2017-07-10-minutes-public-hearing-moratorium-on-solar-projects-

Home Browse Search

07/10/2017 MINUTES 1 COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY 6:00 P.M. JULY 10, 2017 Board members present: Chairman Paul Jewell and Vice-Chairman Laura Osiadacz. Excused: Commissioner Obie O’Brien. Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Dan Carlson, CDS Director; Dusty Pilkington, Staff Planner and approximately 20 members of the public. PUBLIC HEARING SOLAR PROJECT MORATORIUM EXTENSION CDS At 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN JEWELL opened a Public Hearing to consider an extension of a moratorium on solar projects that qualify as major alternative energy systems. DAN CARLSON, CDS DIRECTOR provided a Staff Report on consideration of continuing a moratorium on solar projects that qualify as major alternative energy systems including the background, proposed work plan, analysis and recommendation. He said the work plan was developed for adopting standards and/or criteria within one year of placement of the moratorium. The Plan also included the formation of a Citizen Advisory Committee; Inventory, Studies, Analysis; Community Open Houses; Public Review and Comments on Draft Regulations; a Hearing by the Planning Commission; SEPA; and a Public Hearing and decision by the Board of County Commissioners. It was noted they hoped to get the process completed by the end of 2017. THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: PAT CLERF read testimony into the record from Patricia Clerf encouraging the Board to extend the moratorium in hopes to prevent developers from applying to EFSEC. She thought additional time was needed to allow the County to find more appropriate locations for the industrial, utility solar projects. JEFF DUNNING submitted written comments into the record and felt a countywide moratorium toward solar development on all lands seemed somewhat drastic considering what brought it about which was a proposed small solar project in irrigated agricultural land, and the opposition seems to be largely based on aesthetics. JENNIFER NELSON, WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE submitted a letter into the record, noting they neither support or oppose the solar projects, but would like to provide general guidance to avoid or minimize impacts to fish and wildlife habitats from solar energy development. They hoped that a representative could be to be a part of the Citizens Advisory Committee. JAMES CARKNER said he was in favor of solar projects as a taxpayer but opposed placing them on