2017-2037 Comp Plan Update Enabling Ordinance with Exhibit A

Home Browse Search

KITTITAS COUNTY Page 83 Comprehensive Plan RURAL AND RESOURCE LANDS INTRODUCTION Rural lands are characterized by a lower level of services; mixed residential, agricultural and open space uses; broad visual landscapes and parcels of varying sizes, a variety of housing types and small unincorporated communities. Rural lands often have an established land use pattern that inhibits urban character and are generally, and anticipated to continue to be, served by septic systems and individual wells or small community water systems. The Rural and Resource Lands chapter of the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan addresses unincorporated portion of the County outside Urban Growth Areas (UGA). The Land Use Element in Chapter 2 and the Rural and Resource Lands chapter together form the basis for future land use patterns within the County. They also form a basis for decision makers to make land use decisions in the unincorporated areas in Kittitas County. This Chapter is in two sections. The first section discusses land use designations for the County’s rural lands and is the County’s Rural Element. It outlines the goals, policies and objectives related to protecting rural character with a variety of densities as required by the Washington State Growth Management Act. (RCW 36.70A.070(5)) Rural lands are outside UGAs and commercial agricultural, commercial forest, and mineral lands. The second section provides for goals, policies and objectives for the County’s resource lands. Resource lands are considered the commercial agriculture lands, the commercial forested lands and mineral lands. GOALS The State of Washington Growth Management Act requires that the County “include measures that apply to rural development and protect the rural character of the area as established by the County.” These measures must be used to control rural development, assure visual compatibility of rural development with surrounding areas, reduce sprawl and protect against conflict with the use of agricultural, forest and mineral resource lands (RCW 36.70A.070). The definition of “Rural Character” is defined at RCW 36.70A.030(16) and is the basis for the following broad goals in this Element. RR-G1: Open space and visual and natural landscape should predominate over the built environment RR-G2: Opportunities should exist for traditional rural lifestyle and rural based economies. RR-G3: Spaces and development should be compatible with fish & wildlife habitat RR-G4: Undeveloped land should not be converted to development of sprawl and low density.