HomeMy WebLinkAboutCU-15-00003 Wheatley BOCC closed record meeting agenda staff report_3.1.16
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
411 N. Ruby St., Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926
CDS@CO.KITTITAS.WA.US
Office (509) 962-7506
Fax (509) 962-7682
“Building Partnerships – Building Communities”
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: March 1, 2016
ACTION REQUESTED: Conduct a closed record meeting to consider the Hearing Examiner’s
recommendation for the Wheatley Zoning Conditional Use Permit (CU-15-
00003).
BACKGROUND: Ninon Wheatley, applicant, submitted a request to operate an enhanced agricultural
facility with farm visits that sells local products, food, wine/beer tasting, and
educational classes. Additionally an agricultural processing facility is proposed
where Northwest products are repackaged into spice blends, baking mixes, make at
home dinners, etc. and sold to businesses. The operation is located on a 5 acre parcel
which is zoned Agriculture 20 and has a Land Use Designation of Rural Working.
The subject property’s zoning designation allows for the proposed farm visits with
enhanced agriculture as an administrative conditional use. There is also a desire to
hold community events and seminars on-site not to exceed eight (8) events per year
which also requires an administrative conditional use permit. Additionally, there is a
request for an agricultural processing facility which requires a conditional use. Since
multiple uses are proposed for the site, the review has been consolidated under the
full conditional use permit process. The proposed uses are consistent with KCC
17.15.060.1 (A) Agriculture, agriculture processing, farm visit with enhanced
agriculture, and small-scale event facility.
The proposal is located approximately 1250 feet north of the Thorp I-90 interchange
at 9201 N. Thorp Hwy, in a portion of Section 11, T18N, R17E, WM, in Kittitas
County, Assessor’s map number 18-17-11040-0023.
A zoning conditional use permit and SEPA checklist were submitted to Community
Development Services on September 1, 2015 and were deemed incomplete on
September 25, 2015. Additional information was received from the applicant on
September 28, 2015. On October 2, 2015 the application packet was deemed
complete. The affidavit of site posting in accordance with KCC 15A.03.110 was
received by CDS on October 2, 2015. The Notice of Application was issued on
October 16, 2015. This notice was published in the official county paper of record
and was mailed to jurisdictional government agencies, adjacent property owners and
other interested parties. The last day to submit written comments was on November
2, 2015.
The following agencies provided comments during the comment period: WA
Department of Health, KC Community Development Services – Building, KC Public
Works, and WA Department of Ecology. Additionally, comments were provided
during a pre-application meeting with Kittitas County staff, which was held on May
27, 2015. These comments have been considered and included as conditions of
approval to address these agency concerns. Late comments were received from the
WA Department of Health and KC Environmental Health Department. One (1)
COMMUNITY PLANNING BUILDING INSPECTION PLAN REVIEW ADMINISTRATION PERMIT SERVICES CODE ENFORCEMENT
public comment was submitted for this proposal at the time of staff review and was
considered. All comments received are included in the Index file.
Based upon review of the submitted application materials including an environmental
checklist, correspondence received during this 15 day comment period and other
information on file with Community Development Services, a Determination of Non-
Significance (DNS) was issued on January 13, 2016. The appeal period ended on
January 28, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. No appeals were filed.
The Hearing Examiner hearing was held on February 4, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Members
of the public were present and testified both in favor and against this proposal at the
hearing. On February 10, 2016 the Kittitas County Hearing Examiner recommended
approval of the Wheatley Zoning Conditional Use Permit (CU-15-00003). This
recommended decision was received by CDS on February 16, 2016. In the
recommended decision, the Hearing Examiner included three (3) additional
conditions as listed below:
• “5. All parking will occur on site”
• “6. All storm water will be treat and contained on site as provided by the
applicable rules and regulations for the State of Washington and Kittitas
County.”
• “7. There shall be no outdoor amplified music unless there is strict
compliance with the noise standards as set forth in the Kittitas County Code
and Washington Administrative Code 173-60.”
INTERACTION: Kittitas County Hearing Examiner and Community Development Services.
ATTACHMENTS: Staff Report, File Index, & Master File
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners conduct
the closed record meeting, as scheduled, to consider accepting the Hearing
Examiner’s recommendation of approval of the Wheatley Zoning Conditional Use
Permit (CU-15-00003) and direct staff to prepare enabling documents based upon the
decision of the Board.
HANLDING: Presentation to the Board by Kittitas County Community Development Services.
RESPONSIBLE STAFF: Lindsey Ozbolt, Planner II