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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />COUNTY OF KITTITAS <br />STATE OF WASHINGTON <br /> <br />Ordinance No. 2018-_______ <br /> <br />An Ordinance Extending a Moratorium on Accepting Applications for Solar Projects That <br />Qualify As Major Alternative Energy Facilities within Kittitas County <br /> <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Strong interest has developed in the creation of solar projects within Kittitas <br />County and its agricultural areas; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Agricultural industry provides a large portion of the economic base within Kittitas <br />County; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Major alternative energy facilities include hydroelectric plant, solar farm, or wind <br />farm as indicated within KCC 17.61.010(9); and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Concern has been expressed in public hearings and public comments that solar <br />projects that qualify as major alternative energy facilities are planned for lands <br />used for agriculture; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, RCW 36.70A.390 allows adoption of a moratorium on land use activities for sixty <br />(60) days without holding a public hearing; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, On January 10, 2017, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously called <br />for an immediate moratorium on all applications for solar projects that qualify as <br />major alternative energy facilities; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, A public hearing must be held within sixty (60) days of the moratorium’s <br />enactment and findings of fact must be made to support the action; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, After due notice the Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on March 9, <br />2017 at 6 p.m. where public testimony was received in regards to the <br />moratorium; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, After consideration of the staff report, public comment, and evidence submitted, <br />the Board ordered that all applications for solar projects that qualify as major <br />alternative energy facilities not be accepted for (6) months from January 10, <br />2017; and <br /> <br />