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KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 411 N. Ruby St., Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926 CDS@CO.KITTITAS. WA.US Office (509) 962-7506 "Building Partnerships — Building Communities" PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT AGENDA DATE: September 22, 2026 ACTION REQUESTED: Recommendation to BOCC The Kittitas County 2026 Annual Docket Cycle was suspended under Resolution 2025-058 in recognition of the 2026-2046 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. Generally, development regulation amendments are processed concurrently with this cycle. Due to the time sensitive nature of the following 3 items, the CDS Director has determined it necessary to initiate a development regulation amendment cycle despite suspension of the formal Annual Docket Cycle. This authority is granted under KCC 15B.04.020. The following items are planned to be brought before the Board of County Commissioners in November 2026. CDS is requesting a Planning Commission recommendation for each of the items listed below. BACKGROUND: Item 26-01— SEPA Appeal Revisions SEPA appeal processes are an important part of the project permit public process, ensuring a mechanism to review County SEPA determinations for procedural and substantive integrity. Recent SEPA appeals have resulted in identification of process inconsistencies as they relate to administrative SEPA determinations and legislative SEPA determinations. Three code sections interact with SEPA appeals within Kittitas County Code; 15, 15A, and 15B. Title 15A is intended to define the processes for administrative SEPA appeals. These are appeals related to non -legislative actions. Title 15B is intended to define SEPA appeals related to legislative action, such as Comprehensive Plan amendments and development regulations. Title 15 deals with SEPA specifically and contains a section related to appeals. Currently, these sections contain some contradictions that result in ambiguity as to which process should be applied in each circumstance. The proposed regulations will eliminate these contradictions and result in all administrative SEPA appeals to be heard by the Hearings Examiner and all legislative appeals to be heard by the Growth Management Hearings Board or Superior Court (depending on the nature of the legislative action). The proposed changes clearly define the process distinctions that are missing in the current regulations. CDS is requesting a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on Item 26-01 SEPA Appeal Revisions. COMMUNITY PLANNING • BUILDING INSPECTION • PLAN REVIEW • ADMINISTRATION • PERMIT SERVICES • CODE ENFORCEMENT