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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-14 6:00 PM - Joint Board of County Commissioners & Planning Commission - Minutes KITTITAS COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETIING MINUTES Courthouse RM 201 , ELLENSBURG Public Meeting TUESDAY 6 : 00 PM Al Board members present: Bruce Coe, Joseph Pearson, Judith Jackson, Pat Deneen, Warren Taylor, Scott Carlson, and Bill Hinkle . Board of County Commissioners present : Cory Wright, Brett Wachsmith, and Laura Osiadacz . Absent: None Others : Chad Bala, CDS Director; Jeremy Johnston, Long Range Planner; Ellie Myers, Planner; Zach Torrance-Smith, Planner; Jessica Miller, Office Administrator; Stephanie Hartung, Chief Administrative Deputy; Clay White, Kimley-Horn; Erin O' Kelley, Kimley-Horn; Zoey Tapert, Kimley-Horn; Kyle Catchett, Facet; and two (2) members of the public. The meeting was called to order at 6 : 00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER - Roll Call CITIZEN COMMENTS (1 min. time limit) Debbie Bogart - Easton Resident - Ms . Bogart thanked the consultants and staff, especially Jeremy Johnston for their work. She noted that public participation wasn' t as high as it could have been. Ms . Bogart suggested establishing a rural unincorporated council to support staff outreach efforts, facilitate access and enable community to give input or propose changes . This would increase the participation from your rural unincorporated communities . APPROVAL OF MINUTES COMMISSIONER JACKSON moved to approve the minutes from March 17, 2026 as presented. COMMISSIONER PEARSON seconded. Discussion - none . Motion passed 7-0 . APPROVAL OF FINDINGS CDS DIRECTOR CHAD BALA presented the Findings of Fact that support the recommendation by the Planning Commission that occurred at the March 17, 2026 public hearing. The Findings of Fact are built off the record, the comments that were submitted 2026-4-14 MINUTES 1 during the hearing, off the testimonies received, minutes and the recording of the hearing. COMMISSIONER HINKLE moved to approve the Findings of Fact submitted by staff. COMMISSIONER CARLSON seconded. Discussion - COMMISSIONER HINKLE stated that staff did a really good job compiling and presenting the Findings of Fact . Motion passed 7-0 . Introductions of staff and consultants occurred. NEW BUSINESS CLEAN ENERGY SITING AND PERMITTING (CESP) GRANT CDS DIRECTOR BALA provided a brief introduction of the project . He sated CDS received a grant in the amount of $790, 000 for clean energy siting and permitting. This allows us to do, through the Department of Commerce, a programmatic EIS over the entire Kittitas county to take a look at our existing energy uses, solar, wind, and battery storage items that we already process with respect to utilities under the code . It also allows us to look at other types of energy uses that may be feasible in Kittitas county to where we can bring in some economic drivers regarding that industry. The goal is to complete this project the end of June 2027 . ZOEY TAPERT, Kimley-Horn, presented the PowerPoint presentation. She stated this project is a review and potential update of the local permitting process for established and energy technologies . This will be done by completing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate suitable areas and mitigation measures for different potential energy uses . The energy uses to be studied include utility scale solar, utility scale wind, geothermal energy, battery energy storage systems (BESS) , and small modular reactors (SMRs) . The project goals are to determine what clean energy types are most suitable for permitting, to strengthen community control of permitting in Kittitas County for identified energy projects, develop and/or modify county code where appropriate, and create a streamlined permitting process where energy uses may be appropriate . COMMISSIONER HINKLE asked why transmission is not on the list of energy uses to be studied. ZOEY TAPERT stated the energy uses that were selected were part of the grant application and ones that received confirmation from the Board of County Commissioners . COMMISSIONER HINKLE asked if we are going to do 2026-4-14 MINUTES 2 this with the capacity we have or are we going to anticipate the need for more capacity. He stated it took ten years to get the last high transmission line across the county permitted. CDS DIRECTOR BALA stated that as part of this process, we already have a stakeholder list and some of those contacts are Kittitas County PUD and PSE . Staff will be reaching out to those groups and BPA in regard to the capacity. ZOEY TAPERT continued sharing the project goals . She stated this project is focusing on where these energies may be appropriate, and how to create a streamlined process for it on the local level . COMMISSIONER TAYLOR asked what the primary funding source is for this grant . ZOEY TAPERT stated it is through the state of Washington, they have a clean energy siting and permitting grant project through the energy program and communities . The project charter and engagement plan was presented and discussed. COMMISSIONER HINKLE shared that when you talk about determining what strategies we used and why, that wind and solar commercial farms have a huge footprint . Can we compare the large commercial farms to a residential distribution where we meet the need for more capacity but don' t have to build more transmission lines? He stated that we should look at what the cost benefit analysis is for a residential distribution strategy versus a strategy of building more farms . CHAIR COE shared the more localized you can have your energy production, the less problems there will be . COMMISSIONER TAYLOR asked what kind of growth tables are being allocated and used for this project . Are we looking