Comments_Combined_KimleyHorn - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

sTnrg Off, O q ws F y�z 0 State of Washington DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE South Central Region • Region 3 • 1701 South 241" Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902-5720 Telephone: (509) 575-2740 • Fax: (509) 575-2474 February 24, 2026 Jeremy Johnston Long Range Planner Kittitas County Community Development Services 411 N. Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 SUBJECT: WDFW comments on Kittitas County draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan Dear Mr. Johnston, Thank you for the opportunity to review the Kittitas County draft Comprehensive Plan. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has reviewed the plan, and we appreciate that many positive aspects have been included in the plan, including elements and mentions to include wildlife connectivity and the recognition that having connected fish and wildlife habitats leads to a more resilient landscape. We provide these comments to improve the plan in accordance with WDFW's mission to preserve,protect and perpetuate the state's fish, wildlife and ecosystems. Section 2. Land Use. 2.3.8. LU-G9. Master Planned Resort(MPR). Open space in the MPR should prioritize protection of critical areas. Past MPRs have been permitted in wildlife connectivity corridors and next to streams and wetlands. Please include a policy that recreation will be minimized in the critical areas and limited to low-impact recreation such as trails. Table 2-1 indicates that about 217,000 acres of land are within the Forest and Range zoning designation(-15% of land in the county). The base density is 1du/20ac. Based on the spatial distribution of the zone, this is where some level of development could occur that could fragment high quality habitat areas and habitat connectivity. Recommend either modifying RR-P 10 to include wildlife connectivity or add a separate policy that discourages rezones that increase rural densities in these areas of conflict with wildlife connectivity. Table 2-2, on page 25, about half of the 2046 population growth(7,280 people) is allocated to Unincorporated Kittitas County. This will increase low-density sprawl within the county. This also contradicts LU-P3: Reduce the conversion of land for development and concentrate future growth in UGAs. Table 4-1 (within the Housing section) shows that the population growth in unincorporated Kittitas County grew by 4,798 people from 2000 to 2020. The population of unincorporated Kittitas has surpassed the population(s) of all the incorporated areas within the county. Many