City Initiates Discussion of Butte Purchase at Town Hall

City looking to secure around 900 acres of Chelan Butte Property

by Dennis Rahm, videos courtesy Jerry Isenhart, Google Earth perspective photos courtesy of Guy Evans

Before a packed house at last weeks’ Town Hall meeting, Chelan Mayor Mike Cooney unveiled a plan that could see the City purchase more than 900 acres of bare land on Chelan Butte for public open space.

Cooney explained that the owner of the property would prefer to sell the land to the City and that he has been engaged in conversations with Trust for Public Lands and other organizations to find ways to finance the project, which has a price tag of just over $6 million.

Most of the land would be set aside for open space and view protection, and would allow the area to be utilized for hiking and biking. The Mayor also indicated that a small portion of the land, not visible from the downtown area, could be used for affordable and other housing needs.

Using Google Earth photos, Guy Evans of the Lake Chelan Trails Alliance, showed an aerial view of the Butte site and also demonstrated how the property could potentially allow for trail connections to Bear Mountain and perhaps all the way to Stormy Mountain. Said Evans, “open space is about the soul and well being of our community… [and] we are at a critical time in the evolution of our Valley”.

While the City of Chelan is currently taking the lead on this proposed project, it will take a partnership to come up with the money needed to purchase the land.

The City anticipates working closely with the national Trust for Public Lands, as well as other organizations such as the Trails Alliance and the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, to try to move the project forward. State and Federal funding opportunities will also be explored.

Cooney said he envisions the Trust for Public Lands eventually owning the property with the City operating as the caretaker of the site.