at 5 to 10 years down the road for population growth and community overall expansion needs? ZOEY TAPERT stated that as part of the environmental elements that are being studied, growth factors were not one of the ones that was currently selected because the focus has been on the energy uses and their environmental impacts . CLAY WHITE shared that where the County doesn' t permit uses does not mean that they won' t get permitted, it just means that they have to go to the state to get permitted. Part of this project is to keep local controls over permitting processes so that staff can evaluate and make the decisions . The project kicked off in February and is set to complete June 2027 . The phases of the project was presented. Currently staff is launching the community engagement piece, comment period is open, they are beginning to do outreach to agencies, tribes and community groups, and beginning the EIS outline . 2026-4-14 MINUTES 3 The county is looking at the current draft alternatives or different pathways under the State Environmental Protection Act . The public comment period is open from April 16th to May 18th. Staff is seeking public comments on EIS alternatives to consider, EIS elements of the environment, probable significant adverse impacts, minimization and mitigation measures, and licenses or other approvals that may be required. There will be a scoping open house in early May to provide informational materials about project goals, purpose, timeline, and opportunities for questions . Discussion of small modular reactors and fission versus fusion occurred. CDS DIRECTOR BALA stated that staff and Kimley-Horn picked the small modular reactor scenario and through that they decided to get ahead of it to see if we have an opportunity to get this process, develop the mitigation requirements, identify what those are, create a process if needed, and try and develop something that we retain control of for processing. PLANNER ELLIE MYERS shared that the public website for this grant is live on the CDS webpage . The scoping notice has been issued and will run through May 18th. There is an email on our website to submit written comments . They may also be submitted at the office or through the mail . 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PERIODIC UPDATE: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE REVIEW CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE UPDATE - CDS DIRECTOR BALA provided a brief introduction to the update . He stated that in 2025, CDS settled with the Yakama Nation and we became BAS compliant . Staff received one comment on the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) from Fish and Wildlife . ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER KYLE COTCHETT, from Facet presented. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER COTCHETT stated that we are updating the CAO because the Growth Management Act requires all cities and counties in Washington to adopt and periodically update regulations to protect critical areas on a ten year cycle and must incorporate the best available science . The minor changes focus on consistency, clarity, and administration. Clarifications were made for the repair and maintenance of legally established non-conforming system structures . The requirement for all development within critical aquifer recharge areas needs to adhere to federal and state requirements and recommendations related to water source protection. Revisions were made to allow the director to have the discretion to require revegetation or widening of a wetland buffer when not meeting vegetation standards . COMMISSIONER 2026-4-14 MINUTES 4 DENEEN asked who does the study? ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER COTCHETT stated that they had conducted a literature review on Kittitas County specifically. Discussion of validating if a wetland is on properties in Kittitas County and hiring a consultant to verify if there is or is not a wetland through a critical areas report occurred. COMMISSIONER DENEEN suggested the county hire an environmentalist to do this instead of the property owner having to pay for this service . Discussion on wetland banking occurred. CDS DIRECTOR BALA stated that wetland banking is a viable option and staff looked at possibly doing that on certain pieces of properties with the former Public Works Director. There are maintenance components, additional staff costs and watering costs to consider. CDS DIRECTOR BAIA stated we do have a TDR program that deals with density in critical areas that works if someone has the property, has the units and they have the other property to send them to . He stated the Planning Commission hearing will be on May 12, 2026 . COMMISSIONER WACHSMITH stated we have talked about funding a position with CDS and the request has been heard. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PERIODIC UPDATE - DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ERIN O'KELLEY, Kimley-Horn, stated that as part of the Growth Management Act requirements of updating the Comprehensive Plan, we are required to also make sure the Development Regulations are consistent with any changes made to the Comprehensive Plan. ERIN O'KELLEY provided an overview of the Growth Management Act and the Comprehensive Plan process . The Development Regulations are seen as a tool to help implement the Comprehensive Plan policies . This meeting is the first briefing and introduction provided to the Planning Commissioners . The public hearing is scheduled for May 12th with the possibility of continuing to May 13th. She stated that the reasons for the proposed changes include aligning with the changes to the Comprehensive Plan and addressing recent changes in state law. There are eleven key changes that are being focused on: 1) Major Industrial Developments - Establishing a process for new Major Industrial Developments (MID) is about making sure that the Comprehensive Plan allows for opportunities for economic growth and explore what might be available . The Major Industrial Developments as proposed in the code would be permitted similar to Master Plan Resorts where they would go to the county and would enter into a development agreement process . 