HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-12-04-minutes-public-hearing2018-12-04 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 6:00 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; Lindsey Ozbolt,
Planning Official; Dan Carlson, CDS Director; Neil Caulkins,
Deputy Prosecutor; Chelsea Benner, Staff Planner; Jeremy
Johnston, Staff Planner; Dusty Pilkington, Staff Planner; Mark
Cook, Public Works Director/Interim Engineer; and 7 members of
the public.
PUBLIC HEARING ANNUAL COMP. PLAN AMENDMENTS CDS
At 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ opened a Public Hearing to
consider the 2018 Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan and Code
Amendment Proposals. She noted each Docket item would be
considered separately and the public would have an opportunity
to testify on each item along with a vote by the Board.
LINDSEY OZBOLT, PLANNING OFFICIAL noted Docket Item 18-07 had
been removed (Critical Areas Ordinance Update). She reviewed
the 2018 Docket Amendment process; proposed items and Public
Hearing process. She noted final adoption by the Board of
County Commissioners must be done by December 31st.
ITEM 18-01
Change to Kittitas County Code Chapter 14.05.060 to allow for
driveway construction by licensed excavation companies.
MARK COOK, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/INTERIM ENGINEER reviewed the
proposed amendments and noted how there would be no exception
for work in geologically unstable areas. The Planning Commission
recommended approval by a vote of 4-0.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: PAT DENEEN felt the proposal made a
lot of sense and was in support of the docket item. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to approve Docket Item 18-01, as
presented. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
2018-12-04 MINUTES 2
ITEM 18-02
Amend Title 15A to establish an expiration time limit for land
use applications due to applicant inactivity.
LINDSEY OZBOLT, PLANNING OFFICIAL reviewed the proposed
amendments and said the Planning Commission recommended approval
by a vote of 4-0. She recommended striking the extension fee. THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: PAT DENEEN expressed his opposition
to the proposed amendments. JERRY MARTENS said he concurred with
Mr. Deneen and opposed Docket Item 18-02. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ agreed that the issue needed to be addressed
but did not feel comfortable with the current language. She said
she’d like to work with the building community to see what
effects it could have on them. MS. OZBOLT said the proposed
timelines could be changed, but they would like to have
something in place.
COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to amend the proposal by striking the
following under #2: “and to include an extension fee, to be
determined by Resolution”. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion
carried 3-0.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Docket Item 18-02, and to
amend #1 by striking 90 days and replacing it with 180 days;
striking 60 days and replacing it with 120 days; and striking 30
days and replacing it with 60 days. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN
seconded. The Board discussed the proposal and felt there was a
need for further review. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT withdrew his
motion and COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN concurred. Motion was withdrawn. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to remand Docket Item 18-02 back to
Staff for further comments. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN seconded.
Motion carried 3-0.
ITEM 18-03
Amend Title 15A review and decision procedures to authorize a
Hearing Examiner to make final land use decisions.
DAN CARLSON, CDS DIRECTOR reviewed the proposed amendments to
allow the Hearing Examiner to make final land use decisions. He
explained the benefits of allowing a professionally-trained
individual with expertise in land use law to make quasi-judicial
2018-12-04 MINUTES 3
decisions. It would also allow the Commissioners to communicate
freely with citizens regarding proposed land use projects and
reduce the County legal exposure for quasi-judicial decisions.
The Planning Commission recommended the Conditional Use Permits
(CUP) and Preliminary Plats to remain recommendation by Hearing
Examiner and decision by the Board with by a vote of 3-1.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: JEFF SLOTHOWER encouraged the Board
to adopt the proposed amendments without the Planning
Commission’s recommendation. He reviewed examples of the
benefits of having a professionally trained Hearing Examiner
make the determinations who is free of any political influence. JERRY MARTENS said he has firsthand experience of seeing how a
Hearing Examiner would be beneficial to the citizens by allowing
them to make final land use decisions. He felt the Commissioners
job was to set policy and not determine projects. PAT DENEEN
expressed his support of the proposed amendment. He felt the
Commissioners should be the ones who make the policy decisions
and set rules. He encouraged them to allow a Hearing Examiner
make the final land use decisions. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN spoke in favor of the proposed amendment
for a Hearing Examiner who is professionally trained and could
lessen the risks of litigation.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to amend Docket Item 18-03, as
presented by Staff. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN seconded.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT said he is not an expert in land use and was
not hired to be one. He felt the Board of County Commissioners
were to develop strategy and policy. He provided an example of
an appeal earlier in the day where the County was the applicant
of a project; made a determination; and then made the decision
on the appeal. He felt the Board could be using their time in
other areas which would benefit the community and fully
supported the proposal. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ said she was not in
favor of the recommendation. She explained when the citizens
elected her to the position of a County Commissioner; it was to
allow her to make the decisions and not a Hearing Examiner. She
was unsure if the Hearing Examiner shared the values of Kittitas
County.
Motion carried 2-1 (Chairman Osiadacz opposed).
2018-12-04 MINUTES 4
ITEM 18-04
Title 16 Housekeeping Amendments.
LINDSEY OZBOLT, PLANNING OFFICIAL reviewed Docket Item 18-04,
which included amendments to Title 16.12. She said the Planning
Commission recommended approval by a vote of 4-0.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED.
COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to approve Docket Item 18-04, as
recommended. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
ITEM 18-05
Title 17 Housekeeping Amendments.
LINDSEY OZBOLT, PLANNING OFFICIAL reviewed Docket Item 18-05,
which included amendments to Title 17. She said the Planning
Commission recommended approval with one change, all commercial
uses for nurseries in KCC Tables 17.15.070 LAMIRD’s and
17.15.080 Urban Lands shall be “permitted” instead of
“conditional uses” by a vote of 4-0.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: LARRY LEACH, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES thanked Staff for the proposed language and felt it
was a benefit to the recreating public so they know what to
expect. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to approve Docket Item 18-05, as
recommended by the Planning Commission. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT
seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
ITEM 18-06
Amend KCC 17.16.080 to allow raising of 4-H/FFA pigs in Urban
Growth Areas.
LINDSEY OZBOLT, PLANNING OFFICIAL reviewed Docket Item 18-06,
which included language to allow for raising 4-H/FFA pigs in the
Urban Growth Areas. The Planning Commission amended the
proposal to allow 2 pigs per household on a lot size of one (1)
acre or more by a vote of 4-0. She indicated the Prosecutors
office had a concern relating to enforcement of the proposed
amendment, specifically to limiting the exemption only being
allowed for FFA and 4-H participants.
2018-12-04 MINUTES 5
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to remand Docket Item 18-06 back to
Staff for further analysis and to bring it back next year for
the Boards consideration. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ seconded.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT said he was in favor of the 4-H and FFA
programs and how they were a benefit to the community, but there
needed to have additional research conducted. He said there were
families who have multiple children involved in those programs
and they end up getting 2 pigs for each child, so there is a
potential to have a lot of pigs on one lot. He explained how
there are some families who live in town and are still able to
be involved with the programs without having pigs in town. He
said he’s not against it but needs to be well thought out. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN said he had asked for the proposal and
would still be in favor of the proposal. Motion carried 2-1
(Commissioner O’Brien opposed the motion).
ITEM 18-07
Critical Areas Ordinance Update.
LINDSEY OZBOLT, PLANNING OFFICIAL noted Docket Item 18-07 had
been removed.
ITEM 18-08
Amend KCC Chapter 19.02 to allow for notice to title for code
violations.
DAN CARLSON, CDS DIRECTOR reviewed Docket Item 18-08, which
would allow another tool for the enforcement of violations. The
Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposal by a
vote of 4-0.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: JEFF HUTCHINSON, ELLENSBURG CEMENT PRODUCTS spoke in favor of the proposed amendments to Kittitas
County Code Chapter 18.02. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to approve Docket Item 18-08, as
presented. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
ITEM 18-09
Comp Plan Tables & Zoning Map updates.
2018-12-04 MINUTES 6
DUSTY PILKINGTON, STAFF PLANNER reviewed Docket Item 18-09,
which are changes to the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Tables and
updates to the Zoning Maps. The Planning Commission recommended
approval by a vote of 4-0.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: JEFF SLOTHOWER REPRESENTING HARRELL/ELLSON, LLC clarified corrections to the scrivener’s
error near the Thorp Highway Interchange. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to approve Docket Item 18-09, as
recommended by the Planning Commission. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT
seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
The Board recessed at 8:35 p.m. for 5 minutes.
The Board reconvened the Public Hearing at 8:40 p.m.
ITEM 18-10
Citizen Request – Non-Project Rezone (CP-18-00001 & RZ-18-
00001).
CHELSEA BENNER, STAFF PLANNER reviewed Docket Item 18-10, which
is for a Non-Project Rezone request (CP-18-00001 & RZ-18-00001)
from Hutchinson Properties, LLC. She said it was for a 58 acre
piece of property currently zoned Urban Residential to Forest
and Range to match the surrounding properties. She read the
comments into the record that was received from the City of
Ellensburg. The Planning Commission recommended approval by a
vote of 4-0. JEFF SLOTHOWER, ATTORNEY REPRESENTING HUTCHINSON PROPERTIES, LLC provided information on the proposal and said
they were trying to clean up the zoning on the property for
consistency. He said there is no present intention to annex it
into the City of Ellensburg and does not know why it’s in the
Urban Growth Area.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to approve Docket Item 18-10, as
recommended. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
ITEM 18-11
Citizen Request – Text amendment regarding explosives,
explosives magazines, and explosives, storage and manufacture in
Title 17 (CP-18-00002).
2018-12-04 MINUTES 7
JEREMY JOHNSTON, STAFF PLANNER reviewed Docket Item 18-11, which
is a Citizen’s request to amend explosives, explosives magazine,
and explosives, storage and manufacture. He said the Planning
Commission recommended approval of Staff’s recommendations of
the proposal by a vote of 4-0. He noted the applicant was not
in attendance at the Public Hearing.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN moved to approve Staff’s recommendation for
Docket Item 18-11. COMMISSIONER WRIGHT seconded. Motion carried
3-0.
Staff was directed to look into a possible scrivener’s error on
whether or not to capitalize “Department of Transportation”
under Title 17.08.225.
Staff was directed to prepare enabling documents to be
considered at the 10:00 a.m. December 18, 2018 Agenda Session.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m. KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Laura Osiadacz, Chairman