Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br />COMMUNITY PLANNING  BUILDING INSPECTION  PLAN REVIEW  ADMINISTRATION  PERMIT SERVICES  CODE ENFORCEMENT <br />KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES <br />411 N. Ruby St., Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926 <br />CDS@CO.KITTITAS.WA.US <br />Office (509) 962-7506 <br /> <br /> <br />“Building Partnerships – Building Communities” <br />STAFF REPORT <br /> <br />DATE: July 1, 2025 <br /> <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Conduct a public hearing on July 1, 2025 at 2:00 pm to consider approval of the <br />Amendments to the Kittitas County Code Title 17A, Critical Areas Ordinance <br />(CAO). <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br /> <br />On December 7th, 2021, Kittitas County adopted Ordinance No. 2021-016 adopting the Kittitas County Critical <br />Areas Ordinance (CAO).The Yakama Nation (Petitioner) filed a petition for review with the Eastern Washington <br />Growth Hearings Board (GMHB) on February 11, 2022, Case No. 22-1-0002 and On July 28th, 2022, a hearing <br />on the merits was held. On September 7th, 2022, the GMHB issued a final decision and order in favor of Kittitas <br />County on each issue and the Petitioner filed an appeal of the GMHB’s decision to Superior Court in Thurston <br />County. On March 20, 2023, the Thurston County Superior Court certified direct review to the Division II Court <br />of Appeals, where the Division II Court of Appeals transferred review to the Division III court under Case No. <br />396711. In July of 2024 Kittitas County and the Petitioner entered settlement discussions over the next eleven <br />(11) months, which included numerous meetings and correspondence from July 2024 through May of 2025. <br />On June 9, 2025, at a regularly scheduled CDS Study Session Meeting, the Kittitas County BOCC approved <br />Resolution No. 2025-118, Concerning the Settlement with the Yakama Nation Pertaining to the Kittitas County <br />Code Title 17A, Critical Areas Ordinance. <br /> <br />On June 9, 2025 at a regularly scheduled CDS Study Session Meeting, The Kittitas County BOCC adopted <br />Resolution 2025-118, acknowledging the settlement with the Yakama Nation pertaining to the Kittitas County <br />Code Title 17A, Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and directed the Community Development Services Department <br />to initiate the next steps for formal approval of the ordinance. On June 17, 2025, at a regularly scheduled BOCC <br />Meeting, the Kittitas County BOCC set a Public Hearing for July 1st, at 2:00 p.m. to Consider Approval of the <br />Amendments to the Kittitas County Critical Areas Ordinance. <br /> <br />Staff have attached the red-lined regulations for your review, and an adopting Ordinance with the final draft <br />exhibit. <br /> <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br /> <br />Consider the approval of amendments to Kittitas County Code Title 17A, Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO). <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENTS: Kittitas County Code Title 17A - Red-Lined Version <br /> Ordinance <br /> <br /> <br />LEAD STAFF: Jamey Ayling, CDS Planning Manager <br />