HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-26-minutes-cds-study-sessionKITTITAS COUNTY
CDS STUDY SESSION MINUTES
COMMISSIONERS' AUDITORIUM, 205 WEST 5th ROOM 109
Special Meeting
TUESDAY 3:00 PM May 26, 2026
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright, vice -Chairman Brett
Wachsmith, and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Chad Bala, Gail Weyand, Community Development Services,
and Bill Hinkle (planning commission member.)
At 3:00 pm Chair Wright opened the Community Development
Services Study Session.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Planning Commission member Bill Hinkle offered remarks
commending the consultant work and the public process,
emphasizing that process compliance is often where jurisdictions
encounter difficulty. He stated that the County had done a good
job with public engagement and process.
PERIODIC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
Director Chad Bala reported that the Comprehensive Plan update
process began in 2025 and included significant public outreach
and joint meetings between the Planning Commission and Board of
County Commissioners. The Comprehensive Plan document was
released for comment on January 29, 2026, and development
regulations and critical areas materials were circulated for
comment on March 26, 2026. Director Bala stated that both sets
of documents were ultimately presented to the Planning
Commission, which recommended approval.
Director Bala further reported that the SEPA review period began
on March 22, 2026, a Determination of Non -Significance was
issued on May 7, 2026, and the comment and appeal period ended
on May 22, 2026. Director Bala noted no comments were received
from the Yakama Nation, Colville Tribe, or other tribes
regarding the development regulations and Comprehensive Plan
update.
Director Bala stated that, as of the meeting date, the
administrative record exceeded 3,200 pages and included 62
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informal comments, with the record still being compiled through
the June 2, 2026, commissioner hearings.
Director Bala explained that the packet included a matrix
organizing proposed changes into five batches for board review:
• Batch 1: Original document with the Planning Commission
recommendation
• Batch 2: Planning Commission recommendation including
changes proposed by Commissioner Pat Deneen
• Batch 3: Staff and Public Works review and revisions to
those proposed changes
• Batch 4: Revisions arising from comments submitted by
Futurewise, the Department of Commerce, and Fish and
Wildlife
• Batch 5: CDS staff review of the Eastern Subarea Plan,
including changes responsive to concerns raised by the
eastern subarea group
Director Bala explained that the matrix was intended to make the
proposed policy language easier to review, particularly where
staff recommended replacing more mandatory wording with
permissive or advisory wording to avoid unintended obligations
or fiscal commitments.
Director Bala advised that two hearings were planned for June 2,
2026, at 6:00 p.m.:
1. A hearing on the Comprehensive Plan document, including
public testimony, closure of the record, deliberation, and
possible recommendation of approval or direction to prepare
enabling documents; and
2.A separate hearing on critical areas and development
regulation review.
Director Bala also noted that the Planning Commission had made
only two major changes to the critical areas ordinance and no
changes to the development regulations.
Director Bala indicated that the draft staff report for the June
2 hearing was being finalized and would include a recommendation
on which batches to approve. Director Bala was considering
recommending approval of Batches 1, 3, 4, 5 and so forth.
Chairman Cory Wright asked about comments received associated
with the 903-corridor development with concerns near
Roslyn/Roslyn Council. Director Bala reported discussions with
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the Mayor of the City Roslyn and others and stated that three
proposed policy statements had been drafted for possible
inclusion. Director Bala asked legal counsel whether those
policies could be incorporated into the record without
additional publication, or whether republication for public
comment would be required.
A comment submitted by Councilmember Tom Uren as a resident was
referenced as a possible basis for those proposed policies.
Director Bala indicated that, if added, those policies would
become a potential batch 6.
Planning Commission Bill Hinkle commented that additional
changes are generally permissible so long as the public has
already seen them but warned that if the Board were to make
changes not previously published for public review, additional
public process would be required.
Director Bala responded that, if publication were required for
the three additional policies, the June 2, 2026 hearing date
might need to be postponed.
Director Bala stated that the full record would likely be
transmitted to the Board via zip drive, with a goal of
distribution by the following day or, at the latest, Thursday.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Meeting concluded at 3:14 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Gall Weyand,Chiet Cory Wright, Chairman
Administator
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