Chelan holds public hearing on updated Transportation Improvement Program; residents press for Lakeside study

Chelan Mayor Aaron opened a public hearing June 2 to gather comments on the city’s proposed Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a six-year street capital plan that guides which projects are eligible for restricted transportation funds.

The staff presentation summarized key changes to the draft TIP, including consolidating pedestrian projects into a single pedestrian infrastructure initiative, adding Highway 97/ASR 154 improvements, and converting a previously proposed one-way downtown street plan to a two-way conversion. North Shore Trails was split into Phase 1 (extension to the Community Center) and Phase 2 (further extension toward SR 1). Staff also removed a stand‑alone Lakeside Park access analysis and broadened that work into a pedestrian portal element of the program.

Why it matters: The TIP determines which projects can use the city’s transportation capital funds and helps prioritize grant applications. Changes such as consolidating pedestrian work and adding state highway improvements affect which projects are eligible for restricted funding and the timing of construction.

“North Shore Trails has been divided into two distinct phases,” a staff presenter said during the briefing, describing Phase 1 as an extension to the community center and Phase 2 as an extension toward SR 1. The presenter warned that some controlled‑intersection solutions, such as traffic signals or roundabouts, require lengthy state review and can constrain local timing and design options.

A resident from Lakeside urged the council to retain a dedicated Lakeside analysis, saying seasonal visitor volumes have caused “intense traffic and parking issues” and that the recent removal of the Lakeside study leaves neighbors without clarity. The resident also raised concerns about increasing short‑term rentals and asked how the plan would address those impacts. Mayor Aaron said staff would record the comment for the hearing record and offered to schedule a separate meeting with city staff (including Jake) to answer detailed questions outside the hearing.

Council members discussed whether certain intersection work — notably at Saunders — should remain coupled to larger projects or be uncoupled to give the city more flexibility. Staff cautioned that uncoupling may complicate grant accounting but could avoid tying one intersection’s schedule to another large project.

Staff noted the TIP materials include proposed project timing that is flexible and intended to guide grant applications and long‑range planning rather than authorize immediate construction. The presentation encouraged residents to use the city’s project map and storymap online to follow schedules and provide feedback.

Next steps: The council received input through the hearing and staff said the TIP would return to council for formal adoption at a future meeting after required public‑hearing steps and refinements.