PublicHearing_StaffReport_2026_V3.0

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Re: Comments on the Kittitas County 2026 Comprehensive Plan update March 2, 2026 Page 5 The policies and narrative on the Designation and De -designation of Agricultural Lands of Long -Term Commercial Significance need to be updated to comply with WAC 365-190-050. See pages 63 and 64. One of the purposes of the periodic updates to comprehensive plans and development regulations is to incorporate "provisions" adopted or amended since the last periodic update.$ Since the last Kittitas County comprehensive plan update, the Washington State Department of Commerce amended WAC 365-190- 050 to expand the soil types that indicate an area has long-term commercial significance for agriculture to include farmlands of statewide importance soils in addition to prime and unique farmland soils.9 The soils in each of these classifications can be found in Farmland Classification—Kittitas County Area, Washington which can be found at the link on the last page of this letter with the filename:"20260227_18060506402_43_Farmland_Classification Kitittas.pdf." Both prime and unique farmland soils and farmlands of statewide importance soils are high quality agricultural soils.l° U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations generally define prime farmland soils as: General. Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, and is also available for these uses (the land could be cropland, pastureland, rangeland, forest land, or other land, but not urban built-up land or water). It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to acceptable farming methods. In general, prime farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no rocks. They are permeable to water and air. Prime farmlands are not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long period of time, and they either do not flood frequently or are protected from flooding." 8 Thurston Cnty. v. W. Washington Growth Mgmt. Hearings Bd., 164 Wn.2d 329, 344, 190 P•3d 38, 45 (2008); RCW 36.7oA.130(i)(a). 9 Washington State Register (WSR) 23-08-037 (Filed March 29, 2023) enclosed at the link on the last page of this letter with the filename: "WSR 23-08-037 pp 4 to ii.pdf" see WAC 365-190- 050(3)(c)(i) (2023) on page [1o] of that file. 10 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 657.5(a) & (c) last accessed on Feb. 27, 2026, at: https:/ /www.ecfr.gov/ current/title-7/ subtitle-B/chapter-VI/subchapter-F/part-657/subpart- A/section-657.5. " 7 CFR § 657.5(a)(i)• L