Resident concerns prompt site visit before PUD land purchase decision

CHELAN — Chelan County PUD commissioners postponed a decision Monday on the proposed purchase of a five-acre Manson-area orchard property after hearing concerns from nearby residents, opting instead to visit the site before determining whether to add the parcel to the utility's inventory of potential future infrastructure locations.

The property, owned by Triple Red Orchard LLC, is being considered as part of the PUD's long-term planning efforts in the Manson area, where utility officials say future growth will eventually require additional electrical infrastructure. Staff have emphasized that purchasing the land would not commit the district to building a substation there, but would preserve it as one of several possible options for future consideration.

Residents who live near the property urged commissioners to reject the purchase, citing concerns about viewsheds, property values, neighborhood character and the possibility that utility infrastructure could someday be built on the site.

"We understand growth," one resident told commissioners during public comment. "We understand it thoroughly."

Several speakers said they support the need for reliable electrical service but questioned whether the proposed location is appropriate for future utility development. Others encouraged the PUD to continue exploring alternative sites before moving forward with the acquisition.

Earlier in the meeting, Project Manager Abra O'Leary outlined the district's long-range planning efforts for the Manson area, explaining that expansion of the existing Manson substation is expected to meet projected demand for roughly the next decade. Beyond that timeframe, the utility expects to need an additional substation in an area closer to where future growth is anticipated.

O'Leary said the district has spent more than a year conducting outreach through community meetings, open houses, presentations and surveys as part of its effort to identify future infrastructure needs and gather public feedback.

Commissioners repeatedly stressed that purchasing property is not the same as selecting a future substation site.

General Manager Kirk Hudson said the utility's strategy is to acquire potential sites years before they are needed so multiple options remain available when future decisions are made.

The approach grew out of lessons learned from previous substation siting efforts, including the North Shore substation project, which several commissioners referenced during Monday's discussion.

General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer Erik Wahlquist explained that the utility typically negotiates potential acquisitions before publicly identifying specific properties because doing otherwise can affect negotiations and reduce future options.

Commissioner Garry Arseneault noted that continued growth throughout Chelan County is driving demand for additional infrastructure and said the district is attempting to plan ahead rather than react after development has already occurred.

Despite expressing support for the district's overall planning process, several commissioners said resident testimony persuaded them to take additional time before acting on the proposed purchase.

Commissioner Carnan Bergren said he supported the utility's strategy of acquiring potential sites but wanted an opportunity to personally visit the property before making a decision.

Commission Chair Kelly Allen echoed those comments, thanking residents for attending and saying their testimony highlighted the importance of seeing the site firsthand.

"I would not have walked the property if not for you [being] here today," Allen said.

Both Allen and Bergren indicated they were generally supportive of acquiring additional options for future infrastructure planning, but agreed the board would benefit from taking a closer look before moving forward.

With no motion made to approve the purchase, commissioners agreed to bring the proposal back for consideration at a future meeting after conducting site visits and additional review.

If approved at a later date, the $500,000 acquisition would add the five-acre parcel to the PUD's inventory of potential future utility properties. Any proposal to construct a substation on the site would require additional public review, permitting and regulatory approvals before construction could occur.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media