Leavenworth delays comprehensive plan adoption to consider residents’ concerns

LEAVENWORTH — Leavenworth City Council postponed adoption of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan on Oct. 13 to account for public suggestions regarding small-town character, open space and inclusionary zoning.

The city's 2026 Comprehensive Plan update, which is mandated by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), revises nine chapters of the plan to comply with new state laws, accommodate updated population allocations, and integrate a new Climate Resilience element. The city is required to update the plan by Dec. 31.

The decision comes in response to previous comments made by Residents Coalition of Chelan County (RC3) proposing four additional policies to minimize development impacts on existing neighborhoods and preserve their character; preserve existing neighborhoods and housing; explore inclusionary zoning to support affordable housing; and require private development to contribute to common open space or recreational facilities to offset impacts on existing parks.

In previous meetings, city staff and Planning Commissioners responded to RC3’s suggestions, stating the plan already provides broad policy direction on those issues while balancing the needs of housing affordability and future growth.

“The ideas that were brought forth to us do have real merit, and every one of them can be considered in our development [regulations] as the plan is written now,” Senior Planner Celeste Barry said during the Oct. 13 council meeting.

Barry reiterated the difference between the Comprehensive Plan, which she described as the community’s vision, and development regulations, which carry out the vision; RC3’s suggestions, she said, were more appropriate as regulations.

“I’m concerned that this difference has created some kind of disconnect…We need to do a better job of explaining that to our constituents,” said council member Rob Eaton.

The distinction sparked debate among council members over what was considered regulatory, particularly in regard to preserving neighborhood character and open space.

Council member Zeke Reister said he wanted more to protect open space, agreeing with RC3’s suggestions on requiring private developers to mitigate their impacts.

“I just think it’s really important that this concept is expressed,” said Reister.

Council members pushed to have the plan’s adoption delayed another two weeks for consideration and procedural formatting. Council member Mike Bedard questioned whether the postponement would result in substantial improvement.

“This is a guiding document. It’s intended to be broad,” said Bedard. “I feel like this has been churned and churned and churned.”

Others disagreed.

“We have the time to do it. Our backs are not against the wall…If we make it 0.02% better, we make it 0.02% better,” said Eaton.

Council members agreed to make changes to include brief language on preserving neighborhood character as well as policy regarding open space in subdivisions.

In regard to inclusionary zoning, the council agreed to place it on the 2027 Planning Commission Docket. The concept had originally been tabled because a study was needed to further understand its feasibility. However, the council chose to revisit after RC3 presented a case study in Snohomish. The council also agreed to include language in the Comprehensive Plan referring to the exploration of inclusionary zoning. The updated plan will be considered for adoption at the Oct. 27 meeting.

Members of RC3 disagreed with the interpretation that their suggestions lent more to regulations, but they expressed satisfaction with the council’s decisions.

“I had two pages of notes here, and I’m throwing most of them out,” said RC3 member Brian Shugrue. “I like what I’m hearing.”

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media