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Architectural Design Review Permit Application
Sign Permit Application – Commercial
Sign Permit Application – Non Commercial
Approved Sign Lettering Styles Examples
Approved Sign Lettering Styles List
Portfolio of Old World Bavarian Architecture and Signs
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Design Review Board
About Leavenworth’s Design Review Board
Leavenworth’s location in a valley with outstanding natural scenic beauty, enhanced by the adoption of the Old World Bavarian Alpine Theme, forms the basis for a thriving tourist industry upon which the city’s economic health so heavily depends. The Leavenworth Design Review Board is a volunteer board, appointed by the mayor, for the purpose of ensuring compliance with Leavenworth’s Old World Bavarian Alpine Theme and Sign codes. Board members volunteer their time and unique expertise in order to ensure that Leavenworth maintains and furthers its aesthetic and economic well-being through the Old World Bavarian Alpine Theme.
Design Review Board Meetings
The Design Review Board typically meets in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 3:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Meetings are held in a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere. If you are planning a project in Leavenworth, we highly encourage you to seek complimentary consultation with the Design Review Board before formal application submittal. We would like to assist early in the process to help make your project a success! Please call City Hall at 509-548-5275 for more information.
Sign Permit Applications
Sign Permit Applications for signs located outside of commercial zone districts, and for temporary signs, may be obtained at City Hall, or by contacting Development Services Department staff at 509-548-5275.
Design Review Board Members
Fred Dowdy
Chair
Fred Dowdy
As frequent visitors to Leavenworth since the 1960’s, Alice and I were delighted to purchase our Leavenworth property in 1998. Soon we were building our “Bavarian style” dream home! I grew up in Seattle, working in custom home building, eventually becoming a builder myself. 35 years later, I still build custom homes, but Leavenworth is now my home base. After many trips to Germany and the Tyrol of Austria, I have a keen understanding of the old world style that our design review guidelines reflect. My goal is to help you in any way I can to understand and appreciate the history of this great style of building and how you can incorporate this theme into a successful business persona. My fellow Board members and I are here to serve you and I look forward to the opportunity.
Mary Kornienko Morse
Vice-Chair
Mary Morse
My family moved from Bavaria to the United States in the early 1950’s. I have countless relatives still living in Bavaria (my mother was one of twelve children), including a sister who lives there with her husband, children and grandchildren, and I am fortunate to have many opportunities to visit.
For more than 20 years, my husband Don and I spent many weekends in Leavenworth enjoying outdoor activities and the village shops. Then, eleven years ago we chose to make Leavenworth our permanent home, and my mother, Berta, also came to live with us. My husband and I own and operate a contracting business and specialize in home and light-commercial repair, remodel and restoration.
It is because of my love of Bavaria and the old world architecture, style and design that I applied for a position on the Design Review Board. It is my desire to help ensure that Leavenworth maintains the authentic and traditional Bavarian theme. I am honored to have been selected to this position and I look forward to working with you on your project.
Lynn Reppas
Board Member
Lynn Reppas
Moving from Oregon to the Seattle area in 1988 with my husband, Chuck and three young sons a quick weekend getaway for us became Leavenworth, it took us away from the hustle and bustle of the large city life to the beautiful Bavarian village tucked on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. On one of those getaways in 2006 staying at Abendblume (one of the wonderful B&B’s offered here) there was a new home being framed right next door, after taking a walk over to take a peek, the wheels began to spin and the next day we made an offer on the home… and so the dream began.
Having family in Switzerland we have had many opportunities to travel to the Bavarian area of Europe in the past 10 years. One such trip was taken just to get ideas and study the architecture to bring home ideas for a large development project we were planning for Leavenworth. As Chuck would drive in and out of villages in the Tyrol area I would have the camera in hand and I would holler to “stop” at a specific building to take a photo, hence we changed the phrase “drive by shooting” to mean something very different. I became an integral part of the planning process for the design of the project with the help of our photo portfolio. It is the “Old World Bavarian” feel of the village of Leavenworth which gives our town such a unique character and brings visitors back. I look forward to enhancing the truly distinctive setting, hoping to put some of what I have learned into practice.
Ken Kohnhorst
Board Member
Ken Kohnhorst
After graduation from High school and two years of College I went to work for John Hancock Financial Services. I stated working in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and transferred to Chicago for a few months. Then I received my own office in Omaha, Nebraska and worked there for 5 years before Uncle Sam called and I enlisted in the USMC and served two years.
After service I stayed in the San Francisco Bay area with John Hancock. In 1982 I took a leave of absence and traveled for three months in Europe. Upon my return I met Charlotte and after three months we were married in San Jose. My office in San Jose was closed and I took severance after 26 years of service. About a year later I went back to work with Principal Financial Group and spent 6 years with them before taking an early retirement.
We had for several years spent our vacation time in Leavenworth. Since both Charlotte and I are German we felt this was a great place to retire, and living in a valley surrounded by mountains was an added bonus. We really do feel we are in Germany.
I designed our home (Bavarian style) and we had it built and moved there in the winter of 1995. One of my passions is traveling and Charlotte loves it as well. We have made several trips to Europe, Canada, and throughout the USA – and at last count have made over 25 trips to Germany…Bavaria in particular. I can trace my German roots back to 1149 and still have relatives in Germany. We also love Austria and have spent much time there as well. I am active in the community and belong to several clubs and groups. I served on the Design Review Board several years ago and am happy to be back. Our duty is to make sure we preserve the “Bavarian theme”.
Bob Kelly
Board Member
My identical twin brother and I were born and raised in Renton, Washington. At an early age my mother instilled a great work ethic in my brother and me by giving us the daily chore of doing the breakfast dishes before school. We started our first real job when we were 11 years old. At the age of 16, when I obtained my driver’s license, I began driving a delivery truck for my father’s egg business and also joined the Naval Reserves. These two events shaped much of my working life.
After graduation, in 1949, I headed to Korea in my Navy blues aboard the USS Richard B. Anderson destroyer. My tour of duty ended in 1952. Within two weeks of returning home, I had a new job driving truck in Seattle and had met Nancy, my future wife. Nancy and I were married in 1953 and raised our three children in Renton. I retired from truck driving in 1987. In 1989 Nancy and I made our first trip to Leavenworth – which ended our retirement!
Having fallen in love with the Bavarian village, Nancy and I found property close to town which was perfect for building our Bavarian style inn. We opened Der Bearvarian Inn in 1992. We have watched the theme in Leavenworth grow in the 18 years since then with the addition of many more Bavarian buildings – including City Hall. We made our first trip to Germany in 1992 where we fell in love with the amazing architecture signs, statues, and water features and took more than 500 pictures!
I have also been a member of Projekt Bayern since it began in 1996. Projekt Bayern was formed in order to revitalize interest in the town’s Bavarian theme, and to carry out projects to make Leavenworth more authentically Bavarian in nature. I have worked on all of the major projects, including helping with organizing festivals and other community improvement projects. I believe in both Project Bayern and the Design Review Board’s mission to promote and enhance the Old World Bavarian-Alpine theme in Leavenworth. I am honored to have been chosen by the Mayor to work with the Design Review Board.
