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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />COUNTY OF KITTITAS <br />STATE OF WASHINGTON <br />Resolution No. 2023 <br />ENACTING A MORATORIUM ON LAND USE DEVELOPMENT FOR ANY PARCEL <br />IN THE ELK MEADOWS COMMUNITY THAT RELIES ON THE MCELROY <br />BRIDGE FOR ACCESS <br />WHEREAS: Elk Meadows is a residential community located in Cle Elum WA that is served by <br />the Elk Meadows Homeowners Association; and <br />WHEREAS: some of the residences in the community are accessed via the McElroy Road <br />Bridge; and <br />WHEREAS: on December 13, 2021, the McElroy Road Bridge collapsed causing a garbage <br />truck to fall into the Yakima River; and <br />WHEREAS: local and state authorizations (including Washington State Department of Fish and <br />Wildlife (WDFW)) were granted to re -install the bridge for temporary use with the stipulation <br />that a permanent replacement structure would follow; and <br />WHEREAS: the Flood Control Zone District conditioned the final fate of the bridge on the <br />pending remapping of the Easton Reach of the Yakima River; and <br />WHEREAS: the County engaged Watershed Science and Engineering to evaluate the McElroy <br />Bridge and its impact on flooding as well as to provide a design concept for a replacement <br />bridge; and <br />WHEREAS: analysis regarding replacement bridge structure requirements is nearing <br />completion and reveals that imposing state and local standards will likely be onerous and costly; <br />and <br />WHEREAS: it is unknown at this time whether a replacement bridge can or will be built in a <br />timely manner; and <br />WHEREAS: without a replacement bridge, existing landowners will not have access to their <br />property, nor will any potential future buyers; and <br />WHEREAS: given the status of uncertainty regarding bridge replacement feasibility, the County <br />believes it prudent to stop future land use development pending a final decision on the fate of the <br />bridge; and <br />WHEREAS: RCW 36.70A.390 allows adoption of a moratorium on land use activities for sixty <br />(60) days without holding a public hearing; and <br />