HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-12-04-minutes-200pm-public-hearing2018-12-04 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. DECEMBER 4, 2018
Board members present: Chairman Laura Osiadacz; Vice-Chairman
Obie O’Brien; and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mark Cook, Public
Works Director/Interim Engineer; Lindsey Ozbolt, Planning
Official; Dan Carlson, CDS Director; Neil Caulkins, Deputy
Prosecutor; Duana Kolouskova, Attorney representing the
Appellant and approximately 10 members of the public.
SPECIAL MEETING APPEAL OF PW MAINTENANCE FACILITY CDS
At 2:02 p.m. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ opened a Special Meeting to
consider Appeals filed by Duana Kolouskova on behalf of the
Citizens Alliance for Property Rights and Western Elite, Inc.
Services and Doug Weis of the Kittitas County Community
Development Services Determination of Non-Significance and
Public Facilities Permit (PF-18-00001) for the Kittitas County
Public Works Maintenance Facility.
DUANA KOLOUSKOVA, ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE APPELLANTS explained
how the project was more than a Maintenance facility, but rather
included a sanding station, maintenance facility, as well as a
future fueling station. She said they understand the need for
the facility but something of that magnitude and the significant
amount of trips that could result from it, there hadn’t been the
right amount of public process or review for the particular
location. She indicated there was a need for analysis in various
areas to ensure there’s a better understanding of the project
and asked the Board to remand it back to Staff. STEVE HARPER
indicated he was not representing the City of Cle Elum. He
expressed concerns over the safety of children during the school
hours. NOLAN WEIS, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF ROSLYN said they
agreed with the appeal and was concerned about the lack of
transparency between the City of Roslyn and Kittitas County. He
hoped everyone could work together to find a good location. BRUCE COE commented on the potential for increased traffic
surrounding the property and the issues of a having a Transfer
Station and a Public Works Facility in the same place. He
requested the Board to remand it back to Staff and incorporate
the cities input in order to come to a conclusion. JERRY
2018-12-04 MINUTES 2
MARTENS, CITIZENS ALLIANCE FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS explained how
everyone needed to comply with the Growth Management Act that
includes long range planning. While he understands the need for
the facility, it has to be planned and questioned if the County
was following its own rules in order to protect the citizens. DOUG WEIS felt the project was out of place. He said a lot of
the City Council members felt they would have had an opportunity
to comment and they were shocked to find out there was no room
for public comment.
NEIL CAULKINS, DEPUTY PROSECTOR reviewed the Growth Management
Act, Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations. He said
Kittitas County is in compliance with GMA and the Development
Regulations provides for a public facility permit to be
considered through an Administrative process. He submitted
information into the record relating to the connection of the
public sewer system as well as a letter from the City of Cle
Elum relating to the County meeting their requirements for
servicing a new Upper County Shop facility with water and sewer. MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/INTERIM ENGINEER provided
information on the transportation and impacts to the flood plain
and stream. He addressed various concerns expressed by the
appellant including impacts to traffic. LINDSEY OZBOLT, PLANNING OFFICIAL provided information on a letter received from the
Department of Ecology need to protect Crystal Creek with
buffers. She addressed information about public facility
applications and zoning designations. She said according to
Kittitas County Code there is no requirement to hold public
meetings, nor a pre-application conference. She said public
comments were received and had been provided to the applicant as
well. MR. CAULKINS provided a recap and indicated the County had
met all the requirements and the Board should deny the Appeal.
MS. KOLOUSKOVA indicated that although the process the County
used was legal for the purposes of permitting, the Board of
County Commissioners made the decision that they would allow for
an open record hearing with an appeal. She said they have the
ability to have an open record hearing process and she
encouraged the Board to take the legal step and give the
citizens an opportunity to provide input in which they deserve.
COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to deny the Appeal filed by the
Citizens Alliance for Property Rights and Western Elite, Inc.
Services and Doug Weis of the Kittitas County Community
Development Services and to uphold the Determination of Non-
Significance and Public Facilities Permit for the Kittitas
2018-12-04 MINUTES 3
County Public Works Maintenance Facility. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT
seconded.
COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN explained reasons behind his decision to
deny the Appeal including how various property sites had been
evaluated by the operations people who have the most knowledge
according to the Public Works Director, and the real estate
transaction included a willing seller & willing buyer. He said
the particular activity didn’t warrant a traffic analysis and
the facility would only be used by the County and not the
public.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT said although the site would be good, he was
uncertain when it came to long term planning. He felt further
issues needed to be looked into in determining the benefits. He
felt it was important to continue to work on the mitigation
piece and therefore would be voting to affirm the Appeal.
CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ explained how it was the job of the Board of
Commissioners to uphold the laws of the State of Washington and
the Codes of Kittitas County. She said she understands it’s not
an easy position to be in it’s their job to make those difficult
decisions. She said based on how it’s currently set up, the
County has met all the legal obligations. She reviewed the area
and said there was like uses already in place including the
Transfer Station, power lines, water treatment plant. She said
she would be voting in favor to deny the Appeal as the Public
Works Department, Community Development Services, and the
County’s Legal Staff have indicated the legal requirements have
been met and the facility would provide a better service to its
citizens by being in a more centrally located area.
Motion carried 2-1 to deny the appeal. (Commissioner Wright
opposed the motion).
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Laura Osiadacz, Chairman