Tumwater Mountain cross project halted, property owner withdraws building application

LEAVENWORTH — The controversial Tumwater Mountain cross project near Leavenworth has been terminated after the property owner withdrew their building application, according to Chelan County officials.

The project came to an unexpected halt during Tuesday's Leavenworth City Council meeting when Commissioner Shon Smith announced what appeared to be a land swap agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. However, county officials issued a clarification Wednesday that contradicted key elements of Smith's statement.

"Chelan County verified today with the U.S. Forest Service that there are no ongoing land exchanges with that agency in relation to this property," wrote Jill FitzSimmons, Chelan County public information officer, in an email to media outlets on Wednesday.

The email confirmed that "on March 12, the property owner withdrew a building application for the proposed structure (a cross) from Chelan County Community Development."

During Tuesday's council meeting, Smith had claimed to represent the Johnson family, who own the 20-acre parcel on Tumwater Mountain where the cross was to be constructed. Smith told council members that a preliminary agreement had been reached to exchange the Tumwater property for land on Mountain Home, allowing the Johnson family to consolidate their holdings.

FitzSimmons clarified that when addressing the council, "Commissioner Smith was representing himself as both a business owner and a county commissioner. He was not representing the Board of County Commissioners."

The cross project had generated significant controversy in the community, prompting the Leavenworth City Council to consider a resolution opposing its construction. Following Smith's announcement at Tuesday's meeting, Mayor Carl Florea stated the council would not vote on the resolution while reserving the right to do so in the future if necessary.

Councilman Mike Bedard was the only council member who opposed postponing the vote on the resolution.