CU-18-00001 Vantage Pomona Heights Master File

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VIII. PROJECT ANALYSIS In review of this proposal it is important to consider the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan, applicable county code, public and agency comments, any identified environmental concerns and state and federal requirements. Identified below is planning staff’s analysis and consistency review for the subject application. Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan: The proposal is consistent with the goals and policies of the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan. As referenced above in Section V of this staff report, the following Comprehensive Plan GPO’s apply to this proposal: GPO 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7, 6.18, and 6.21. Provided the applicant follows and maintains the GPOs, they shall be in compliance with the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan. The applicant is proposing a 27.6 mile, 230 kV transmission line which improves the utilities for the county and region. Therefore the County and applicant are in compliance with the Comprehensive plan. Consistency with the provisions of KCC 17.56, Forest and Range zoning: This proposal is consistent with the Kittitas County Zoning Code 17.56 as conditioned. Utilities are permitted in all zoning districts. Consistency with the provisions of KCC 17.31, Commercial Agriculture zoning: This proposal is consistent with the Kittitas County Zoning Code 17.31 as conditioned. Utilities are permitted in all zoning districts. Consistency with the provision of KCC 17.61, Utilities: This proposal is consistent with the Kittitas County Zoning Code 17.61.030 as conditioned. The project proposal is classified as a “Special Utility” under 17.61.010 (2)(b). Consistency with the provisions of KCC 17.60A, Conditional Uses: This proposal, as conditioned, is consistent with the Kittitas County Zoning Code for Conditional Uses. The proposed conditional use will be adequately served by rural levels of service. As conditioned, staff finds the proposal is 1) desirable to public convenience, 2) will not be detrimental to public health, safety or welfare, 3) is not economically detrimental to the public, 4) is adequately serviced by public facilities, 5) is compatible with the neighborhood character, and 6) is consistent with the character of the zoning district. The project is being proposed outside of the UGA. KCC 17.60A.015(7) requires 4 additional review criteria considerations; 1) the proposed project is consistent with the intent, goals, policies, and objectives of the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan including Chapter 8, Rural and Resource Lands as demonstrated above, 2) preserves “rural character” as defined by GMA 36.70A.030, 3) requires only rural government resources, and does not compromise the long term viability of designated resource lands. Consistency with the provisions of the KCC Title 17A, Critical Areas: CDS conducted an administrative critical areas review in accordance with KCC 17A and found that most of the project would rely on existing roads in areas that have critical area buffers. CDS staff did identify some access roads, both existing and proposed, that may require HPA permitting through WDFW should the projects access road changes require work within or along the banks of these streams (See Index #26). CDS found no wetlands along the proposed route and no structures are proposed to be placed within the floodplain. The FEIS document adopted by reference (See Index # 34) addresses in detail, potential critical area interaction mitigations related to this project. Finally this project crosses a Priority Habitat Species (PHS) designation: Mount Baldy Big Horn Sheep Winter Range. As conditioned, this project is consistent with the provisions of KCC 17A. Index # 33