Washblog

A couple of weeks before CDL Developments LLC had proposed the Batterman Ranch Master Planned Resort. Which would transform 3,656 acres of semi-arid desert east of Pangborn Memorial Airport in East Wenatchee into a lush resort-style community.

In January of 2006 WBJ, the developer behind both of these LLC's stated that he was not a banker and that he did not believe that developers should have to pay for infrastructure.

He and the East Wenatchee Water District are now attempting to annex over 4000 acres of the Batterman Ranch into the district. This annexation would create untold costs for ratepayers, as miles of new water lines would have to be replaced at EWWD expense in order to service the proposed annexation area. The City of East Wenatchee is now fighting this proposal and EWWD ratepayers had better hope they win.

In the last two months, this same developer has had two commercial lawsuits and one tax judgment filed against him according to the Wenatchee Business Journal for non-payment of contracts and taxes.

This developer is proposing multi-million dollar projects that are the size of towns. He seemingly does not feel that he is responsible for funding infrastructure and he is apparently not solvent enough to make payments on what he has so exactly what does he have to offer Chelan and Douglas counties besides words?

Elected officials need to be careful and do some research before they allow these projects to move forward. Otherwise, these grandiose projects could very well wind up being foisted upon ratepayers and taxpayers for completion.