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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 Amending Kittitas County Code Title 17 for the Purpose of Creating <br />Standards and Criteria for the Siting of Solar Power Production Facilities and Rescinding <br />the Moratorium on Accepting Applications for Solar Projects That Qualify As Major <br />Alternative Energy Facilities within Kittitas County <br /> <br />WHEREAS, This ordinance, revising Kittitas County Code, contains two sections of findings <br />and two exhibits for amendments as follows: <br /> <br />Section I – Procedural Findings <br />Section II – Final Decision and Signatures <br />Exhibit A – New Kittitas County Code Chapter 17.61C <br />Exhibit B – Amendments to Other Sections of Kittitas County Code Associated <br />with Solar Regulations <br /> <br />SECTION I – PROCEDURAL FINDINGS <br /> <br />WHEREAS, In 2016 strong interest 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, According to current Kittitas County Code, Major alternative energy facilities <br />include hydroelectric plant, solar farm, or wind farm as indicated within KCC <br />17.61.010(9); and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Concern was 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 />