[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6097412,"mediaKeyId","2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec","parentId",2828185,"title","Commissioners uphold MDNS and approve rezone for Mardy Lake parcels despite Fish & Wildlife concerns","audioSeconds",3358,"startMs",576855,"endMs",3935425,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec&start=576&end=3935","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec/thumbnail_576855.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097412/Kittitas-County/Washington/Commissioners-uphold-MDNS-and-approve-rezone-for-Mardy-Lake-parcels-despite-Fish-Wildlife-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097412-1cfbc82b448636a0d33cc034f3e92058/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050351&Signature=iHI6tCinuxOYRSrO8h5KOdWAgDbqiKVGRN2Sej0hTjD27KKd-lm8ImVEJKftZnj~1DfekYwkA2PVyrI3duZ9GUePPx-8e8136tVc9ZxvKWuy8kG2MzlsWYftOGHDsDOUvJ8PF1P8Wp5-YVzG4m87GpwfIcbAHOwAkJqtlDNIqAeRWGujDgioFIQsS9WcF04K~t0NLIJ4bmuLuxrga8VhTtKwRpcZmowQXJw8qYVJXDmxQqyIAfrIu2lzHswcnD8xvsEzClnPtONluVOLaV-GApuexh6LHpegnMsAQf9c-zdIOYK7~I-odUh8rmj15lCflagu1FSjNCeZspEKf1MOng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kittitas County, WA","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday upheld the county’s mitigated determination of nonsignificance (MDNS) for a proposed comprehensive-plan amendment and rezone affecting four parcels totaling about 50.99 acres near Snoqualmie Pass and then approved the non-project rezone from Forest & Range to Rural Recreation (CP24-00001).

Jamie Ayling of Kittitas County Community Development Services summarized the staff review. The application covers four parcels totaling approximately 50.99 acres accessed from Interstate 90 and Forest Service Road 4832. Staff said the application included a critical areas report that identified three wetlands, Coal Creek — a fish-bearing stream with historic bull trout observations — and other seasonal tributaries. Ayling said wetland and stream buffers cover a substantial portion of the property and that the planning commission had recommended approval (4–1).

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) appealed the MDNS. Assistant Attorney General Connor Johnson, representing DFW, said the department was not demanding a predetermined outcome but asked for more wildlife-focused analysis. DFW representatives and regional land-use staff said available mapping and the critical areas report indicate the parcels are within or adjacent to the Snoqualmie Pass biodiversity/connectivity area and that a high percentage of the property is covered by streams, wetlands, or their buffers. DFW requested further analysis of anticipated impacts to wildlife from potential development and, if warranted, a stronger environmental review.

Applicant counsel Maureen Mitchell, representing Marty Lake Inc., said the critical areas report was prepared for the county and that requiring an environmental impact statement (EIS) at this non-project stage would be speculative; she said the county is the land-use decisionmaker and that mitigation measures (staff noted 16 mitigation measures in the MDNS) and later project-level review would address site-specific impacts. Conservation Northwest also spoke during public comment, urging protection of the corridor and offering to work with the applicant and county to avoid impacts to wildlife connectivity.

After deliberation staff recommended upholding the MDNS and moving to consider the rezone. The board voted to affirm the MDNS and then approved the comprehensive-plan amendment and rezone, subject to the findings and conditions in the staff report. Commissioners said they value the Gold Creek connectivity work and welcomed further, project-level analysis and collaboration with DFW when any development proposal comes forward.

