Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Acquisition Norling Lane topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves extension of Norling Lane purchase‑and‑sale after heated public comment; opponents warn of process opacity
Summary
The Leavenworth City Council voted April 22 to extend the purchase‑and‑sale agreement covering 37 and 81 Norling Lane to allow the conditional‑use permit and any appeals to proceed, a decision that drew extended public comment warning the council against repeated attempts after potential denial by Chelan County.
The Leavenworth City Council approved an extension April 22 of a purchase‑and‑sale agreement for two Norling Lane parcels (37 and 81 Norling Lane) to preserve the city’s ability to pursue a conditional‑use permit (CUP) and remain in escrow through any county review and appeals.
The extension passed after public comment that sharply criticized the process. Attorney and neighbor Ellen Biercely urged the council not to treat a county CUP denial as a mere hurdle to be repeated, saying the city’s pattern of decision making had "eroded public trust." Biercely asked the council to stop renewing the agreement if the county concluded the intended use was not permissible.
Council members debated the extension in open session. Supporters argued the written extension clarifies timing tied to any county approval and allows the city to coordinate the appeal window and escrow timing rather than regularly returning to the council to extend the agreement. Opponents at the podium characterized the revision as creating an open‑ended pathway to continue pursuing the project after a denial by the county. The council voted to extend the agreement; the motion carried with several abstentions recorded during the roll call.
What was decided: the council formally extended the purchase‑and‑sale to allow the feasibility contingency tied to county permitting to remain active through the county review/appeal timeframe and to a final execution date set later in the year. The extension does not itself authorize construction or change county land‑use authority; any building permits or use permits remain subject to Chelan County review and appeal.
Why it matters: the Norling Lane property has been the subject of neighbor concern about traffic, environmental and transparency issues; residents asked the city to allow full public review rather than repeatedly extending agreements. Council members said the extension preserves city options while the county processes the CUP application. The council did not approve any site work or construction on April 22.
Vote and next steps: the council approved the extension in a public vote; staff will proceed with the conditional‑use permitting process and provide updates to council and the public as county decisions and any appeals unfold.
