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RECEIVED DEC 1 : 2013 Honorable Kittitas County Commissioners KITTITr AS St�?.nd OF 3rd b BOARD O(F'COM NZ,S10^i.:;iS December 9, 2013 D� Dear Sirs: I had the privilege of attending your recent(Dec. 51h) hearing regarding the crafting of county code for marijuana grow operations in Kittitas County. As a resident of this county and living in a rural neighborhood,I am particularly interested in this issue. In the Weaver Road neighborhood,where I live,most homes are on parcels that are zoned Ag 20,ranging in size from 3 to 20+ acres.This is truly a residential neighborhood; the families that live here have children and are here because of the rural character. My concern stems from the fact that there are lots available for sale in the neighborhood,zoned Ag 20 with KRD water that will be targeted by mArijuana growers. Given the type of crop and the federal and state regulations that would apply there is no question they would have an adverse impact on the safety, rural character and property values of the neighborhood. I would like to see the county take a stand on the medical marijuana industry before it becomes established in the county. I believe that the Kittitas County Council should impose an indefinite moratorium on the siting and permitting of all levels of these businesses until appropriate zoning at the county level can be crafted and adopted. It is up to the county to consider population density,safety, crime, neighborhood sentiment,traffic,sight distances,set backs from school,etc. in a plan that the community as a Whole can embrace. This is the right and responsibility of county government no mAter what state and federal regulations are. If,as the commissioners have considered,this industry is defined as"commerci'l agriculture" and permits are issued on a conditional use basis,the processes becomes subjective and open to persuasion. Without strict zoning and siting criteria,a marijuana grow operation could be permitted in a location that,in the future, is found to be inappropriate. If this should happen,permits would be difficult and costly to revoke; furthermore,these cases would become precedent setting in future siting. If these operations are identified as a unique land use (marijuana grow), county code could be crafted to address the specific requirements for siting. If zoning for marijuana businesses were in place and the county developed a GIS overlay map, clearly showing where these operations are permitted,it would greatly simplify the process. Growers would know exactly where their operations were permitted, existing neighborhoods would be protected and people interested in building new homes could purchase land with a clear understanding of surrounding land use. In essence this is what the county did for the wind energy industry.