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Kittitas County Community Development Services, <br /> c/o Chad Bala, Director of CDS; Jeremy Johnston, Kittitas County Long Ranger Planner <br /> Jeremy and Chad, <br /> Thank you for attending the Easton community meeting on April 16th and for the handout <br /> outlining the proposed revisions to the Easton Subarea Plan. I appreciate the care CDS has <br /> taken in responding to the public comments received during the SEPA comment period. I am <br /> writing to express my support for the proposed changes, with the following comments on each <br /> item. <br /> At the outset, I want to reaffirm what drives this community's engagement in this process. <br /> Easton is a place of extraordinary natural beauty, rich history, and a character that cannot be <br /> replicated. I am committed to preserving the qualities that make Easton special, its small-town <br /> identity, its surrounding forests and waterways, its wildlife habitat, its quiet rural character, and <br /> all the families and individuals who call this place home, whether new to the area or here for <br /> generations. Preservation of these qualities is not in conflict with progress. I believe Easton can <br /> protect what makes it unique while still creating opportunities for a vibrant, resilient <br /> community, one where residents have access to reliable infrastructure, economic opportunity, <br /> emergency preparedness, and the resources they need to thrive. The subarea plan, at its core, <br /> is about holding both of those values together. <br /> Regarding the removal of the 'one voice' reference, I agree with this revision. No single group <br /> should claim to speak for all of Easton, and I understand why this language raised concerns. <br /> However, I want to emphasize that the removal of this reference does not diminish the <br /> collaborative spirit that exists within this community. Easton residents have demonstrated a <br /> genuine willingness to work together in a proactive way since this process began in 2024, and <br /> that commitment remains strong. I will continue to engage, both individually and collectively, <br /> through the appropriate public channels, and I encourage all Easton residents to participate in <br /> shaping the future of our community. <br /> Regarding the removal of specific infrastructure references, I support this revision. Removing <br /> references to specific items such as sidewalks, lighting, and day use areas from the goals and <br /> policies is the right approach at this stage. A revitalization plan should be created, negotiated, <br /> and adopted in the future as the community reaches agreement on the specifics. This preserves <br /> the vision without prescribing outcomes that have not yet been discussed broadly, and it gives <br /> Easton residents the opportunity to drive that conversation on their own terms and timeline. <br /> Regarding the recommended action on septic and water consultation, I respectfully ask that <br /> this language remains in the plan. The recommendation to consult with local septic and water <br /> experts describes a fact-finding process, not a commitment to build any particular system. This <br /> distinction is important. Retaining this language preserves a pathway for individual landowners <br /> who may wish to bring their properties up to code in the future. Removing it could <br />