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State of Washington DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE South Central Region • Region 3 • 1701 South 24th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902-5720 Telephone: (509) 575-2740 • Fax: (509) 575-2474 July 23, 0225 Jeremy Johnston Long Range Planner Kittitas County Community Development Services 411 N. Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 SUBJECT: WDFW COMMENTS ON SE-25-00011 Land Development Code Amendments Dear Mr. Johnston, Thank you for the opportunity to review the Land Development Code Amendments, SE-25- 00011. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has reviewed the amendments, and we offer up the following comments for protection of critical areas, specifically Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWHCA). Item 25-02. Non-accessory storage structures. WDFW is concerned that these could be permitted within or directly adjacent to FWHCAs. The proposed text amendments were unclear if these structures would be held to the same critical area standards as occupied buildings. WDFW recommends that these structures be subject to the same critical areas review as other buildings, including conferring with agencies of expertise, such as WDFW for FWHCAs. Item 25-03. Development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). WDFW has encountered situations where ADUs have been proposed within or affecting FWHCAs. WDFW recommends that if an ADU is proposed either within or adjacent to a FWHCA, that the code includes requirements to minimize the overall footprint by locating the ADU as near to the parent structure as possible, either through a direct connection or not. This minimization is part of the mitigation strategy to reduce impacts prior to discussing compensatory mitigation. Thank you again for the opportunity to comment. Please contact me at 509-607-3578 or Scott.Downes@dfw.wa.gov if you have questions or concerns with these comments. Sincerely, Scott Downes Regional Land Use Lead