HomeMy WebLinkAboutCU-18-00001 Vantage to Pomona Agenda Staff ReporthDES � G KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
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urntTtis COIN -n•
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AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: December 18, 2018
ACTION REQUESTED: Conduct a closed record meeting to consider the Hearing Examiner's
recommendation for the Vantage to Pomona Transmission Line Conditional Use
Permit (CU -18-00001).
BACKGROUND: David Dean, agent for Pacific Power, is proposing the development and continued
maintenance of a 27.6 mile 230 kV transmission line to be built in the south east
corner of Kittitas County. The transmission line will be used to service a connection
between Pacific Power's Pomona Substation in Yakima County and the Bonneville
Power Administration's Vantage Substation in Grant County.
The transmission line route will cross into Kittitas County along the southern county
line between Highway 821 and Interstate 82, and then continues north-northeast for
approximately 6 miles. The transmission line turns northeast a mile before crossing
interstate 82 south of Exit 11 and continues that direction to Badger Pocket where it
turns east. The transmission line continues east for approximately 14 miles then turns
northeast just before crossing the Columbia River. The new transmission line
parallels existing transmission line corridors for most of the length through Kittitas
County.
A zoning conditional use permit application was submitted to Community
Development Services on July 17, 2018 and was deemed incomplete on August 13,
2018. The affidavit of site posting in accordance with KCC 15A.03.110 was
received by CDS on August 16, 2018. The Notice of Application was issued on
August 27, 2018. 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 September
11, 2018.
The following agencies provided comments during the comment period: KC
Environmental Health Department, Washington state Department of Transportation,
and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. These comments have been
considered and included as conditions of approval to address these agency concerns.
A late comment was received by Kittitas County Public Works. One 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.
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (See Index #34) has been completed for
this project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with the US
Bureau of Land Management as the lead agency. A Final Enviromnental Impact
Statement was published in October 2016 identifying an Environmentally Preferred
COMMUNITY PLANNING • BUILDING INSPECTION • PLAN REVIEW • ADMINISTRATION • PERMIT SERVICES • CODE ENFORCEMENT
Alternative which reflects the route proposed in this Conditional Use application.
This FEIS is a project lead review, therefore, no further environmental review is
required. Kittitas County CDS has adopted the EIS issued in October 2016 by
reference (See Index #30 and #31).
The Hearing Examiner hearing was held on November 1, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. No
members of the public testified at the hearing. On November 7, 2018 the Kittitas
County Hearing Examiner recommended approval of the Vantage to Pomona
Conditional Use Permit (CU -18-00001). This recommended decision was received
by CDS on November 9, 2018. In the recommended decision, the Hearing Examiner
included one 4 conditions provided in the memo by KC Public Works referenced
above and in Index # 35 of your Staff Report.
INTERACTION: Kittitas County CDS and the Hearing Examiner.
ATTACHMENTS: Staff Report, File Index, FEIS, & 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 Vantage to Pomona Zoning
Conditional Use Permit (CU -18-00001) 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: Jeremy Johnston, Planner