Development proposals in Mazama and Twisp are coming up for public hearings before the Okanogan County hearing examiner.
The county is considering an application for a conditional-use permit from Classic Towing, which would allow the company to operate a towing operation, impound yard and repair shop 1 mile south of Twisp on Highway 20.
The impound yard and repair shop would encompass half of the 2-acre lot and be fenced to obscure the impound yard. Classic Towing plans new buildings to house an office and shop, along with three or four parking spaces for customers. The existing residence would remain a residence.
A conditional-use permit is required for auto towing and storage lots in the Methow Review District.
The Okanogan County planning director determined the project would have no significant environmental impacts.
Mazama project
Developers are seeking to rezone an area in the Mazama core to allow retail stores, tourist and residential housing, and expanded parking. The Chechaquo Ranch/Pasayten Peak planned development encompasses 4 acres along Goat Creek Road across from the Mazama Country Inn and the Mazama Ranch House. It is adjacent to a larger project to revamp trailhead parking there.
The developers plan new buildings with commercial units on the ground floor and two-bedroom residences for tourists or seasonal residences on the upper levels. They also plan a three-bedroom tourist/residential building.
The zoning change is necessary to allow housing on the upper floors of the proposed buildings, according to the application filed with the county.
The Okanogan County planning director has determined the rezone would have no environmental impact.
Hearings on both projects are scheduled for July 23 at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ hearing room in Okanogan. People may still comment on the special permit for the tow yard, either before or at the hearing. For more information on the Classic Towing project, contact Planner Anna Randall at arandall@co.okanogan.wa.us or (509) 422-7117.
The comment period on the environmental review for Chechaquo Ranch has closed.
In comments to the county, Chechaquo Ranch neighbors said they were not opposed to the project, but asked the county to consider the project as a whole and to look at the impacts of changing design elements that had already been approved.
One asked for changes to the parking lot — including planting additional trees — to protect the view of the night sky from headlights, and to relocate the restrooms. Another Mazama resident suggested replacing the existing three-way stop with a traffic circle.
The Mazama Advisory Committee, Mazama Community Club and Methow Trails voiced their support for the project.
There will be a separate hearing and comment period on the Chechaquo project itself. No date has been set for that hearing.
For more information on the Mazama development, contact Okanogan County Senior Planner Ben Rough at (509) 422-7122 or brough@co.okanogan.wa.us.
