Community Engagement

Urban Growth Area (UGA) Expansion: The City of Leavenworth and Chelan County have engaged ABHL Consulting to review the Urban Growth Area (UGA) for future growth. This initiative is a part of the City’s long-term planning strategy, aimed at ensuring sustainable development while preserving the quality of life for its residents.

The potential UGA expansion project is overseen by the City’s Community Development Department, which encompasses land use and building development, long-range planning, and code compliance. Any changes to the UGA will be reviewed by the Planning Commission during public meeting(s) and a public hearing. As an advisory body to the City Council, the Planning Commission is responsible for developing the goals and policies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and making legislative policy recommendations. Following the review process, any recommendations made by the Planning Commission will be presented to City Council.

Reviewing potential expansion of the UGA is part of the vision to ensure that Leavenworth continues to be a vibrant, livable, and sustainable city for future generations.

Ski Hill Drive Phase 2 Project: Currently, Ski Hill Drive has very limited pedestrian facilities. As a major collector, Ski Hill Drive experiences a proportionately large volume of the City’s traffic. Additionally, a portion of the corridor currently lacks any pedestrian facilities and only has an existing bicycle lane for one direction of travel. Therefore, pedestrians are frequently observed walking within the bicycle lane, parking stalls, and driving lanes and southbound bicyclists are frequently observed biking within the existing parking lane.

The goal of the Ski Hill Drive Phase 2 project (Phase 2) is to continue the Phase 1 improvements along the remainder of the Ski Hill Drive corridor, from Evans Street north to Pine Street. The scope of Phase 2 is to construct sidewalks on the west side of Ski Hill Drive, remove all parking stalls, and stripe a buffer-separated southbound bicycle lane. With the completion of both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects, there will be continuous, ADA-compliant sidewalks from US 2 to Pine Street on the west side of Ski Hill Drive and both northbound and southbound bicycle lanes.

As part of this project, the City will pilot a new approach to both calming traffic and aesthetically enhancing the corridor. This will be completed by placing flower boxes within the buffer area between the southbound driving lane and southbound bicycle lane. The planters will provide vertical separation for drivers, encouraging them to slow down, while also adding greenery and flowers, as in line with Leavenworth’s Bavarian Alpine theme.

Osborn Redevelopment for Library & Community Space: In December 2023, a Request for Qualifications was issued for a consultant to work with the City to determine whether the project is feasible, and to advance the design if it is. ARC Architects was selected as the most qualified firm to lead the project, which will kick off in February 2024. By mid-March a fatal flaws analysis will be completed. By the beginning of April, a cost estimate for the partial demolition and renovation of the library and common areas will be completed for a Library Capital Improvement Program grant application through the Department of Commerce.

Front Street Park Restroom & Stairway Expansion Project: The design of the Front Street Park Restroom and Stairway Expansion project is nearing completion. Bids are anticipated to be opened in Spring 2024 and construction is anticipated to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025. Generally, the project consists of the following:

• Switching the locations of the male and female restrooms
• Expanding the female restroom to have 7 stalls and 5 sinks
• Add a family/gender-neutral single stall restroom
• Reconstructing covered concrete stairs between Front St and US 2
• Covering the area above the restroom

Glacier Parking Lot Improvement Project: We are excited to announce the Glacier Parking Lot Improvement Project. This project will enhance the functionality and aesthetics of the Glacier Parking Lot, historically known as P6 or the old DOT lot. Located at 170 US Hwy 2, the Glacier Parking Lot has been a vital part of our city’s infrastructure, providing essential parking space for residents and visitors alike. However, recognizing the need for improvements, the City is moving forward with paving/striping the existing lot, which is currently gravel, and installing a new public restroom facility.

2024 Scrub Seal Project: The 2024 Scrub Seal Project, is a significant initiative aimed at preserving our City’s roadways. The scrub seal method involves applying an asphalt emulsion and crushed rock to the roadway. This cost-effective method of pavement preservation fills existing roadway cracks and provides protection to the existing roadway surfacing. The project is part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving the City’s infrastructure.

This project is 90% funded by the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). We are currently in the design phase and scrub seal efforts are expected to be completed by fall 2024.

To learn more about the scrub seal pavement treatment process, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m50z5F_vF4c.

The North Central Region (NCR) of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is responsible for the maintenance and operation of state highways in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties. The NCR headquarters is located at 2830 Euclid Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801-5916. The office is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on state holidays. If you need to contact the NCR, you can call them at (509) 667-3000. 

Alternatively, you can visit the WSDOT website to view current travel conditions on an interactive map or search by route to get a list of travel alerts, cameras, truck restrictions, and weather.

Here’s some helpful winter driving tips from WSDOT:

• Slow down on ice and snow: It’s easier to skid or lose control traveling at higher speeds. Give yourself more time to stop.
• Carry chains, practice installing them: Winter conditions could mean chains are required on your route. Practice putting them on your vehicle ahead of time.
• Pack your winter car kit: Carry extra supplies like warm clothing, ice scraper and brush, jumper cables and other emergency items.

Visit https://wsdot.wa.gov/ for more info

The Leavenworth Rotary Club is a service Club that meets at Kristall’s Restaurant on Friday’s at 11:45am. 

They are hosting a “Roaring 20’s Rotaryfest” ‘fun’draiser on April 27, 2024, at 5pm at the Leavenworth Festhalle. Visit http://www.leavenworth-rotary.org/ for more info.

Waste Loop is a nonprofit with a mission to inspire the transformation of local “waste” streams into sustainable resources in the Greater Leavenworth area. Their upcoming events include:

• Leavenworth Repair Cafe, Thursday, February 29, 2024, 6:00 PM  8:00 PM, Wenatchee River Institute Red Barn 

• Leavenworth Community Earth Day Fair, Sunday, April 21, 2024, 11:00 AM  4:00 PM, Enchantment Park 

 Visit https://www.wasteloop.org/ for more information.

Cascade Medical is a nonprofit Critical Access Hospital dedicated to the well-being of the Upper Valley community. Their hospital district covers 1,200 square miles in North Central Washington, including Plain, Leavenworth, Peshastin and Dryden. Services include:

• Ambulance Service
• Behavioral Health
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Emergency
• Endoscopy
• Family Practice Clinic
• Laboratory
• Rehabilitation Services
• Sub-Acute Rehab

Visit https://cascademedical.org/ for more info.

Winton Mfg. Compost Works is a community composting program located at 17400 Winton Rd, Leavenworth, WA, 98826. They collect compostable waste materials from the surrounding community and convert it into compost, which is then used as a local soil resource.

Their operating hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.You can contact them at (509) 763-0000 or visit https://www.wintonmfg.com/ for more info.