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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDS Study Session Staff Report & Attachments 9.4.25 KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 2025 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 8,2025 TOPIC: Kittitas County 2026 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update Briefing-Preliminary Draft Policy Review ACTION REQUESTED: BOCC Preferred Method for Future Updates BACKGROUND: CDS and Kimley-Horn continue to move forward planning for our 20-year,2026 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update.A briefing will be presented to the Kittitas County Planning Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting set for Tuesday, September 9,2025. The briefing will focus on providing the following • Approach to Comprehensive Plan Policy Development • Project overview, schedule,and timeline • Overview of Initial Draft policies for Land Use, Rural and Resource Lands, and Housing Elements • Key Questions and Feedback Next Steps INTERACTION: CDS. RECOMMENDATION: Advise CDS staff as to the Board's preferred method for receiving future updates. HANDLING: None. ATTACHMENTS: 2026 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update Planning Commission Briefing Memo dated September 1, 2025. Kittitas County 2026 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update Briefing Presentation for September 9,2025 Planning Commission Meeting. LEAD STAFF: Chad Bala, CDS Director Kimley>>>Horn TO: Chad Bala, Community Development Services Director Jeremy Johnston Long Range Planner FROM: Clay White, Kimley-Horn Erin O'Kelley, Kimley-Horn DATE: September 1,2025 RE: September 9, 2025-2026 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update— Planning Commission briefing We look forward to the opportunity to provide the Kittitas County Planning Commission with a briefing on the 2026 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update.The briefing will focus on providing a: • Approach to Comprehensive Plan Policy Development • Project overview, schedule, and timeline • Overview of Initial Draft policies for Land Use, Rural and Resource Lands, and Housing Elements • Key Questions and Feedback • Next Steps Preliminary Draft Policy Review This briefing is focused on initial draft policy changes for the Land Use, Rural and Resources Lands, and Housing Elements. We will discuss the process of developing and evaluating preliminary draft policies for each plan element, how we will engage the community through this process, and how early input will inform the draft comprehensive plan, which will be issued in late winter.The following tentative schedule has been prepared for the release of initial draft policies. September meeting October meeting November meeting • Land Use • Transportation • Environment • Rural • Capital Facilities and • Park, Open Space • Resources Lands Utilities • Economic Development • Housing • Easton Sub-area plan • Climate and Resilience Along with the Planning Commission review of preliminary draft policies for each plan element, each set will be released for public input. The public is welcome to forward comments to Kittitas Community Development.The preliminary comments received from the Planning Commission and the public will then assist the project team, as we develop the draft comprehensive plan. Developing and releasing initial draft policies: • Provides a process to receive early feedback from the Planning Commission • Provides more opportunities for the community to engage in the process • Provides greater opportunities to engage early in the plan development process • Breaks up the comprehensive plan into smaller pieces to make it easier to engage in the process To be clear,the initial draft policies are not meant to represent a complete set of policy changes which will be included in the Draft Comprehensive Plan. It is a starting point so the project team may receive additional feedback. After feedback is provided on each set of comprehensive plan elements,the draft comprehensive plan will be developed followed by the final comprehensive plan, which will be adopted by June 30, 2026. Draft PoLicy Comprehensive • • DeveLopment • Review Opportunities for the community to comment and engage throughout As part of this process,the project team will identify the reason for the proposed policy edits so that the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners have this information as the plan is evaluated. Categories of policy changes may include: • New or revised policies which align with comments received during community engagement • New or revised policies which align with feedback during the comment periods on the initial draft policies • New or revised policies to meet new state requirements • Policy changes to remove or modify policies which may no longer be needed or make policies more actionable At the September 9" briefing,the goal is to answer questions from the Planning Commission on proposed policy changes and discuss Kittitas County goals for the future as they relate to Land Use, Rural and Resources Lands, and Housing. We can then utilize that feedback to prepare additional goals for the future and policies which are actionable steps to achieve those goals. Turning the Plan Plan that meets state into annual requirements and local action State requirements vision Development Growthregulations • • • _ Implementation Management PLanningplan Act PoLicies � a � Localvision Community Implementable and goals fort ( visions for the goals and Annual the future future policies Implementation Preliminary Draft Policy Revisions—Summary The preliminary draft policy revisions are provided within the attached appendix.The following summarizes the preliminary draft policy changes. Land Use Element(Preliminary Draft Changes) • Reduce barriers for housing development in UGAs through coordination with cities and development regulations.