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ranching operation, has been rezoned and is now a planned unit <br />development. Additionally, a wind farm has been proposed on both sides <br />of Hwy 97 and the Bettas road area, which is currently under the review <br />of the Washington State Governor for approval. If approval is granted, <br />this wind farm will create an additional major change of circumstance. <br />The future of cattle ranching in the upper county is very Iimited. To <br />continue their family business of cattle ranching, the previous owner <br />found that they had to move a portion of their operation out of state <br />where they could purchase large parcels of land that would help to <br />guarantee the continuation of the family cattle ranch operation. The <br />establishment of this PUD and the associated open space that is being <br />created through the PUD will allow the working farm that lays in the <br />bottom of the Swank Valley to continue its operation. Without the PUD <br />designation for this land, the highest and best use of this property will be <br />to divide the subject property into five acre lots, as allowed under the <br />current zone, and sell it for the development of residential housing units. <br />In addition to the above changed circumstances there is a need for <br />additional property in the proposed zone as this proposed zone will allow <br />the creation of open space which will provide for the continued operation <br />of the farm/ranch while allowing residential development to occur outside <br />of the flat lands of the Swank Valley. <br />The proposed zone is appropriate for reasonable development of the <br />subject property because as stated above this proposed zone will allow the <br />creation of open space which will provide for the continued operation of <br />the farm/ranch while allowing residential development to occur outside of <br />the flat lands of the Swank Valley. In addition, this zone will allow the use <br />of an expanded Group A Water System and a new Class A Reclaimed <br />Water System, which is an environmental benefit to its residents and the <br />county as a whole. <br />In addition to the above the following has also affected the property: <br />- In 1992, Forest Range property was zoned from 1 -acre minimum <br />lot size to 20 -acre minimum lot size. <br />- The Comprehensive Plan was created in 1972, amended in 1996 <br />amended again in 1997 to include Rural Lands, which this land is <br />designated and in 2006 it went through the required 10 -year <br />update process. <br />Z-07-08 and LL -08-02 <br />Dunford PUD Rezone and <br />Preliminary Large Lot Subdivision <br />Page 13 of 28 <br />