Commissioner urges standalone recreation element; staff points to 2021 recreation plan and amended contract

A Kittitas County commissioner urged staff to include a distinct recreation element in the comprehensive plan, arguing that outdoor recreation drives housing and economic activity in the Upper County.

“Recreation is a big part of the Upper County,” Commissioner Dean said, adding that recreation, parking, sanitation and transportation demands around ski areas and trailheads require specific planning. “If you took the recreation out of the Upper County, you'd have a completely different county,” Dean said.

Planning consultant Clay White and county staff responded that recreation policy will be addressed in the broader plan and in the November agenda item on parks and open space, and they noted an adopted 2021 Recreation and Tourism Plan that staff can weave into the comprehensive plan. Chad Baylor, CES director, told commissioners he had recently amended the county’s contract with the state Commerce program and one added task was a recreational element. “We ended up having to add some elements. And one of those elements was the recreational element,” Baylor said.

Why it matters: commissioners said recreation is the primary economic driver in parts of the county (ski areas, trailheads and other outdoor recreation) and argued that the county needs policy and implementation steps for parking, toilets, trails and transportation in high‑use areas.

What staff said: staff agreed recreation is important and said they will pull policies from the 2021 plan and incorporate goals and actionable tasks into the implementation chapter. White asked commissioners who want stronger recreational policy to provide their proposed goals in writing so staff can draft responsive policy language.

Ending: Staff said they will review the 2021 Recreation and Tourism Plan, incorporate relevant goals into the comprehensive plan, and return with draft wording; commissioners asked for written input to guide staff drafting.