* • Coordinate with various economic industries and Central Washington University to understand how land use can drive economic growth. • Ensure the land use supports resilience to wildfire,flooding, and drought.* *Policy changes proposed based on changes to state law since the last update Housing Policies(Preliminary Draft Changes) • Improve likelihood of development in Ellensburg and Cle Elum UGAs through incentives, flexible design, on-site and off-site production options.* • Monitor rural areas outside of Ellensburg UGAs. • Coordinate with partners, cities, Central Washington, resorts, recreation groups for housing opportunities. *Policy changes proposed based on changes to state law since the last update Rural and Resource(Preliminary Draft Changes) • Develop a long-term vision for rural areas around the Ellensburg UGA to reduce risk of urban sprawl. • Continue to improve rural areas through subarea planning efforts. • Improve community resilience in rural areas to wildfire, flooding, and drought.* • Coordinate with resorts and recreation groups to expand outdoor recreation access. • Explore future outdoor recreation improvements by seeking grants and other funding sources. Summary of Key New State Requirements we are required to address New Statutes Requirements HB 1220—Housing and Requires communities to plan for and accommodate housing Equity affordable to all economic segments of the population of this state. Also requires addressing and undoing racially disparate impacts of past policies on housing. HB 1181—Climate and Requires communities to plan for and mitigate potential climate resiliency exacerbated hazards applicable to their community through land use, transportation, and environmental planning. HB 1337—Accessory At least two ADUs (both attached, both detached, or one attached and dwelling units one detached) per lot must be allowed in residential zones in urban growth areas (UGAs)within all zones in urban growth areas where single family homes are permitted. ESHB 1293—Design Clear and objective design review standards to the exterior of new Review i development. Senate Bill 5275- Adds that development and development within limited areas of more LAMIRDs intense rural development(LAMIRD) be permitted subject to available public facilities and public services and be consistent with local character. Note—while this bill impacts the Rural Element to a greater extent,there is also a connection to the Housing Element. Kittitas County 2026 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update September 9, 2025 - Briefing Planning Commission Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update MEETING AGENDA • G MA Overview • Project Schedule, Timeline, Engagement • Approach to Policy Development • Overview of Initial Draft Policies : Land Use, Rural & Resource Lands, and Housing • Key Questions and Feedback • Next Steps GMA Overview Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update G ROWTH MANAG E M E NT ACT BAC KG RO U N D GMA PLANNING GOALS • Adopted in 1990 - Urban growth - Reduce sprawl • 15 goals to be balanced - Transportation - Housing • Requires development of a comprehensive - Economic development - Property rights plan and implementing regulations - Permits - Natural resource industries • Updated every 10 years looking Out - Open space and recreation 20 years - Environment - Citizen participation and coordination • Update deadline is June 30, 2026 - Public facilities and services - Historic preservation - Climate change and resiliency - Shoreline Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENTS Required Optional • Land Use • Conservation • Housing • Solar Energy • Capital Facilities • Utilities • Recreation • Rural • Subarea Plans • Transportation • Economic Development* • Parks and Recreation* • Climate/resilience Growth Countywide Comprehensive Development Management Act Planning Plan Regulations (GMA) Policies Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update HI ( LEVEL PROJECT OBJECTIVES 4 - Update policies and regulations P consistent with state law changes since .1 STATE COMMUNITY *a the last plan update 40 LAW VISION #0 % - Update policies and regulations consistent with any case law since the last update - Update critical area regulations consistent with new Best Available Science (BAS) - Plan for housing (by income band), population, and employment out to 2046 4 Key project requirements Balancing requirements Project Schedule & Timeline Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update PROJECT PHASES —A M Ew ON.a ►�T DATA PLAN FINAL PLAN CODE DEVELOPMENT COLLECTION DRAFTING DRAFTING & SEPA Summer 2025 Fall 2025 Winter 2026 Spring 2026 Community Engagement Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update FALL SI. O . . - Event/Task Erw L A September Planning Commission Policy Review: Land use, rural, resource, housing 30-Day Public Comment Period October Planning Commission Policy Review: Transportation, capital facilities, utilities 30-Day Public Comment Period November Planning Commission Policy Review: Environment, parks and open space, climate and resilience, economic development 30-Day Public Comment Period Winter 