2026-4-14 MINUTES 5 Staff chose to adopt the existing permit pathways already in the code for MIDs . 2) Unrelated persons in a household or dwelling unit - With the Growth Management Act you can' t limit the number of people in a household. There were some references to residential occupancy that was removed. The unit dwelling definition was also changed to the state' s definition. 3) Family daycare providers - This item was discussed in the Comprehensive Plan and was also changed in the Growth Management Act as well to allow family daycare providers in all residential and commercial zones . 4) Co-living housing - This item had a larger change but the details apply more to cities . Specifically we do need to allow "co-living housing" in urban areas . Kittitas County is largely rural areas, so this doesn' t apply, but in the urban growth area sections we used the existing definition of boarding houses . 5) Affordable housing and density bonuses - This item applies to property owned by religious organizations . COMMISSIONER DENEEN asked why he would not be allowed to get density bonuses to build affordable housing. ERIN O'KELLEY stated that for this situation, they focused on what the state is requiring. If we wanted to allow an affordable housing density bonus out in rural areas, that would be an additional analysis or checking facilities and density changes and at this point staff was trying to meet the minimum requirements expected with regard to state law. 6) STEP housing - This item refers to shelter, transitional housing, emergency housing and permanent supportive housing. The county does have and ILA with the City of Ellensburg and the City will be updating and accommodating these STEP housing requirements so that they are allowed. Staff added in the definitions to be consistent . COMMISSIONER JACKSON asked if there are regulations when putting STEP housing near daycares, schools, parks and playgrounds . ERIN O'KELLEY stated that daycares have their own buffers but, in this draft, that was not included. Public member Debbie Bogart asked how this could be implemented county-wide if there isn' t an ILA in place . CDS DIRECTOR BALA stated we would need to develop ILAs with each municipality. ERIN O'KELLEY stated the cities do have to allow the STEP housing and the reasoning behind that is that the cities generally have public transportation and are close to jobs so that helps to reduce the amount of people living in them. 7) Retrofits and fagade changes for residential - The county must allow modifications to existing residential buildings to encroach within a setback. 2026-4-14 MINUTES 6 8) Residential parking regulations - The county must limit parking regulations for residential housing projects . There are exceptions related to tandem parking, garage parking, and enclosed parking. 9) Siting of organic materials - This items involves making sure that we are allowing the siting of organic facilities . Typically compose facilities must be allowed in urban growth areas . There is an allowed discretion on where to allow these . Staff did consult with the Waste Facility Manager regarding making sure that their changes were consistent with this item. It is allowed in commercial and industrial across the urban growth areas . 10) Adjust docketing timelines - This item adjusts the annual Comprehensive Plan "docket" deadline to the first Friday in April to correspond with changes to the Comprehensive Plan. The additional month will provide more time to evaluate annual applications . ERIN O'KELLEY stated that all of these materials are available on the public website and the public comment period for this draft of Development Regulations was noticed through the newspaper and a mass email was sent out . COMMISSIONER TAYLOR asked about attachment B, section 17 .29 . 140, bullet point 3 . It states the "gross floor area shall be measured from the interior face of the exterior walls..." . He stated traditionally it has always been the exterior wall and the length of the building to determine your permit fee and taxable area. ERIN O'KELLEY stated that building inspectors go off of the building code and it states how they are supposed to measure square footage . The planning law and zoning regulation has the discretion to measure square footage differently. COMMISSIONER DENEEN asked for staff to present about the land use tables and provided a handout of his suggested modifications, this was submitted into record. CDS DIRECTOR BALA stated that CDS staff started to review the update in general, for the land use tables, prior to hiring consultant Kimley-Horn. This review was put on hold and will be brought back before the Planning Commissioners after the state law changes and update process has been completed so a thorough conversation can occur. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR shared that the Planning Commissioners should take this time to look over the document provided by Commissioner Deneen and compare it to the land use table and be prepared when the discussion is a meeting topic. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business . 2026-4-14 MINUTES 7 OTHER BUSINESS - No Action to be taken CHAIR COE announced his resignation. He stated that his verbal resignation would be in lieu of a letter or email and this would be his last meeting. CHAIR COE concluded the Kittitas County Planning Commission public meeting. Public meeting ended at 8 : 00 pm. 2026-4-14 MINUTES 8