Hearing examiner closes public hearing on Loan Cellars RV Park; written decision due within 10 working days

The Okanogan County hearing examiner closed the public portion of a hearing on conditional-use permit application CUV 2024-4 for the proposed Loan Cellars RV Park and said a written decision will be issued within the next 10 working days.

Planner Drew Morris told the examiner the application, submitted by Erlinson and Associates on behalf of Divis Family Trust, proposes a 20-site RV park with full utilities, two sport courts, a barn and a garden on about 4–5 acres of a 25.5-acre parcel off Lakeview Way near Brewster. Morris said water service would be provided by Rooster Flats domestic water and sewer handled by on-site septic systems. "No appeals were received. The determination is final," Morris said, referring to the Okanogan County responsible official's final mitigated determination of nonsignificance under the State Environmental Policy Act.

Property owner Jim Divis and agent Chris Erlinson both told the examiner they had reviewed the staff report and had no substantive objections to its factual statements or most proposed conditions of approval. Divis asked whether the assessor's office comment about the parcel leaving an open-space classification—and any resulting tax liability—would apply. The examiner said he could amend proposed condition 6 to add the language "if required by the assessor's office" to allow time for Divis to obtain clarification.

Erlinson flagged a separate condition suggested by the WSDOT Aviation Group that would require an aviation disclosure notice to be recorded on the parcel; he questioned whether that condition reflected the scope of the project and said it often applies to plats rather than a single parcel the owner is not subdividing. The examiner said he would review that comment before issuing a written decision.

Other details in the staff report cited during the hearing: the RV sites are configured for large trailers and motor homes (not tent camping), a walkway would link the RV park to the existing winery, the existing winery access would serve as an emergency exit, and campfires would be allowed in contained fire pits. The planner noted the proposal described seasonal operation in the staff packet.

The hearing record contained references to several conditions (including an ADA-related condition and a solicitor's condition) that the applicant indicated they would review. The examiner closed the hearing and reiterated that his written decision would follow in approximately 10 working days; he reminded parties that appeals of his final decision must be filed as a land use petition in Okanogan County Superior Court within 21 days of the decision's issuance.

The examiner closed the item and adjourned the hearing for the night.