City seeks more time to obtain easements on Spader Bay Property
by Dennis Rahm
The Chelan City Council voted Tuesday night a 90-day extension the due diligence period of the bargain and sale agreement to purchase 9.8 acres of undeveloped property at Spader Bay. The added time will be used to continue work on securing a desirable and appropriate easement for the land.
In November of 2019, the City Council voted 6-1 in favor of moving forward with a $400,000 bargain and sale agreement with sellers Terri O’Neal and Linda Evans Parlette. Last December, the city was made aware of difficulties in negotiating an access easement. The city and the sellers of the property will now have until April 28th to try and resolve the easement issue.
The motion to approve the 90-day extension of the due diligence period was passed by a vote of 6-1. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Councilman Ray Dobbs who indicates he has a concern with the appearance that the community isn’t alongside the City Council in this process. Dobbs also voted no back in November when the bargain and sale agreement was initially approved.
Interim City Administrator Wade Farris says the council feels it is important to ensure some level of access to the Spader Bay property is secured. Farris said the City was notified on Wednesday of this week that the sellers had formally agreed to the 90-day extension.
Sellers Agent Guy Evans tells LakeChelanNow he is confident that a signed Spader Bay Road easement will be secured but noted that obtaining a walking easement agreement through property owned by Vin du Lac Winery is less clear at this time.
