It’s almost official: Culminating a process that began nearly two years ago, the Twisp Town Council has essentially agreed to the annexation of two lots owned by Hank and Judy Konrad that will be part of what’s being called the Milltown housing development.
All that remains for final action are a few language changes related to the planned unit development the Konrads are proposing, Mayor Soo Ing-Moody said after a brief public hearing at last week’s council meeting. Earlier, the council had approved a pre-annexation agreement that was worked out between town staff and council members and representatives of Milltown Twisp LLC, the legal entity formed to pursue the annexation and subsequent development of the housing project.
The Konrads’ proposed development is on a total of about 10 acres along Highway 20 at the east end of town, including one lot of about 3 acres within the town limits and two lots totaling about 7 acres that are being annexed. That request was first submitted in August 2021, and the Konrads have been working with the town since then on terms of the pre-annexation agreement.
At an earlier council meeting, developer Gary Scott, representing the Konrads, presented a plan to develop a total of 73 housing units, from small and medium-sized houses to larger homes, apartments, lofts, senior housing and possibly retail, in a mixed-use development that would include pocket parks, community gardens, a self-storage area and off-street parking. The development will be called Milltown as an homage to Twisp’s past.
The Konrad parcels proposed to be annexed are located on the north side of Highway 20, near the highway’s junction with Twisp Airport Road. The two that would be annexed are directly east of the lot that is already within town limits. The parcels proposed for annexation are both within the town’s urban growth boundary. The town’s existing R-3 zoning would allow mixed-use development.
In other business, the council also adopted the town’s six-year capital facilities plan, which identifies and prioritizes major infrastructure improvements including those for streets and sidewalks, water and sewer systems and the municipal airport.
Public Works Director Andrew Denham reported that the town’s annual wood chipping project was particularly successful this year, with 113 participants as opposed to 94 last year and 75 in 2021. He said it now takes five days, rather than three, to process the volume of wood waste materials that residents leave curbside for chipping.
“Everyone is thrilled that it’s so popular,” Denham said.
