March 24 2025 CDS Study Session Final Packet

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Project Background The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires cities and counties to update Comprehensive Plans and implementing development regulations every 10 years (RCW 36.70A.130). Comprehensive Plans are 20-year policy documents that guide and plan for growth (population and employment), housing, transportation, capital facilities and utilities, parks, recreation and open space, rural areas, and protection of natural resource lands (RCW 36.70A.070). Kittitas County will be updating their comprehensive plan by June 30, 2026. This Public Participation Plan (PPP) outlines how the community will be engaged during the project and given specific opportunities for providing feedback on the plan. Throughout the engagement process, the County and consultant staff will seek to understand the vision, goals and priorities of the community. This feedback from the public will provide staff information necessary to shape policy and standards that reflect the character and values of Kittitas County. The Public Participation Program (PPP) is required by state law (RCW 36.70A.140), which states: "Comprehensive plans — Ensure public participation. Each county and city that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall establish and broadly disseminate to the public a public participation program identifying procedures providing for early and continuous public participation in the development and amendment of comprehensive land use plans and development regulations implementing such plans. The procedures shall provide for broad dissemination of proposals and alternatives, opportunity for written comments, public meetings after effective notice, provision for open discussion, communication programs, information services, and consideration of and response to public comments..." The PPP outlines how the community will be engaged during the project and given specific opportunities for providing feedback on the plan. Throughout the engagement process, the County and consultant staff will seek to understand the vision, goals, and priorities of the community. This feedback from the public will provide staff information necessary to shape policy and standards that reflect the character and values of Kittitas County. Feedback will be collected, reviewed and incorporated into the engagement summaries which will in turn be used for plan updates prior to its presentation before County decision makers for plan adoption. This plan will be used by County staff and consultants to guide engagement during the comprehensive plan update process. 2026 Periodic Update In 2023, the Growth Management Act was revised to require a "Climate Change and Resiliency Element" be added which will be a new chapter to the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan. This chapter is often interchangeably called the "Climate Element". As Kittitas County continues to grow and change, the County's Comprehensive Plan is intended to change to reflect the current needs and vision of the County and into the future. It is important to note that community engagement will be broadly applicable to all elements of the Comprehensive Plan. Specific activities will be added to gather feedback on the climate element, as it represents a new area of focus that has not previously been the subject of public input. Kittitas County 2026 Periodic Update — Public Participation Program (PPP) Version 3.2 (Final) Exported: March 20, 2025