Key factual details from the record: the MDNS was issued Sept. 18; an appeal was received from the Attorney General’s office on Oct. 11 on behalf of DFW; staff reported the critical areas report identified wetlands and Coal Creek with bull trout habitat; staff said wetlands/streams and required buffers cover roughly 65–77 percent of the property depending on metrics used; the planning commission recommended approval 4–1. The board’s actions closed the county’s SEPA appeal and approved CP24-00001, allowing the change of plan designation to Rural Recreation and rezoning to Rural Recreation, with later project-level review required for any development.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2:00pm Public Hearing Commissioners' Auditorium 3/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners upheld the county’s mitigated determination of nonsignificance and approved a comprehensive-plan amendment and rezone (CP24-00001) changing about 50.99 acres near Snoqualmie Pass from Forest & Range to Rural Recreation.","taxTitle","Kittitas County, Washington","taxId",52273,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6097418,"Kittitas County adopts ordinance to implement permit 'shot clock' and fee option under state law",194,356480,551055,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec&start=356&end=551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec/thumbnail_356480.jpg","/articles/6097418/Kittitas-County/Washington/Kittitas-County-adopts-ordinance-to-implement-permit-shot-clock-and-fee-option-under-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097418-96558a3c19ecdf0a871d87c9a6013b83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050351&Signature=H3h5MIZS7hb2Bj5fK01Z03cnfX7UPxWR1qRzKkSGYlIHOEmMBTBHotQFmeCQ8p~Hl0vtXXN1Hvhk5DbT50xPabJBvvYnMBsvlE3W3NV4-07HFkgZR6y2MOeWBXV2WGCTlWlaVHR9hX-dTxO6ztETSqoytgutHXqn5k3Yg9w7UZcHraA0O2FePnAmE0or3tIqLpb1aJdWVDx6DC51r-zKThmsObVQP8lSDM6CKUn1NBaQHmtxAFX3st0am2ebuKUizF52MUgE4LAtW8ay4fe8PjmRIcb6LLgRBIi-AxvD52-zkYHAGaL6HbUKcE3NNIyxX4rg0YKcmIegn6bAtlWGAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kittitas County commissioners approved an ordinance Tuesday amending County Code Title 15A to implement statutory timelines and related procedural changes associated with state legislation referred to in the hearing as Senate Bill 5290.

Jeremy Dossman, long-range planner for Kittitas County Community Development Services, explained the statute establishes a permit-processing \"shot clock\" that begins when an application is deemed complete and sets different timelines depending on project type: administrative projects have a 65-day processing timeline, administrative projects requiring public notice have a 100-day timeline, and non-administrative projects requiring a public hearing have a 170-day timeline. Dossman said the statute allows jurisdictions to pause the shot clock while an applicant provides additional requested information or by mutual agreement.

Dossman described two compliance options the statute affords for missed timelines: a permit-fee refund mechanism of up to 20% or other alternatives jurisdictions may adopt. Staff recommended an option in which the county collects 80% of permit fees at application submittal and holds 20% until permit issuance as a compliance incentive (staff presented this as county Option 1). The planning commission had unanimously recommended approval of the implementing regulations at its Feb. 11 meeting.

After brief questions from commissioners and no public comment, the board voted to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-003 to amend County Code Title 15A for the purpose of compliance with the state law and to promote more predictable timelines in local project review.","The county adopted an ordinance (No. 2025-003) to implement timelines and procedural changes required by state legislation (referred to in the hearing as Senate Bill 5290). The ordinance sets processing timelines for different types of permit actions and adopts a fee-collection approach recommended by staff.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6097421,"Kittitas County suspends annual comprehensive-plan docket for 2025–2026",113,231475,344515,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec&start=231&end=344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec/thumbnail_231475.jpg","/articles/6097421/Kittitas-County/Washington/Kittitas-County-suspends-annual-comprehensive-plan-docket-for-20252026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097421-43014360596c2c035b79d8a8528031a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050351&Signature=RqJ0awb8Fv0YVDW4QTxY5HcFPTrXFFVxc0Sihps-T9bNs72zYckt2QIhq~1~TeL0b0K294XIrY2vn745sqGfCehssCMo71Lex3mmvbIcxdlAYOk8TAZ62fPwg6B~kOIjfuy0Z~eAUwd5~fWkh5oG99r31hFmy3iFHmOjLZ2F2deA7EbzW-CuWMCztWwGmqTrRj~nbMt998AFByvXxCmUTGuB7BTEIvB1TFQfHSzneR8xdLuR~Juzsp~fKAnjLjCQ8C94rr0UyCDdcEdVWGA2yk4nSU1S9gYY2qBzhWKBo~sKvYI4Nt24INOMF2XyKg5V9WdwZVnW5aPv7OxtvYAvmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kittitas County commissioners approved a resolution on Tuesday suspending the county’s annual comprehensive-plan docket cycle for the 2025 and 2026 cycles to avoid conflicts with the county’s ongoing two-year periodic comprehensive-plan update.

