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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />2023 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: September 25, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Search and Rescue Wetland Impacts <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Support staffs decision completing design and environmental permitting for the Search <br />and Rescue facility in Cle Elum, WA. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Public Works (PW) has been leading the design and environmental permitting <br />effort supporting the development of a new search and rescue facility in Cle <br />Elum, WA. <br />• A couple of months back, during final environmental permit preparation, a small <br />wetland was discovered on site. <br />• Our current Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) imposes a wetland buffer of <br />sufficient size that renders the site useless for search and rescue facility purposes. <br />• County code contemplates such an occurrence at KCC 17A.01.060 Exceptions. <br />• A critical areas report is currently being produced consistent with KCC <br />17A.01.080 and will provide the basis for an exception request. <br />• The Director then reviews the request and shall: approve, approve with <br />conditions, or deny the request. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />PW is nearing completion of the environmental permitting phase of the project. Site <br />impacts from a small wetland onsite negate the use of the property owing to CAO <br />required wetland buffer size. KCC 17A.01.060 allows exceptions for a public agency_ <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Once the required critical areas report is completed and reviewed by the Director <br />(PWICDS), a decision regarding a requested exception shall be consistent with the <br />requirements of KCC 15A.03. The criteria for review and approval appear below for <br />Board of County Commission consideration: <br />i. There is no other practical alternative to the proposed development with less <br />impact on the critical area and its buffer; <br />ii. The application of this Title would unreasonably restrict the ability to provide <br />utility and/or agency services to the public; <br />Page I of 3 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 <br />