HomeMy WebLinkAboutSergio Madrid 2022-07-18Kittitas County, Washington
BOARD OF COLINTY COMMISSIONERS
District One
Cory Wright
District Two
Laura Osiadacz
District Three
Brett Wachsmith
July 18,2022
Sergio Madrid'z
Hazard Mitigation Program Coordinator
Mitigation & Recovery Section
Washington Emergency Management Division
Dear Mr. Madrid,
Thank you for your ongoing work with Kittitas County on our grant application through the
Federal Emergency Management Agency's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
program.
It is our understanding that restrictive covenants are now required for the entirety of the current
transfer station property which would be vacated by the county. This property, owned by the
City of Ellensburg, is currently under long-term lease and would be transferred back to the City
following the transfer station's move to its new location now owned by Kittitas County under fee
simple title. The City has expressed their intent to restrict a significant low-lying part of the
property to further development due to the existing flood issues, but not all of the property lies at
the reduced elevation as the hazard areas. Because of the mitigation work done in the past to
raise these areas well above the flood elevation, the City does not wish to see these areas
restricted in the same manner to future development.
We understand the intent of this grant is to significantly reduce flooding issues in areas served by
the National Flood Insurance Program. Kittitas County has done extensive work over the past
decade, both on our own and through regional partnerships, to greatly reduce the risk of flood on
key areas with a record of flooding events. These following properties totally 391.78 acres have
been purchased by Kittitas County Public Works, through the Kittitas County Flood Control
Zone District, for floodplain management. The Flood Control Zone District is funded by
property tax assessments on county landowners.
For these properties we have already recorded restrictive deeds to ensure that use is compatible
with flood risk:
Yakima Basin I Plan Funded Pronertv Acouisition alons t.he Yakima River Floodolain
o Acquisition #I - 43 acres, tax parcel nos. 070333,290333, and 130333, purchased on
5 l l 5 l20I7 . (Restrictive Covenant) AFN 20 1 70 922005
Acquisition #2 - 39.78 acres., tax parcel no. 960277, purchased on
I I l2l20I7 . (Restrictive Covenant) AFN 20 1 9 I 2 1 000 1 6
Kittitas County Courthouse 205 West 5ftAvenue, STE 108 . Ellensburg, WA98926
(s09) 962-7s08 .FAX (s09) 962-76',19
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The two restrictive covenants for these properties prohibit new structures or improvements,
EXCEPT for the maintenance, relocation, or reconfiguration of existing flood control or public
structures, or structures that conserved the natural function of the floodplain or improves
fisheries and wildlife habitat, water conservation, or other natural resources. Compatible uses
include outdoor recreational activities and recreational access; fisheries, upland wildlife, and
wetland habitat management; nature reserves; and unimproved, unpaved parking lots.
Funded the Yakima
Acquisition #3 - 160 acres, tax parcel no. 508933, purchased on l2ll0l20l9.
Conservation (Restrictive Covenant) AFN 20191210001 6
Acquisition #4 -226.11 acres, consisting of 24 separate tax lots, purchased on 812612021
Conservation (Restrictive Covenant) AFN 20210826005 4
The two restrictive covenants for these properties specifically prohibit subdivision, residential
development, and timber harvest. Commercial development and use are also prohibited, except
for agricultural uses within a designated portion of the properties. In addition to allowed
agricultural uses, permitted uses include habitat restoration, vegetation management of exotic
species, levee maintenance and reconfiguration, and passive, non-motorized recreational uses,
including trails, wildlife observation areas, picnic areas, and parking areas.
Along with these deed-restricted properties, Kittitas County Public Works also owns just under
one acre of Mercer Creek (tributary to Wilson Creek) located within the City of Ellensburg (tax
parcel no. 21998). This property is managed for open space and floodplain and fish and wildlife
purposes. This property does not currently have a deed restriction, but we would be willing to
consider recording a restrictive covenant to further reduce the risk of flooding downstream at the
present transfer station property.
We hope this explanation has been helpful, and the identified projects now completed would
serve as compensatory floodplain protection to fulfill the Building Resilient Infrastructure and
Communities grant's purposes.
Sincerely,
ABSENT
o
a
Cory Wright
District One
CC: Congresswoman Kim Schrier
Laura Osiadacz
District Two
Brett achsmith
District Three
Kittitas County Courthouse . 205 West 5mAvenue, STE 108 Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-7s08 .FAX (s09) 962-7679