Community Services Director Chad Veil told the board staff and legal counsel had concerns about accepting and approving annual docket items during the current periodic update. Staff said decisions made under the annual docket could later require retroactive changes after the periodic update concludes, and that other jurisdictions had used a suspension to avoid that problem. Veil recommended the board approve Resolution 2025-058 to suspend annual docket submissions for 2025 and 2026.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. A motion to approve Resolution 2025-058 carried on a recorded voice vote with two aye votes recorded.

Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach and to use the suspension to avoid making decisions that could be undone by the periodic update process. The board closed the public hearing and moved to the next item on the agenda.","The Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-058 to suspend the county’s annual comprehensive-plan docketing process for 2025 and 2026 while staff complete the county’s two-year periodic update to the comprehensive plan.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":91,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6097425,"Kittitas County approves separate hangar lease with Cheyenne Air LLC at airport lot H35",226,4880,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec&start=4&end=231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828185-a2d749edc988e684b28445e65157c2ec/thumbnail_4880.jpg","/articles/6097425/Kittitas-County/Washington/Kittitas-County-approves-separate-hangar-lease-with-Cheyenne-Air-LLC-at-airport-lot-H35","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097425-31cc04b07fdda232ffef504600114ebe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050351&Signature=UtCYvAAk3zakaL0DmN8xqlQxmCzcgUNelGYvxvxjQgykHERF6-gb5j5fINEyLtdeAynq6Qg03D9lgzD3cdTJbJZdc-gMSmUJA5yJ5Lmbsojz4Qbv65gAGDrMlrHVBgucpSEYniU0pvRSzOJ40EOb9Uc8JwiZy4UlQEG0kgCM7ivDGLNxd32BVVPQlfZVD7kyxtp1KxehGIFjOpxD1Shycz3I43i3WRm3pvF0FnxSOY7VVjIDZJg58abdcRS~hBEfJ4zab2qUlorR~qbWYpV0C~7UtmN07i-Ydp5fXieUZzFPtlMlzcO13UY1UGIw7BDkO8nrApmwp3czRPcAbbxQdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kittitas County commissioners approved a ground lease on Tuesday creating a separate lease between Kittitas County and Cheyenne Air LLC for a hangar located on airport Lot H35.

The lease was requested because the original lease from February 2017 covered two adjoining lots, H34 and H35, under a single agreement; ownership of the hangar on Lot H35 has since changed and is now held by Cheyenne Air LLC. Josh Fredrickson of Kittitas County Public Works explained the change and said the draft lease uses the county's standard terms, including a land rent rate of $0.16 per square foot, billed annually, and a term structure consistent with other county airport leases.

The move to create a distinct lease was supported by county staff as an administrative clean-up following the change in hangar ownership. Commissioners asked about the lease's rent-adjustment mechanism. One commissioner said, “I'm gonna say I'm not happy with this,” and criticized the absence of periodic rental adjustment tied to an independent market appraisal, noting the county instead uses an 8% increase every five years on many amended leases. Staff confirmed the lease follows that existing methodology.

Commissioners and staff discussed the size and long-term revenue implications; the county estimated the hangar parcel to be a little over 6,000 square feet, and one commissioner projected future per-square-foot revenue under current terms. The board discussed whether public funding might be benefiting private use and said legal analysis on that question should continue outside the motion.

A motion to approve the hangar ground lease passed on a recorded voice vote with two votes in favor and no opposing votes recorded in the meeting transcript. The board closed the public hearing after receiving no public comment.","The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a ground lease for an airport hangar on Lot H35 with Cheyenne Air LLC, creating a distinct agreement after a previous combined lease covering adjacent lots. Commissioners raised concerns about rental adjustment terms but approved the lease.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners uphold MDNS and approve rezone for Mardy Lake parcels despite Fish & Wildlife concerns

Kittitas County adopts ordinance to implement permit 'shot clock' and fee option under state law

Kittitas County suspends annual comprehensive-plan docket for 2025–2026

Kittitas County approves separate hangar lease with Cheyenne Air LLC at airport lot H35