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Department of Commerce: Submittal ID 2026-S-11466 <br />Planned Unit Development (PUD) Zones <br />We recommend Kittitas County amend regulations for PUD zoning provisions to prevent losing <br />the original underlying rural density in the case that a site undergoes multiple rezones. Although <br />regulations require PUD zones to honor a site's original zoning designation (limited rural -level <br />densities), it is unclear how Kittitas County will track and enforce this over time. <br />• Consider eliminating PUDs within UGAs where other zones already provide effective <br />development options, then explicitly define PUD zones as applicable to rural areas and are <br />strictly limited to rural densities. We suggest ensuring such densities do not exceed 1 unit per 5 <br />acres to support adequate protection of rural character. <br />• Alternatively, consider replacing the PUD zone with a PUD zoning overlay as an appropriate <br />mechanism for entirely retaining the underlying zoning. <br />Local Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRD) <br />We recommend amending development regulations and the comprehensive plan to specify the <br />three types of LAMIRD established by RCW 63.70A.070(5). LAMIRD types vary in their <br />purpose, features, and governance. Amendments that describe each LAMIRD type will help ensure <br />that the land uses which the comprehensive plan establishes will be appropriately implemented by <br />zoning classifications and other development regulations, in compliance with GMA consistency <br />requirements.' To achieve this: <br />We recommend the county refer to subsections (i)-(iii) of RCW 36.70A.070 5 dj and <br />WAC 365-196-425 6 (i)- iii to distinguish the following: <br />i. Type -I LAMIRDs were established only once in the 1990s to recognize existing rural <br />communities and allow limited infill but not expansion. Type -I LAMIRDs cannot be <br />created new. <br />ii. Type -II LAMIRDs may be newly created for small-scale recreational uses not <br />intended to serve rural populations.. <br />iii. Type -III LAMIRDs may be newly created for small-scale businesses and cottage <br />industries and are similarly not intended to serve rural populations. <br />We also recommend adopting amendments to ensure all LAMIRD references reflect these <br />distinctions throughout different sections of code, for example: Sections addressing zoning <br />use tables/allowed uses, such as 17.36.020, 17.15.040(3) and 17.15.070. <br />Regulations that apply to specific LAMIRDs, such as the Snogualmie Pass LAMIRD, <br />which may cross multiple sections. Regulations should identify the specific type of <br />LAMIRD addressed by the section and refer readers to information that explains the <br />corresponding regulations. <br />Housing <br />We reviewed your submittal using multiple Commerce checklists' to identify housing -related <br />recommendations to help align county code with recent statutory changes and guidance. Our <br />review of housing regulations found Kittitas County Code (KCC) consistent with applicable <br />parking requirements and various components of the housing requirements.' However, in our <br />review against housing checklists for ADUs and Co -living (see enclosures), certain statutory <br />4 RCW 36.70A.07�; 36.70A.1300)(e) <br />5 Periodic Update Checklist; Expanded Housinp Checklist; ADU Checklist; STEP HousingChecklist and Co -living Checklist. <br />6 RCW 36.70A.535; RCW 36.70A.681 <br />