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Home My WebLink About01-15-2026 City Council Special Meeting MinutesJOINT SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL & DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Thursday, January 15, 2026 Zoom and City Hall, 271 9th St NE, East Wenatchee, WA City of East Wenatchee Joint Special Meeting Minutes 01-15-2026 1.CALL TO ORDER Mayor Crawford called the Joint Special Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2.ROLL CALL Present: Councilmember Stimmel, Councilmember Arnold, Councilmember Magdoff (Zoom), Councilmember Harrison, Councilmember Castellente, and Councilmember Johnson Douglas County Commissioner Agnew, Douglas County Commissioner Sutton, and Douglas County Commissioner Straub. 3.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Douglas County Commissioner Dan Sutton led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. INTRODUCTIONS Mayor Crawford introduced the City of East Wenatchee Councilmembers and each of the Douglas County Commissioners introduced themselves. 5.OVERVIEW OF URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY EXPANSION Community Development Director Curtis Lillquist presented the Land Capacity Analysis for the East Wenatchee Urban Growth Area (UGA), highlighting the projected deficits and excess of housing units throughout different zones. The analysis identified a shortage of acreage of Residential-High/Office Zoning, with a surplus of acreage of Residential-Medium zoning and Residential Low Zoning, with a recommendation of upzoning properties within the UGA (and near existing utilities) to address the high-density housing gap. Staff requested policy direction from the Board of County Commissioners and City Council regarding support for upzoning to Residential-High/Office Zoning, consideration for removing the Mixed-Use designation in favor of Residential-Medium Zoning and the prioritizing of areas for UGA expansion given that not all requested lands could be included at this time. 6. CITIZEN/PUBLIC COMMENTS Public Comment was provided by: o Parks and Fraley Holdings Property o Kyle Steinburg, KTS Development’ o Randy McLandres o Diane Shrebel Please see attachment A for written comment submitted. City of East Wenatchee Council Meeting Minutes 04-01-2025 7. JOINT DISCUSSION: CITY AND COUNTY PRESPECTIVES A discussion took place on the growth projections through 2046 and options for accommodating that growth including increasing residential densities and expanding the Urban Growth Boundary. A consensus was established in support of upzoning the Residential-High Office Zoning and removing the Mixed-Use designation for Residential Medium Zoning. Douglas County Commissioners requested additional time to review the information to provide input regarding the specific areas staff should prioritize for the expansion of the Urban Growth Area. 8. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 0 7:45 p.m. Jerrilea Crawford, Mayor Attest: Anna Laura Leon, City Clerk Jerrilea Crawford (Feb 4, 2026 09:52:48 PST) Jerrilea Crawford n^.fc Public Comment - Parks and Fraley Holdings Property Honorable Mayor and Members of the East Wenatchee City Council, and Douglas County Commissioners, I would like to respectfully address the concerns raised in the recent work packet regarding the Parks and Fraley Holdings property. The first concern noted was that the property lies within the airport overlay zone. While this is accurate, it is important to clarify that the property owners have formally addressed this issue. Parks and Fraley have entered into a recorded aviation easement agreement in September of 2024, which includes a waiver against claims for overflight effects. Pangborn Memorial Airport has confirmed that stmctures up to 50 feet in height are acceptable under this agreement. This same aviation easement framework has also been utilized by Selland Constmction and Sage Homes for the Cascadia North subdivision currently under review, establishing a consistent and accepted precedent. The second concern raised was access to the property. The proposed Cascadia North subdivision will provide the agreed-upon access. That project is being advanced by Selland Constmction and Sage Homes, long-standing local builders who have successfully completed numerous large- scale subdivisions since 1958. Their history demonstrates both capability and reliability in delivering quality developments that meet community standards. Additionally, in the unlikely event that Cascadia North does not proceed in a timely manner sufficient to support development of the Parks and Fraley property. Parks and Fraley retain a recorded access and utility easement from 10th Street through Cascadia North to the subject parcel, ensuring that legal and practical access is secured. For these reasons, we continue to believe this property is well-positioned for responsible development. The proactive steps taken to address aviation compatibility and access demonstrate thoughtful planning and preparedness. This project represents a strong example of development paying for itself, benefiting the community, and avoiding undue burdens on city and county services. We respectfully ask that these facts be fully considered as you evaluate the Parks and Fraley Holdings property and its role in the continued growth of East Wenatchee and Douglas County. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. EXHIBIT A Honorable Mayor and Members of the East Wenatchee City Council, Honorable Douglas County Commissioners, Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment on an issue that directly impacts housing affordability, economic growth, and long-term community sustainability in East Wenatchee and Douglas County. A growing challenge in our region is the scarcity of truly developable land. While land may exist within the Urban Growth Area, its inclusion alone does not make it financially or logistically feasible to develop. Much of the remaining undeveloped property within the UGA is burdened by infrastructure originally designed to support agricultural operations, not modem residential development standards required by the State, County, or City. Logistically undevelopable land has the same practical impact as financially infeasible land — it does not produce housing. This scarcity directly drives up development costs, lot prices, and ultimately the cost of homes for families in our community. One of the most significant barriers is municipal sewer service. Higher-density zoning requires sewer, yet in many cases sewer is not reasonably close in proximity or is prohibitively expensive to extend once required road improvements and other utility upgrades are considered. In some areas sewer lines are undersized and must be upsized at developer expense. In others, pumping facilities are inadequate or nonexistent. Additionally, irrigation district requirements often mandate utility water line upgrades simply due to proximity, further increasing project costs. Our company has encountered all of these scenarios within the past two years. We have invested significant resources in due diligence, engineering, and professional consulting only to discover that otherwise well-located properties are not feasible to develop under current conditions. \Vhen development is directed toward areas with existing or reasonably expandable infrastructure, it creates continuity and efficiency. This benefits municipal districts by expanding their ratepayer base, generating plant investment fees, and improving the long-term stability of utility systems. It also allows housing to be delivered at a more attainable cost. Scarcity is real — it is not an illusion. When fewer acres are financially or logistically developable, opportunity is restricted. Restricted opportunity increases prices. Increased prices reduce housing attainability. By supporting additional developable acres in appropriate locations, our community can grow its tax base, strengthen utility systems, and create an economic engine that benefits the entire Greater East Wenatchee area. Most importantly, it helps restore balance to the housing market so families, workers, and future generations can afford to live where they work. I respectfully encourage thoughtful consideration of land availability, infrastmcture feasibility, and long-term economic impact when making growth and planning decisions. These choices will shape the affordability, livability, and prosperity of our community for decades to come. EXHIBIT A Thank you for your time, leadership, and commitment to the future of East Wenatchee and Douglas County. Respectfully, Kyle Steinburg KTS Development East Wenatchee, Washington EXHIBIT A 5d. 01-15-2026 City Council Minutes Final Audit Report 2026-02-04 Created:2026-02-04 By:City Clerk (cityclerk@eastwenatcheewa.gov) Status:Signed Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAZ69z8eRlrUSeZhGdCDxtOrwAe3p2KE-O "5d. 01-15-2026 City Council Minutes" History Document created by City Clerk (cityclerk@eastwenatcheewa.gov) 2026-02-04 - 2:56:24 AM GMT Document emailed to Jerrilea Crawford (jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov) for signature 2026-02-04 - 2:56:29 AM GMT Email viewed by Jerrilea Crawford (jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov) 2026-02-04 - 5:52:38 PM GMT Document e-signed by Jerrilea Crawford (jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov) Signature Date: 2026-02-04 - 5:52:48 PM GMT - Time Source: server Agreement completed. 2026-02-04 - 5:52:48 PM GMT