HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-08-04-minutes-200pm-public-hearing08/04/2026 MINUTES
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. AUGUST 4, 2026
Board Members Present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith and Vice-
Chairman Laura Osiadacz.
Others Present: Jodi Larsen, Office Administrator; Mandy
Buchholz, Office Administrator; Chad Bala, Community Development
Services Director; Jeremy Johnston, Long Range Planner; Ellie
Myers, Planner I; Stephanie Hartung, Chief Civil Deputy
Prosecutor; and five members of the public.
PUBLIC HEARING MORATORIUM ON TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS CDS
At 2:00 p.m., CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to
consider extending the moratorium on the Transfer of Development
Rights (TDR) code for one (1) year.
CHAD BALA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, reviewed the
staff report and asked Jeremy Johnston, Long Range Planner, to
provide additional information regarding the requested
moratorium.
JEREMY JOHNSTON, LONG RANGE PLANNER, explained that the
Washington State Department of Commerce had determined the
language in the current Transfer of Development Rights code did
not meet applicable legal standards and required revision. Staff
is requesting the moratorium to allow sufficient time to conduct
a comprehensive review and develop revisions that comply with
state legal requirements.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING:PAT DENEEN commented that the review
and revision should not take more than 90 days. Mr. Deneen
provided a redlined version of the code that he believes would
resolve the language discrepancies.
JACK PIPER expressed his appreciation for the Board taking the
necessary time to thoroughly review the code and ensure the
revisions are completed accurately. He also emphasized the
permanent nature of Transfer of Development Rights once they are
approved and implemented.
08/04/2026 MINUTES
TOM MORRIS also encouraged the Board to take the time necessary
to ensure the revisions are completed correctly and with the
long-term public interest in mind. While he agreed that the
moratorium is appropriate, he expressed that one year seemed
longer than necessary and encouraged the Board to strive to
complete the revisions within 90 days.
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-133 TDR MORATORIUM EXTENSION CDS
VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ moved to approve Resolution No. 2026-133,
extending the moratorium on accepting new applications for the
use and implementation of Section 17.13, Transfer of Development
Rights. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded the motion. Motion carried
2-0.
The meeting was concluded at 2:37 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Jodi Larsen Brett Wachsmith, Chairman