Douglas County Commission to Consider Whether to Allow 290-Unit Apartment Complex Near East Wenatchee

Douglas County commissioners are meeting next Tuesday to consider a 290-unit apartment complex that would be built off of 5th Street Northeast near East Wenatchee if approved.

The County Planning Commission voted to recommend the project to commissioners last month, even though it's drawn vocal opposition from some residents.

Commission Chairman Marc Straub says state law requires them to act as judges in deciding whether to allow the project to move forward.

"We basically have to take the entirety of the record, which is, at this point 700-pages, along with three-and-a-half hours of testimony and deliberation, and review that," said Straub. "And based on that, make a decision."

Opposition to the large apartment complex has come mostly from close-by residents, who are concerned about safety, traffic, property values and fire danger.

Straub says commissioners may or may not allow more public comment on the apartment project, even though next Tuesday's meeting will be open to the public.

"Whether or not the board at that time opens up that hearing for further testimony will be determined as we go through the record that we have to determine whether or not further facts or missing facts exist," Straub.

The planned apartment complex would be built inside an urban growth areas.

All county commissioners in Washington are required by law to follow a specific procedure in making decisions on land use within what are called "urban growth areas." Each county is required to designate urban growth areas, where urban growth shall be encouraged, and outside of which growth can occur only if it is not urban in nature.

The county Planning Commission voted 4-2 in favor of the apartment complex on April 13th.

The project, known as Wilkinson development, would include 290 apartment units, as well as a community building, swimming pool, play area, dog park, trails and other amenities.

It's being proposed by Wilkinson Corporation in Yakima, which currently operates 12 apartment complexes in larger cities, such as Atlanta and Indianapolis.