Note: Winthrop Planning Commission Public Hearing for Heckendorn Long Plat Application: November 10
A letter to neighbors from Tom Venable, Executive Director
On behalf of the Methow Housing Trust's (MHT) board and staff, we are deeply grateful for the support many of you have expressed for MHT's efforts to expand access to permanently affordable housing for local residents. Together, we have an opportunity to create an enduring legacy of stability, functionality, and belonging for generations to come. I also want to thank the neighborhood residents who have reached out and shared thoughtful feedback about the Heckendorn and Larkspur projects over the past several months. Our commitment is to move forward thoughtfully, inclusively, and transparently—listening carefully, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and seeking a path forward that addresses the community’s housing needs while respecting the character and interests of existing neighborhoods.
What We've Heard
Drawing on feedback gathered last summer, several conversations with individual residents, and a thoughtful letter submitted by several neighbors, a number of important themes have emerged:
Density and neighborhood character: Ensuring that development reflects the scale and character of Winthrop and remains compatible with the Meadowlark Natural Area, including continued public access to and use of its trails.
Wildlife protection: Promoting safe wildlife travel corridors, wildlife friendly fencing options, and other measures to protect habitat and wildlife movement.
Community infrastructure and the pace of change: Understanding potential impacts on traffic, electrical grid capacity, and daily life, while ensuring that new development is integrated thoughtfully into existing neighborhoods.
Wildfire readiness and resource conservation: Considering appropriate design and construction standards, protecting air and water quality, and home designs that accommodate electric vehicle charging.
Community connection: Incorporating shared spaces, such as community gardens, that encourage interaction and help foster a sense of connection among neighbors.
Listening and Learning
I will be sharing the information and perspectives gathered through these discussions to MHT’s Land and Housing Development Committee for review and deliberation. The committee will consider this input as it develops recommendations about how best to proceed.
Project Updates and Anticipated Timelines
Before development can begin, each project must go through the Town of Winthrop’s application and approval process. The first step is to seek approval for infrastructure development, followed by the process of designing and constructing homes. Below is an overview of where things stand and what we anticipate next.
Heckendorn
We have submitted a Long Plat application to the Town of Winthrop that would create a subdivision consisting of 9 lots and a public road. If approval is granted, infrastructure development could begin as early as spring 2027, with home construction anticipated to begin that summer. The Town will be scheduling a public comment period to be followed by a public hearing scheduled to take place on November 10. The details of these will be published in a coming issue of the Methow Valley News.
Larkspur
Later this fall, we plan to submit an application to the Town for a Planned Development consisting of up to 22 lots, a public road, and open space. Infrastructure development is projected to begin sometime in 2027 with home construction following in spring 2028. The date of the public hearing will not be determined until after application materials are submitted to the Town. We will share that information in a future update once it is available.
One important question remains open: whether homes will be built on all 22 lots at Larkspur immediately, or whether some of the lots will remain empty for now. Our current thinking is to make the most effective use of the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grant funds awarded to the Town by the Washington State Department of Commerce by maximizing the number of connections those funds can support. We could then phase development over time, based on demonstrated housing needs.
This approach would allow us to set up the land to accommodate future housing needs and make the best use of the available infrastructure funding while retaining flexibility associated with the timing and pace of development. We will continue to consider community feedback as we evaluate the best path forward.
I hope this update provides greater clarity about the Heckendorn and Larkspur projects, their anticipated timelines, and the steps ahead. Most importantly, I hope it conveys our sincere commitment to listening and engaging with you throughout this process.
Thinking in Decades, Acting Today
Our shared challenge and opportunity is to balance the current and future need for permanently affordable housing with the interests, character, and values of the people and wildlife who already call this place home. One sentiment recently shared with me captures this aspiration beautifully: that these developments should “ease onto the land so it feels as if it has always been there.”
If you have additional thoughts or feedback, please reach out to me directly at tom@methowhousingtrust.org. Your perspectives matter, and I welcome the opportunity to hear from you.
Thank you again for your time, your thoughtful engagement, and your care for this community. We look forward to continuing this work in a spirit of partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose.
We look forward to sharing updates with you regularly as the Heckendorn and Larkspur projects move forward.
In partnership,
Tom Venable
Executive Director
Methow Housing Trust