The Twisp Town Council has reached an “interlocal agreement” with Okanogan County that designates the town as the lead agency in processing an annexation request by Hank and Judy Konrad for two lots that will be part of what’s being called the Milltown housing development.
The agreement will streamline the annexation process by eliminating some possible conflicts between town and county regulations. Part of Milltown is already within the town limits and thus subject to the town’s codes. The interlocal agreement provides that the county will delegate its legal oversight of the property to be annexed to the town.
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. Plans call for development of 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 action, the council approved an agreement to sell the town-owned property that is the site of Okanogan County Fire District 6’s Twisp station for the appraised value of $328,000. The district will pay cash for the property on closing, according to the sale agreement.
The sale is contingent on the town’s annexation to the fire district. A proposal to annex Twisp is on the Aug. 1 primary election ballot. Sale of the property is part of the pre-annexation agreement reached between representatives of the town and the district.
Council member Hans Smith said the town’s finance committee will discuss how to spend the money from the sale and make recommendations to the council.
