HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-02-minutes-public-hearing06/02/2026 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 6:00 P.M. JUNE 2, 2026
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett
Wachsmith and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mandy Buchholz, Office
Administrator; Josh Fredrickson, Public Works Director; Jeremy
Johnston, Planner II – Long Range; Chad Bala, CDS Director;
Stephanie Hartung, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor; Jamey Ayling,
Planning Manager; James McCubbin, Deputy Prosecutor III; and
approximately 25 members of the public.
PUBLIC HEARING PERIODIC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE CDS
At 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WRIGHT opened a Public Hearing to consider
adoption of the 2026-2046 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update.
CHAD BALA, CDS DIRECTOR, provided a Staff Report and reviewed
general information, an overview of public participation,
environmental review, agency and public comments, and
recommendations.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: JILL MERWIN urged the Board to adopt the
red-line revision of Easton Subarea plan. GINA PECKMAN expressed her
strong support for the Easton Subarea Plan. She recognized Staff for
their genuine act of listening and how they showed up for the
unincorporated areas of Easton. MARGE BRANDSRUD echoed support for
the Easton Subarea Plan. She said the Community Development Services
Department were excellent to work with and helped the residents of
Easton understand the foundation. JUSTIN DAVIS, CITY OF ROSLYN
COUNCIL MEMBER, provided comments on the public safety and traffic
concerns along the SR903 corridor, specifically north of Roslyn
along Lake Cle Elum. He requested a pause on the rezone along SR903
until the study from COG has been published within the next 18
months. FRANNY CASTRILLI thanked the Staff from Community
Development Services for including the community’s feedback and
noted she was in favor of the most recent edits of the Easton
Subarea Plan. TERESA CASTRILLI thanked the County Staff and
expressed concerns with the I-90 shutdowns and how they should be
declared as hazardous to their community. SHELLEY McMASTER spoke in
support of the Easton Subarea Plan. She felt it recognized what
makes Easton special including a sense of community. JOSH McBRIDE,
President of Snoqualmie Pass Community Association, appreciated the
efforts from Community Development Services, in particular their
work on the Subarea Plan. He provided information on the difficulty
06/02/2026 MINUTES 2
they have in their area where they have two different counties, and
how it’s a complex area. DEBBIE BOGART appreciated the process that
was conducted by Staff and felt it was a historic moment for their
community. She urged the Board to adopt the red-line version of the
Easton Subarea Plan. JOHN JENSEN thanked Staff for their work with
their community and recognized those who worked on it back in 1996
and 2010 and hoped they will get across the finish line. THERE BEING
NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING
WAS CLOSED.
MR. BALA explained how State law does not allow for LMRID
expansions.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ moved to approve the 2026 Periodic
Comprehensive Plan, adopting amendments in batch 1, 3, 4 and 5 with
amendments; add language for four Policies which were read into the
record, and to bring back enabling documents to the Closed Record
Hearing on June 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Policy #1
The County will encourage coordinated transportation and continued
evaluation of transportation conditions and impacts associated with
existing and proposed development along State Route 903 corridor. In
cooperation with the Washington State Department of Transportation,
local jurisdictions, service providers, and affected stakeholders,
the County may support or pursue corridor studies, intersection
analyses, access management strategies, multimodal transportation
improvements, and other planning efforts intended to improve public
safety, mobility, and long-term transportation function.
Policy #2
The County may consider transportation impacts associated with
development proposals along the SR 903 Corridor through the
application of existing development regulations, level of service
standards, SEPA review, concurrency requirements, and other
applicable laws and procedures.
Policy #3
The County may also evaluate opportunities for future roadway
jurisdictional coordination, including potential roadway transfer or
new corridor transportation discussions with state or local
agencies, where such action could improve long-term corridor
management, maintenance responsibilities, transportation planning
flexibility, or community needs. Evaluation of such options shall
not obligate the County to pursue or accept any transfer of
jurisdiction unless separately authorized through future County
action.
Policy #4
06/02/2026 MINUTES 3
Kittitas County recognized the need to periodically review and
update its development regulations and implement codes to maintain
consistency with amendments to Washington State law and state agency
guidance adopted since the County’s previous Comprehensive Plan and
Development Regulations update cycle. The County is not proposing
increases in allowable development densities, expansion of urban
growth areas, limited areas of more intense development (LAMIRD’s)
or broad increases in development density as part of this update
process.
These policies are intended to supplement and work in conjunction
with existing Comprehensive Plan Policies, Transportation plans, and
Development Regulations currently in effect.
VICE-CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ felt it had been a good and interesting
process. The Board recognized and thanked Staff for their hard work
and going through a challenging process.
Motion carried 3-0.
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT noted the Public Hearing was continued to June 16,
2026, at 2:00 p.m. and no additional testimony or evidence is to be
provided.
PUBLIC HEARING CRITICAL AREAS & DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS CDS
At 6:56 p.m. CHAIRMAN WRIGHT opened a Public Hearing to consider
adoption of the critical areas and development regulations
associated with the 2026-2046 Periodic Comprehensive Plan update.
CHAD BALA, CDS DIRECTOR, reviewed a brief Staff Report. He said the
Planning Commission voted to recommend approval with two amendments
by adding language to the “Qualified Professional” definition in KCC
17A.02.620(1) to read “For wetlands, Professional Wetland Scientist
Certification, or other documents of expertise, and five years of
experience is required”. And to remove the following language from
KCC 17A.07.020(2) “as new wetland areas are identified and.” Leaving
the associated sentence to read “The County shall update the maps
periodically as new wetland information becomes available”.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE
HEARING WAS CLOSED.
VICE-CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH moved to approve adoption of the Critical
Areas and Development Regulations as recommended, with the two
amendments recommended by the Planning Commission and recommend
Staff to prepare enabling documents. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ seconded.
06/02/2026 MINUTES 4
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT explained how he was not in favor of the 5-year
training requirement and felt the quality of work would either rise
or fall and no magic number of years of experience.
VICE-CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH withdrew the motion.
VICE-CHAIRMAN moved to approve the proposed amendments to the
Critical Areas and Development Regulations as recommended by Staff,
with an amendment to the Planning Commission’s recommendation,
Amendment #1, instructing Staff to remove their recommendation to
add a requirement of 5-years of experience for a wetland “Qualified
Professional” in Title 17A.02.620(1), and instruct Staff to prepare
enabling documents. COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ seconded. Motion carried
3-0.
The meeting concluded at 7:10 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Vice-Chairman