2026 Release of Draft Comprehensive Plan Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS Turning the Plan Plan that meets state into annual requirements and local action State requirements vision Development regulations Growth Countywide Cmprehens' L Implementation Management � Planning * � P la n Other Plans and� plan programsL Act -A L Policies -A L Local vision Community Implementable and goals for visions for the goals and Annual the future future policies Implementation Engagement Update Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update COMPLETED ENGAGEMENT i COMMUNITY PROJECT WEBSITE EASTON OPEN FARMERS SURVEY HOUSE MARKET CLE-ELUM OPEN HOUSE Policy Revision Methodology Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update COMPLETED ENGAGEMENT I� 4"66.: GMA REGIONAL COMMUNITY COUNTY VISION REQUIREMENTS CONSISTENCY VISION Preliminary Draft Policies MOCKi:ttitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update LANr USI FLEMEF NMI" OVERVIEW • The land use element focuses on : • The distribution and general location of land uses and densities • Protection of water quantity and quality • The connection between land use, densities, and health outcomes • Planning approaches focused on connecting jobs and housing to promote balance and increase the health of the community • Reducing wildfire risks through land use approaches Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update LAND USE - OVERVIEW OF INITIAL POLICY CHANGES • Reduce barriers for housing development in UGAs through coordination with cities and development regulations. • Coordinate with various economic industries and Central Washington University to understand how Land use can drive economic growth . • Ensure the land use supports resilience to wildfire, flooding, and drought. Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update LANr USI - DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS • Planning Commission questions on initial draft policy changes. • Are there long-term county goals for land use we should focus on . • Where there are long-term county goals identified , the project team will develop draft steps, through policies to create an action strategy. Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update SOUSING EI-7M : NT OVERVIEW • The housing element focuses on : • Providing housing options to meet the needs of the community ranging from single family housing to for moderate, low, very low, and extremely low- income households • Programs and incentives to achieve housing goals • Options to focus housing closer to jobs to achieve balance • Consideration and mitigation for housing displacement Policy approach and implementation must recognize differences between housing planned for Urban vs. Rural areas Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update HOUSING - OVERVIEW OF INITIAL POLICY CHANGFR • Improve likelihood of development in Ellensburg and Cle Elum UGAs through incentives, flexible design , on-site and off-site production options. • Monitor rural areas outside of Ellensburg UGAs. • Coordinate with partners, cities, Central Washington , resorts, recreation groups for housing opportunities. Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update HOUSING - QUr= " IONS • What housing issues are you seeing? • Affordability • Housing choice • Development barriers • What may be the best ways to i ncentivize housing development? • Preserving open space • Cluster subdivision changes • Incentives that meet the housing market demand but also assist in meeting county goals. • How can we mitigate impacts from vacation homes? Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update E �EM � NT OVERVIEW RURAL AN [ RFSOUR%.. i • For Counties, a rural element is required under the GMA and establish rural densities and uses. • Natural resource lands must be designated, but do not require a separate element. • The rural element establishes the future vision for: • Rural residential • LAMIRDs • Master planned resorts • Rural working lands • Rural recreation • Liberty historic district • Resource lands: agricultural, mineral, forest Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update RURAL & RESOURCE - OVERVIEW OF INITIAL POLICY CHANGES • Develop along-term vision for rural areas around the Ellensburg UGA to reduce risk of urban sprawl. • Continue to improve rural areas through subarea planning efforts. • Adjust changes to address recent state changes for LAMIRDs. • Improve community resilience in rural areas to wildfire, flooding, and drought. • Coordinate with resorts and recreation groups to expand outdoor recreation access. • Explore future outdoor recreation improvements by seeking grants and other funding sources. Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update RURAL ANC PFSOUR afth, wr - QUESTIONS • What is the future vision for rural lands? • Agricultural and Forest lands • Rural development • Energy • Around in the Ellensburg UGA Next Steps ECKitfi:tas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update '"T STEPS • Release the initial Land Use, Rural and Resource, and Housing policies for a 30-day comment period • Summarize community and Planning Commission feedback for use within the Draft Comprehensive Plan • Prepare initial draft policy changes for review in October by the Planning Commission and community — Transportation , Capital Fac, Utility Elements • September Engagement Events — Bite of Ellensburg, Farmers Markets • October Planning Commission • November Planning Commission • Small Meetings with Stakeholders Sep/Oct/Nov