HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-14 6:00 PM - Planning Commission - Minutes KITTITAS COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Courthouse RM 201 , ELLENSBURG
Regular Meeting
TUESDAY 6: 00 PM January 14 , 2025
Board members present: Bruce Coe, Joseph Pearson, Scott Carlson,
Warren Taylor, and Pat Deneen.
Others : Chad Bala, Jeremy Johnston and Jessica Miller and one
(1) members of the public .
Meeting was called to order at 6: 00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
CITIZEN COMMENTS (1 min. time limit)
There were no citizen comments .
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
COMMISSIONER DENEEN moved to approve the December 3, 2024 and
the December 10, 2024 minutes . COMMISSIONER TAYLOR seconded.
Discussion - none . Motion passed 5-0 .
NEW BUSINESS
ELECTION OF 2025 CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN
COMMISSIONER DENEEN nominated Bruce Coe as Chairman for 2025 .
COMMISSIONER TAYLOR seconded the nomination. Discussion - none .
There were no other nominations, therefore the nominations were
closed. Motion passed 5-0 .
COMMISSIONER DENEEN nominated Joseph Pearson as Vice-Chairman
for 2025 . COMMISSIONER TAYLOR seconded the nomination.
Discussion - none . There were no other nominations, therefore
the nominations were closed. Motion passed 5-0 .
DISCUSSION & RECOMMENDATION - SB 5290
CDS DIRECTOR CHAD BALA introduced LONG RANGE PLANNER JEREMY
JOHNSTON. CDS DIRECTOR BALA stated he has been working on SB
5290 and will also be working on the Periodic Update and working
with the hired consultant to work on a participation plan for
this update . LONG RANGE PLANNER JOHNSTON shared that SB 5290
went into effect January 1, 2025, we are being held to this
standard and we are now looking to get this regulation into
place to be consistent with the state . The point of this bill
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is to make project permit timelines more efficient and more
predictive . In an effort to do this, the State has established
certain maximum time frames for processing certain applications
and certain potential penalties if we do not process within
those timelines . The bill separates simple permits like boundary
line adjustments, parcel combinations, etc from the
administrative permits that have a public notice requirement .
Every GMA jurisdiction has to adopt something similar to this
and there are different tiers depending on your population
density, that force you to adopt more than other jurisdictions .
There are requirements that are outlined within the actual bill
that allows staff or other jurisdictions to be able to stop the
clock on applications in order to ask for and gather additional
information, like corrections to plans, etc. There is a work
plan in place for CDS to go completely digital for building
permit submission in April of 2025 . LONG RANGE PLANNER JOHNSTON
presented the different timelines for the different types of
planning projects . Discussion occurred regarding different
timelines for the different types of permit/project submittals
and the consequences if the timelines are not met .
Staff recommends option one as it makes the most sense because
it is immediate accountability and also it leaves all the other
options open if we are not meeting the timelines . Staff is
requesting a recommendation for approval .
Motion by COMMISSIONER PEARSON to recommend approval of SB 5290
to the Board of County Commissioners . COMMISSIONER DENEEN
seconded. Discussion - none . Motion passed 4-0 .
DISCUSSION - 2025/26 PERIODIC UPDATE JOINT MEETINGS
CDS DIRECTOR BALA shared that Kimley Horn and CDS are diligently
working and have weekly updates regarding our periodic update .
CDS staff is working on understanding our first task with the
consultants and staff will relay the results to the Planning
Commissioners . CDS staff is requesting to take the March meeting
and have a joint meeting with the Planning Commissioners and the
Board of County Commissioners . Our consultants would attend and
provide a kickoff presentation to present and explain our goals
and path forward, including a public participation plan. CDS has
already presented a PowerPoint presentation and explanation on
the periodic update and Easton sub area planning to the Easton
sub area group. CDS is required to submit our final product by
June of 2026 .
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business .
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OTHER BUSINESS - No Action to be taken
Discussion occurred regarding the vacant Planning Commissioner
position. COMMISSIONER CARLSON stated he holds the At-Large
position and has recently moved into District 3 . He stated he
would be willing to switch positions to open up the At-Large
position.
CDS DIRECTOR BALA shared an update about the Short-Term Rental
Committee . LONG RANGE PLANNER JOHNSTON will be the staff
representative for that committee . Through the committee we have
developed a list of survey questions for the general public to
answer as the first step in starting to develop regulations for
short-term rentals .
CHAIR COE concluded the Kittitas County Planning Commission
public meeting.
Meeting ended at 7 :24 pm.
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