2022-02-14-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: February 14, 2022 TOPIC: Revisions to Kittitas County Code: 12.01.130,15A.01.040 and 15A.07.015 ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff to Docket Updates with Planning Commission and CDS LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff prepare materials for Planning Commission presentation. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Recent failure in developing a quorum of Road Variance Committee members underscores the need to revise the variance process (two recent failures). • On September 3, 2021, Public Works (PW) received direction from the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) to draft revisions to County Code. • Revisions to code are now the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for final review. • PW will coordinate with Community Development Services once we have PA approval on proposed revisions. BACKGROUND: For the past several years, PW has struggled to consistently manage requests for variance to our road standards. The BoCC was briefed early fall 2021 on the issue and direction was given to revise the process. Revisions are complete and awaiting submission to the Planning Commission — as Chapter 12 contains development regulations. DISCUSSION: The proposed process (redlines attached) has all variance requests going to the County Engineer for consideration. The applicant can then appeal the County Engineer's determination to the Public Works Director. The Director's decision can then be appealed to the Hearings Examiner. The process requires changes to: KCC 12.01.130 with additions to KCC 15A.01.040 and 15A.07.015. FISCAL IMPACTS: None are identified at this time. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit 1: PROPOSED REVISIONS TO KITTITAS COUNTY CODE (12.01.130, 15A.01.040 AND KCC 15A.07.015) Page i of 2 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2021