HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-08-16-minutes-200pm-public-hearing08/16/2016 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. AUGUST 16, 2016
Board members present: Chairman Obie O’Brien; Vice-Chairman Paul
Jewell and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mark Cook, Public Works
Director; Lucas Huck, Engineer; Jeff Watson, Staff Planner; and
approximately 20 members of the public.
PUBLIC HEARING SPEED LIMIT – NELSON SIDING ROAD PUBLIC WORKS
At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN opened a Public Hearing to consider
amending Kittitas County Code Chapter 10.08.020 – Setting the Speed
Limit for Nelson Siding Road at 35 MPH.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR indicated there were numerous
residents along Nelson Siding Road who had requested the speed limit
be lowered to 35 MPH. The Public Works Department recently obtained
additional traffic data over the weekend during the last week of
July. In their review they looked at traffic speeds, volumes, access
densities, increased development in the area and traffic bypassing
I-90. He noted the maximum recorded weekend speeds were 78.1 MPH at
the I-90 end and 90 MPH at the Westside Road end. Mr. Cook indicated
that at the conclusion of their study they were recommending a 35
mile per hour speed limit to improve safety in the location from
Milepost 0.0 at Westside Road to Mile Post 4.37 at Interstate 90.
COMMISSIONER JEWELL noted that if the speed limit were reduced to 35
MPH it would make it eligible for ATV use.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: KIM LOHNES explained how property values
were being affected and there are neighbors who are moving out of
the area due to the excessive speed limit. She indicated people are
aware of the short cut to bypass I-90 when traffic is heavy which
creates increased traffic. JADEN LOHNES said there are times when he
is at his bus stop and there are cars going faster than the speed
limit and it can be scary for him. LINNEA MONTGOMERY explained how
traffic at midnight can be just as bad as during the daytime. She
expressed concerns with the speed limit and amount of traffic in the
area and urged the Commissioners to approve their request. She
submitted a Petition signed by various citizens to lower the speed
limit. FRIEDA ELLISON said she was the Business Manager for the Cle
Elum/Roslyn School District and said the bus drivers are concerned
with safety and have experienced people speeding by them even with
their stop signs out. THERESA ELLISON expressed safety concerns
within the area and said she will not allow her children to go out
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onto the road because of the high rate of speed and traffic. CINDY
MILLSAP encouraged the County to lower the speed limit. She said
most of the people in the area use ATV’s and they wouldn’t have any
problems with people riding them on the road as long as the speed
limit is lowered to 35 mph. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO
TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED.
ORDINANCE 2016-015 SPEED LIMIT – NELSON SIDING ROAD PUBLIC WORKS
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ moved to approve Ordinance No. 2016-015,
Establishment of a Speed Zone and the Placement of Speed Limit Signs
on Nelson Siding Road and Amending Section 10.08.020 of the Kittitas
County Code. COMMISSIONER JEWELL seconded.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ thanked the residents from the Nelson Siding
Road area for approaching the County with their concerns and their
work in raising the awareness of the traffic speed. COMMISSIONER
JEWELL expressed concerns of having speed clocked at 90 mph. He
didn’t feel that just by lowering the speed limit to 35 mph would
completely stop the problems, but hoped with the addition of tools
such as speed trailers and extra enforcement it may begin educating
people who use the road. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN felt it was beneficial to
have the data collected by the Public Works Department to back up
the resident’s concerns that have been expressed. Motion carried 3-
0.
PUBLIC HEARING MINER’S CAMP PRELIMINARY PLAT CDS
At 2:40 p.m. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN opened a Public Hearing to consider
the Miner’s Camp Preliminary Plat (LP-16-00002).
JEFF WATSON, STAFF PLANNER reviewed a request from Jeff Stubbs,
authorized agent for Miners Camp LLC for a Preliminary Plat to
subdivide approximately 8.26 acres into a 24 single-family
residential lots with Open Space tracts and on a site zoned Master
Planned Resort (Suncadia). He said the proposed project was to be
done in four phases and create lots ranging in size from .14 acres
to .29 acres with five Open Space tracts. All proposed lots are to
be served by a community water and sewer systems. He said the
application does not appear to be detrimental to the general public
health, safety or welfare and meets the basic intent and criteria
with Kittitas County Code and its Comprehensive Plan. He reviewed
the process of the request and recommended approval with Findings of
Fact and Conditions. STEVE LATHROP, ATTORNEY said he had been
involved with the project between 16-17 years and he was one of the
participants in developing the original Development Agreement. He
reviewed the expedited process and the work that had to be done by
the applicant in order to get to this step in the application
process. He explained they were still in the vesting period which
runs until 2030 and as a result they are sensitive to requirements
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outside of applicable law for projects in Suncadia. He said he
believed the Bond had been deposited today.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE
HEARING WAS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONER JEWELL moved to approve the Miner’s Camp Preliminary
Plat (LP-16-00002), adopting Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and
direct Staff to prepare enabling documents, amending Condition 7
strike “listed” and replace it with the word “applicable”.
COMMISSIONER OSAIDACZ seconded.
COMMISSIONER OSAIDACZ said she was looking forward to what the
project will look like in the future. COMMISSIONER JEWELL said they
may want to look at amendments in the future to create better
efficiency in the process and opportunities to streamline. Motion
carried 3-0.
PUBLIC HEARING PERMIT FEE – FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC WORKS
At 3:14 p.m. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN opened a Public Hearing to consider
adopting a $50.00 fee for Streamlined Floodplain Development Permit
review for Solar Panel deployments on roofs of existing structures
previously granted a Floodplain Development Permit.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR reviewed a draft Resolution which
would adopt a $50.00 Floodplain Development Permit Fee for solar
panel installation on roofs of an existing structure previously
permitted in the floodplain. He said they wanted to streamline the
solar panel FDP process and the proposed new fee would be
administered “over the counter” for most solar panel deployment
proposals.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE
HEARING WAS CLOSED.
RESOLUTION 2016-107 PERMIT FEE – FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC WORKS
COMMISSIONER JEWELL moved to approve Resolution No. 2016-107,
Setting a $50.00 Floodplain Development Permit Fee for Solar Panel
Installations on Roofs of Existing Structures Previously Permitted
in the Floodplain. COMMISSIONER OSAIDACZ seconded. Motion carried
3-0.
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The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Obie O’Brien, Chairman