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Kittitas County, WA <br />$ 17A.0r.010 CRITICALAREAS $ 17A.01.030 <br />CHAPTER 17A.OI <br />GENERAL PROVISIONS <br />S 17A.01.010. Purpose and intent. <br />The purpose of this Title is to establish regulations pertaining to development which protect designated <br />critical areas, as defined by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) (RCW 36.704). The <br />GMA requires the use of "best available science," also as defined in that law, in developing policies and <br />development regulations to protect the functions and values of critical ateas, in addition to, giving special <br />consideration to conservation or protection measures necessary to preserve or enhance anadromous <br />fisheries. GMA-designated critical areas, all of which are present in Kittitas County, include: Critical <br />aquifer recharge areas, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas, geologically <br />hazardous areas, and wetlands. The regulations of this Title are intended to: <br />1. Provide for no net loss of the function and values of qitical areas; <br />2. Conserve, protect, and; where feasible, restore critical areas and their functions and values; <br />3. Protect unique, fragile and/or valuable elements of the environment, including ground and surface <br />waters, anadromous fish species, and other fish and wildlife and their habitats; <br />4. Protect the public health, safety, and general welfare from hazards associated with critical areas; <br />5. Furtherthe goals and objectives of the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan and all of its elements; <br />6. Implement the goals and requirements of the Washington Growth Management Act (RCW Chapter <br />36.704); <br />7. Allow for reasonable use of all properties in Kittitas County. <br />(Ord.202l-016,2021) <br />$ 17A.01.020. Authority. <br />1. As provided herein, the Director or his/her designee is given the authority to interpret and apply, and <br />the responsibility to enforce this Title to accomplish the stated purpose. <br />2. The County may withhold, condition, or deny permits and/or approvals for development and <br />alterations to ensure that the proposed development is consistent with this Title. <br />(Ord.2021-016,2021) <br />$ 17A.01.030. Applicability. <br />1. Except as provided in subsection 3 and 4 below, the provisions of this Title shall apply to any alteration <br />or development within the unincorporated portion of Kittitas County, and outside of Shoreline <br />jurisdiction, as determined by the Shoreline Master Program (KCC Title 17B). No development shall <br />be constructed, located, extended, modified, converted, or altered, or land subdivided without full <br />compliance with this Title. <br />2. Compliance with these regulations does not remove an applicant's obligation to comply with <br />applicable provisions ofany other Federal, State, or local law or regulation. <br />3. Private lands where existing agricultural activities are conducted, as defined in RCW 90.58.065, <br />within the Upper Yakima and Alkali-Squilchuck WRIAs are managed by the Kittitas County <br />Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP), and not regulated by this Title. <br />4. Any activities, alterations or development located within any Shoreline of the State within the <br />Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/Kl6857 on 2025-05-15