Proposed temporary ice rink prompts city planning questions, not policy changes
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Summary
A for-profit group seeking to run a seasonal ice rink near Leavenworth Adventure Park asked the council to allow temporary commercial facilities on private land; council and staff said existing conditional-use and permitting routes — not an immediate code change to event permits — are the appropriate next steps.
A private group seeking to operate a temporary ice rink in Leavenworth asked the city council on Sept. 9 for a code change to allow for‑profit temporary events on private land and higher temporary structure size limits. The applicants said the rink would run a seasonal program for community users and visitors and that they plan local discounts and school partnerships.
The request matters because current Leavenworth special-event rules allow temporary events on municipal property and non‑profit events on private land, and the applicants asked the council to amend that restriction so the rink could operate on leased private land. Leavenworth officials and planning staff said the proposal raises land‑use, traffic, lighting and stormwater questions that are typically addressed through conditional‑use permitting or a development permit rather than an event permit.
Leavenworth Sports Arena representatives Zoltan Sabati and Michael Cummings presented the plan. Sabati said the group is pursuing a temporary facility across from Leavenworth Adventure Park and described community-focused programming including discounted passes for local youth and school access. Cummings, a member of the Steamhill Heritage Foundation who has worked on rink efforts since 2008, urged the council to focus permit requirements on demonstrable community benefit rather than nonprofit status, saying, “I think the city of Leavenworth should focus on the scope of the special events permit, not on nonprofit or for‑profit status.”
City planning and public‑works staff responded with procedural guidance. Planner Megan and public‑works staff Bradley explained that the city’s zoning code lists “commercial amusement enterprise, low impact” (examples include skating rinks) as a use allowed with a conditional‑use permit. Staff also noted the proposed site is outside city limits and under county jurisdiction; the county told applicants it would likely defer to the city’s permitting approach but may require city comments. Bradley said technical studies — traffic, geotech, lighting and potentially SEPA (environmental) review — would be required for a facility of the size shown in the applicants’ materials. Staff recommended the group pursue a conditional‑use permit process (or county equivalent) and, if needed, request variances or temporary easements rather than a one-off amendment to the city’s event code.
Council members asked about comparables and pointed to Leavenworth Outdoor Center’s temporary operations on private land; staff explained differences in impacts, permitting and public land use. Council members supported the rink concept but emphasized that code changes take time and public review; several said they wanted applicants to pursue the formal permitting path and return with a location, traffic mitigation plan and proposed community benefits. No ordinance or code amendment was introduced; the council did not take a formal vote on permitting changes. Staff and applicants agreed to continue working on a permitting plan and technical studies.
Next steps: applicants were advised to prepare a full application for whichever jurisdiction (county or city) has authority at their location, complete required technical studies and, if relevant, propose specific mitigation and community‑benefit commitments for a conditional‑use review. The council and staff said the approach preserves existing public‑safety and land‑use checks while allowing the project to advance through regular review channels.
