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commercial activities and residential uses in accordance with RCW <br />36.70A.060(1)(b). <br />11.3 RR-P43: Kittitas County will continue to research new land use techniques such as <br />Transfer Development Rights, Purchase of Development Rights and open space <br />preservation tools to provide economic incentives to farmers to continue agriculture <br />activities. <br />11.3.1 Kittitas County Code 16.09 established Conservation Platting as an <br />appropriate tool for the conservation of open space. The project area zone <br />and land use designation are explicitly noted as eligible for Conservation <br />Platting when minimum acreage requirements are met. <br />11.4 RR-P51: Where proposed residential development is determined in conflict with <br />natural resource activities, all mitigation measures to make the development <br />compatible with the activities shall be completed and cost borne by the developer. <br />11.4.1 The proposed development area does not directly conflict with any existing <br />natural resource activities. Portions of the project areas are adjacent to <br />critical areas and the Yakima River (a Shoreline of the State). Maximum <br />buffer requirements under Kittitas County Code have been conditioned to <br />ensure protection of these areas from residential development impacts. <br />11.4.2 The Hearing Examiner reviewed the project for consistency with the Kittitas <br />County Comprehensive Plan as described above. The Hearing Examiner <br />finds the proposed development consistent with the Goals and Policies of the <br />Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan. <br />12. During the review process of the Wallace Ranch Conservation Plat and associated Shoreline <br />Substantial Development application, the applicant was required to submit a Critical Areas <br />Report (See Exhibit #52 ), Traffic Impact Analysis (See Exhibit #53 ), and Cultural Resource <br />Scoping Survey(See Exhibit #54). Each of these studies were performed by professionals <br />licensed in the State of Washington. The Critical Areas Report noted type 4 streams and three <br />(3) wetlands associated with these streams. The report also noted a type 1 stream (Yakima <br />River) and some wetland areas associated with this shoreline. This report included <br />recommended buffer distances and habitat scores for the associated wetlands. <br />13. The Cultural Resource Scoping Study included a detailed explanation of the methods and <br />techniques that will be employed to ensure protection of cultural resources at the site prior to <br />any development activity. <br />14. A Traffic Study was also performed within the areas of development to assess vehicular trip <br />generation, traffic impacts as well as site access and safety issues. The report concluded no <br />significant adverse traffic impacts were expected as a result of this development. <br />15. Kittitas County CDS issued an MDNS for this project on November 17, 2020 after utilizing <br />the optional DNS process. The SEPA MDNS includes wetland buffer conditions designed to <br />protect the wetlands identified in the Critical Areas Report. CDS adopted the strictest buffer <br />standards allowed under Kittitas County Code 17A to the wetlands associated with the type 4 <br />streams (Wetlands A, B and Q. A 150-foot structural buffer zone was established for the <br />wetlands associated with the Type 1 stream (Wetland D) and a requirement for open space <br />designation was applied to this area. The MDNS also included a requirement for signage to <br />LP-19-00003 <br />Wallace Ranch Conservation Plat <br />Page 3 of 19 <br />