The town of Winthrop is considering a proposal from RiversMeet LLC to create mixed-use commercial and residential buildings, an outdoor plaza, a pedestrian boardwalk and improved parking.
The RiversMeet proposal submitted by Peter Goldman would redevelop two buildings on Riverside Avenue. Both are commercial rental properties. One serves as headquarters for Methow Rafting and the other formerly housed the Methow Conservancy.
The new buildings would be connected by a public outdoor plaza with a raised boardwalk and planters between the buildings and Riverside Avenue. The boardwalk would improve pedestrian access to the Spring Creek Bridge, which connects to the Susie Stephens Trail, according to the project application.
The redevelopment includes two short-term rental apartments that could accommodate four people each. RiversMeet may include a middle-income caretaker’s apartment in one of the buildings that could house four people; that would be the only long-term housing created by the project.
One of the proposed buildings would be about 1,675 square feet and the other would be about 2,000 square feet. They would each have two stories and one would have a basement. The project will increase visual access to the shoreline and the new buildings would have large windows overlooking the river, according to the application.
The buildings would be constructed of wood and be slightly over 31 feet above street grade in height. Nine new parking spots would be created to replace existing parking.
Because the project is in the shoreline area of the Methow River, it requires a shoreline substantial development permit. Each of the existing buildings has a deck. One deck is 6 feet from the ordinary high-water mark and the other is 12 feet from it.
The existing nonconforming structures that extend into the riparian buffer would be demolished and the new structures would be built to meet shoreline setbacks. After development, there would be no structures within 25 feet of the ordinary high-water mark. The area would be revegetated.
Two mature cottonwoods near one of the buildings would be removed from the shoreline buffer. They would be replaced by Ponderosa pines. Six other trees are outside the buffer zone.
Part of the area near the river will be seeded so it can remain available for a potential future public trail.
The project is not expected to affect wildlife habitat, according to the application.
Parcels west and north of the property are commercial rentals. The parcel to the east is owned by the town of Winthrop and provides access to the Spring Creek footbridge across the Methow River.
The town of Winthrop has determined that the project wouldn’t have an adverse environmental impact.
People can comment on the environmental review through June 9 and on the shoreline-development application through June 30. For more information or to comment, contact Town Planner Rocklynn Culp at (509) 996-2320 or planner@townofwinthrop.com.
