suggested that the community look at changing a smaller district for the height restriction instead of the whole area being proposed. 

“It could go from Wapato Point to behind the Wells Fargo, and then from the lumber yard to the Wine Girl’s property with a 10-foot setback,” Blum said. “That could create a park or walkway and people would have a walking park and be able to walk downtown. I don’t think anyone should put something to block anyone else’s view, and looking at 40 feet, it would still give a mountain or territorial view. I can’t really see a lot of 50 foot buildings coming out this way the economics don’t support it. But we have to try and develop, maybe at 40 feet. If you were to allow housing in the bottom floor, and not in front of the building, I think that is much more viable and fits business owners needs.” 

Residents are concerned that if the height limit is changed, tall buildings will begin to canvass the all along the lake shore. 

“I’m worried that if we allow 50 feet now, then in 10 years or so they will come back and ask for more stories and then a little Lake Tahoe thing will start here and there will be high rises all along the lake,” one attendee named Teri said. “I bought property here for the view, and I don’t want to look down on high rises, that is my fear. I don’t even know if Manson could support something that we are talking about at all.” 

Another couple, who just moved to Manson from Gig Harbor, said they moved after watching their old town bicker for on similar plans and not come together on a unified vision and advised looking at how Manson wants to grow and coming up with a shared vision/goal. 

“In agreement with having people sit down, we have to realize there are also yes people - in regards to the height restriction - and they are not comfortable or don’t know how to communicate with the no group,’ Mountain View Lodge Co-Owner Kim Ustanik said. “We have talked to those property owners and all of them that we have talked to are in favor of moving forward. These are good people we are talking about that are not looking to make a lot of money, of block any ones views and considering these people want to sit down and have a conversation, having a talk should be considered.” 

“What is the advantage of a 50 foot building then?” councilmember Bob McFadden asked. 

Ustanik offered that if you were a developer, the project would be more feasible if there were some leeway. 

“That extra 15 feet makes a difference, especially if you are putting in view corridors,” Ustanik said. 

“It also allows for some architectural variation, so if someone wants to build out, you will see a sea of flat roofs, but different features make it interesting,” Knauss concluded. “But that decision is not for tonight, no one is coming to a conclusion here, your participation is going to be needed down the road.” 

A decision will thus come at a later date after more meetings with the community. 

The Manson Community Council will next meet on Tuesday, May 16. 

 

Zach Johnson can be reached at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213.

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