PD-17-00001 Marian Meadows Full Record with Index (2)

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i ittit as County Fire District #3 P.O. Box 52 • Easton, WA 98925 July 17, 2017 Kittitas County Community Development Services 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 2 Ellensburg, WA. 98926 Attn: Mr. Dan Carlson Regarding — Marion Meadows PUD (PD -17-00001) Associated Conditional Use Permit (CU -17-00001) Development Agreement (DV -17-00001) Long Plat (LP -17-00001) Subject: Fire Department Concerns Easton Fire Department has commented on previous proposals for Marion Meadows and the Environmental Impact Statement. We would hope and encourage CDS to do a thorough review of all of 3.4.2 Fire Protection in the FEIS. Easton Fire Department is a small rural fire department with a very dedicated group of volunteers. A check of Kit Com's record of page outs to EFD #3 will reveal rapid and dependable responses for fire calls, medic calls and emergencies on I-90. We have many concerns with the high density development proposal for Marion Meadows PUD, PD -17-00001. We agree with the comments in the FEIS that recommend avoiding any development on the steep slopes. The updraft on the slope along with winds created by wildfire would be an extreme danger for any residents. Moving an engine or a tender up that slope would put our fire fighters and equipment at extreme risk. The scar from the last wild fire moving up that ridge is still visible. That fire had to be fought with planes and helicopters. We are also concerned about the density of the properties in a forested environment and our ability to protect adjacent structures in the event of a fire. Five acre parcels, as currently zoned, with defensible space around each structure would be extremely beneficial in our ability to stop a wild land fire and protect people and property. Also of concern is the fact that East Sparks Road is the only access to this area. In the winter we have a chronic problem with vehicles, including semi -trucks, stuck and totally blocking ingress and egress for local residents and fire and medical response. This can take hours to get resolved. During these blockages %Z of our volunteers cannot respond to the Fire Station and we cannot respond to a structure fire or medical emergency via East Sparks Road. Our community has submitted letters, photos and many 911 calls regarding this issue with little results. Adding another 90 structures and possibly 200 to 300 more people greatly increases the odds for an unnecessary tragedy. fv�c,—,-n&`1 F i c -PZ