The Winthrop Westernization code is on its way to the Planning Commission for review of possible revisions related to the RiversMeet mixed-use project on Riverside Avenue.
But at last week’s Town Council meeting, members of the Westernization Design Review Board (WDRB) and others continued to express dissatisfaction with the way the project has moved through the town’s approval process.
The council approved proposed wording changes in the Westernization ordinance, which will now go to the Planning Commission for review and a public hearing. The WDRB will also review the proposed changes.
At an earlier meeting, the council signed off on several of developer Peter Goldman’s requests for the project: that it be allowed to have a solar power installation on the roof as long as it is not visible from public rights-of-way; that construction be allowed to continue through July and August; that some of the windows can be aluminum-clad rather than exclusively wood-framed; and that the building can have a two-tone color scheme.
Those changes are reflected in the proposed revisions to the code.
The new structure will be a three-story building that would include two, two-bedroom apartments on the first floor, which would face the Methow River and would not be visible from the street; space for commercial tenants such as restaurants and other service providers on the second floor, which would front Riverside Avenue; and small to medium-size office spaces on the third floor.
Questions about process
At last week’s council meeting, WDRB members Nilsine Harris, Lance Rider and Erin White all expressed concerns about how the process was handled, and implications of code changes for the future of Westernization.
Rider asked that the council not “tear up” Westernization for the benefit of one individual. “Keep the heart of Winthrop the way it is,” he said.
Harris said the suggested wording changes could create more discrepancies within the code rather than clearing them up. White said Westernization is vital to Winthrop, and asked the council to be more receptive to the WDRB’s decisions.
Carol Lester said that as a citizen, it looks to her like the suggested changes are strictly to accommodate one person. She said the town could have considered variances rather than code changes.
Mayor Sally Ranzau acknowledged Westernization’s importance, adding that “We do need to grow.” If Westernization is “holding things back,” the mayor said, changes may be necessary. Ranzau added that the town has hired an architectural firm to review the design specifics of the RiversMeet project.
In other business at last week’s meeting:
• Ranzau said the town hopes to buy two or three more radar speed detection signs to set up around town, to supplement the one the town has now. Marshal Ty Sheehan said speeding continues wherever the town’s officers are not parked. Council member Bill McAdow encouraged Sheehan and his deputies to write as many tickets as possible. “It’s the only thing people understand,” said McAdow, who added that he would like Winthrop to be known as “the speed trap capital of Washington.”
• The mayor said town representatives had met with staffers from the Washington State Department of Transportation to discuss possible improvements at the four-way stop to increase pedestrian safety.
• McAdow also asked about the apparent lack of planning to scoop up horse manure during the recent ’49er Days parade. Ted Lafferty, president of the sponsoring Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, said arrangements will be made in the future to clean up after what one observer described as “the only crappy parade in the state.”
• The council agreed to Sheehan’s proposal to sell a surplus police vehicle, a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, for a minimum bid of $2,000.
The recusal question
Because RiversMeet developer Peter Goldman is a member of the Winthrop Planning Commission, which will review and hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the town’s Westernization code, the question has been raised about whether he would need to recuse himself from those discussions.
The answer, in short, is “no” — but Goldman said he will nonetheless excuse himself from the Planning Commission proceedings related to the Westernization code.
“Legally and technically, Peter does not have a conflict of interest when it comes to participating in the duties of a planning commissioner for development code changes,” Town Planner Rocklynn Culp said in an email. “Code amendments are legislative rather than ‘quasi-judicial,’ so the Appearance of Fairness statutes do not apply. The Planning Commission’s role is to hold the initial public hearing and make a recommendation to the Town Council. They don’t actually decide anything.”
“In terms of his service on the Planning Commission, it is always a strength of any board to have a variety of interests represented and the fact that Peter owns commercial property in Winthrop in no way precludes his participation,” Culp continued. “In fact, it’s good to have people who understand from experience what it’s like to navigate our local land use and development regulations.”
In an email, Goldman said he had discussed the recusal question with Culp and got the same information.
“However,” Goldman said, “in the interest of complete transparency, to be beyond reproach, and to put this issue to rest I will recuse myself from deliberating or voting on this set of pending Westernization ordinance amendments at the Planning Commission.”
