2025-07-01-minutes-200pm-public-hearing

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07/01/2025 MINUTES 3 11 months of meeting and negotiating and in the end only about a quarter of the Ordinance was changed and had it went to Court that most likely would have been a drastically different outcome. She stated that she felt the County was able to keep what was important while making it user-friendly, as well as complying with the Growth Management Act (GMA). She stated it’s a really good product and will be practically applicable by CDS. She noted that we did prevail at the Growth Management Hearings Board. VICE-CHAIRMAN WRIGHT stated he had additional questions of Planning Manager Ayling. He asked him to clarify & define the use of degradation and how that will be applied. He additionally asked Mr. Ayling to define Channel Migration Zone. JAMEY AYLING, PLANNING MANAGER explained that the maps are on Compass that show the channel migration zone and what that will look like over time. They are able to see evidence of channels that used to exist that they see over time no longer exist. He shared that they have a team of experts that evaluate the channels as well, additionally, he reviewed how they identify over the course of a 100-year period and what those mechanisms look like that are in place, noting that this is done at no cost to the applicant. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ noted for the record that the office had received written comment from Pat Kelleher that would be included in the record. THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: PAT KELLEHER felt that the document is ridiculous and does nothing to protect our environment. He stated that it's written for the consumer and not the Nation. He stated that the County needed to take a holistic approach on how to protect the environment. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. ORDINANCE 2025-006 CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE CDS VICE-CHAIRMAN WRIGHT moved to approve Ordinance No. 2025-006, An Ordinance Amending Kittitas County Code Title 17A, Critical Areas Ordinance. COMMISSIONER WACHSMITH seconded. VICE-CHAIRMAN WRIGHT stated that this is the 3rd time ever that we have done a change under the Growth Management Act for Critical Areas. He expressed his thanks to Legal and CDS for the work, as it was very in-depth, and expressed his understanding with regard to what a difficult topic this is to manage. He referenced California’s overhaul of their 1970 Environmental Act, which was just revised, and the outcome of that could be felt in other areas. Motion carried 3-0. The meeting was concluded at 2:31 p.m.