DV-25-00001 Suncadia Resort Master File

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6 A B C D E F Commenter Name Comment Date Public Comment Excerpt / Summary Specific DA / Condition # Comment Topic Area Applicant Response 32 33 34 35 36 Charles Lynch Jan 25, 2026 The governing body most issues is the Home Owners Association (HOA). The Developer holds controlling interest until 90% of the development is sold, the home owners have a voice but no control. The Developer makes many decisions based on their financial gain; perhaps not in the best interest of the home owners. One such decision was the sale of the water company. Originally, the water company was owned and managed by the Developer. It has since been sold. It was billed to the property owners and the Utility Commission as a no cost change. Since the sale, there has been a deliberate cost shift of future water system development costs for future homes, from developer to the water consumers (current home owners) resulting in increases to our water rates. The water system is not fully developed to cover the future growth and will need further expansion. I assume this will drive additional cost increases to my water bill. I'm not apposed to continued development, I just want the developer held to the original agreements and the homeowners have a equal vote in costs that will be paid by the HOA. A-2 (land use), B-18 (water supply), B-20 (water rights), DA Recitals D thru I; DA Section 4.2 Timing of Construction and Completion. No Specific Conditions Stated Utilities / Community Standards The Applicant acknowledges the specific concerns raised. Utility responsibilities, design standards, and community requirements have been addressed through separate regulatory processes, HOA governance documents, and County approvals, as applicable. These matters are not altered by the proposed extension. The comment regarding the utility companies is not related to the Development Agreement. Suncadia sold the water and sewer utility companies to a private utility operator in 2019. The sale was approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). Water rates are also reviewed and approved by the UTC. In 2024, Suncadia negotiated an agreement with the private utility operator to impose a "connection fee" for new lot connections to ensure that existing homeowners do not cover the cost of new lot infrastructure. Tim B. Magee Jan 20, 2026 I respectfully ask the county to require a comprehensive compliance review of the current Development Agreement prior to any extension decision. Such a review should document compliance status and identify any remaining obligations. The following are specific examples of how many Suncadia homeowners believe Suncadia management is falling short of its legal commitment to homeowners. 1) In November 2023 an audit revealed that Suncadia overcharged us for security and patrols by $2.8 million dollars over the prior 8 years. With interest it amounts to circa $3.3 million owed to homeowners immediately. Suncadia has dragged its feet about repayment and seems to be hoping Washington’s 3-year statute of limitations on the matter will expire this fall without repayment. 2) We homeowners pay for forestry management, particularly for fire-wising. In the name of “forestry management” though, Suncadia uses our funds to clear land it’s opening for selling lots in its new neighborhoods. 3) We homeowners pay for construction waste disposal but only builders and contractors can access it; a violation of the Developer Agreement Suncadia’s asking Kittitas to extend. 4) As the number of residents grow, we are entitled to increase the number of Homeowners on the Board that makes financial decisions. That number has not grown as the Developer Agreement specifies. 5) Suncadia shifted sewer responsibilities through the sale of its water and sewers utility, contradicting the Developer Agreement. As a result, dollars that were collected as part of our lot purchases were not carried forward to the new utility and our monthly water bills have consequently almost doubled. A-2 (land use), B-18 (water supply), B-20 (water rights), DA Recitals D thru I; DA Section 4.2 Timing of Construction and Completion. No Specific Conditions Stated Compliance Verification The Applicant acknowledges the concerns raised regarding financial and governance matters. HOA governance, utility billing, and operational matters are administered pursuant to governing documents and applicable law and are separate from the Development Agreement extension request. The additional comments are not related to the Development Agreement, but the Applicant provides the following response: 1) Suncadia is working through a historic overbilling issue with the HOA and is very actively involved with finding resolution through a full refund. 2) Suncadia has a Land Stewardship Plan in place that directs forest management. Suncadia contracts with a professional forester on forest treatment. Since 2014, Suncadia has treated over 1,000 acres of open space for fire resiliency. In 2026, Suncadia plans to treat over 200 acres for fire resiliency. Suncadia is also working on a program that individual homeowners can adopt to make their home wildfire ready. Suncadia does not use HOA funds to clear lots for new development - the funds are used to treat forest consistent with the Land Stewardship Plan for the benefit of all of Suncadia. 3) Costs for trash removal are borne by homeowners/builders building new homes. Suncadia, through the Suncadia Community Council, manages the waste disposal as a service. 4) Suncadia, as the declarant, has control of the HOA boards as allowed under the governing documents until a future date when 90% of the community is built out. 5) Suncadia sold the water and sewer utility companies to a 3rd party private utility in 2019. Rates are set by the private utility company and the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission approves water rates. Recently, Suncadia worked with the utility to establish a connection fee for new lots to ensure that existing homeowners do not carry the cost of capital expansion of new lots. Utility costs have risen over the past several years consistent with rising costs in all areas - namely labor costs, electricity costs, and materials costs. Kathy Mattison Jan 24, 2026 In regard to the developer requesting a 15-year extension of their MPR development agreement, we see no reason to approve their request. They will only fail to complete the amenities originally sold to everyone during the first many years of their marketing the resort. .... Please apply pressure to the Lowe organization to follow through with all the original representations and finish up their involvement. DA Recitals D thru I; DA Section 4.2 Timing of Construction and Completion. No Specific Conditions Stated Compliance Verification The comments provided are unrelated to the Development Agreement are instead appear to be about business decisions. The Applicant is committed to fulfilling their requirements under the Development Agreement and are also continuing to build out new community amenities. In the past 3 years, Suncadia has renovated the Lodge restaurant, renovated the spa, built new parks and broken ground on a new retail village that will open in June 2026. Donna McCaslin Jan 19, 2026 Granting an extension before resolving unmet obligations would undermine the purpose of the agreement and weaken accountability. I request that the County require a written compliance determination confirming that all obligations have been satisfied or identifying those that remain outstanding before considering an extension. Compliance must precede continuation. DA Recitals D thru I; DA Section 4.2 Timing of Construction and Completion. No Specific Conditions Stated Compliance Verification The Applicant acknowledges the request for a compliance determination. Development Agreement obligations have been implemented through phased approvals and County oversight. The extension does not waive enforceable requirements. Bob McDonald Jan 23, 2026 I am aware of many obligations that have not been satisfied by the developer, therefore I urgently request that the County perform a compliance review and granti any extension based on fulfillment of existing contractual obligations. DA Recitals D thru I; DA Section 4.2 Timing of Construction and Completion. No Specific Conditions Stated Compliance Verification The Applicant acknowledges the request for a compliance determination. Development Agreement obligations have been implemented through phased approvals and County oversight. The extension does not waive enforceable requirements.