Kittitas County staff, consultant outline two‑year comprehensive plan update, housing and UGA work ahead

At a joint meeting of the Kittitas County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners, county planning staff and consultant Clay White of Kimley‑Horn outlined a two‑year periodic comprehensive plan update required under the Washington State Growth Management Act. The update will include population and housing targets based on Office of Financial Management projections, a land‑capacity analysis, revisions to policies and development regulations, and a public engagement program intended to run through the update process and lead to a submittal to the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The consultant, Clay White, described the work as a multi‑step effort that begins with selecting an OFM population projection and distributing growth targets between the county and its cities. “My job for the next year and a half is to set you all up for success,” White said as he described the project schedule, the housing‑for‑all planning tool the county will use, and a capacity analysis that will show whether current zoning allows the housing types the county must plan for.

County staff said the update is due in June 2026 and that the county has selected the OFM medium projection as the starting point for the work with the regional Council of Governments. A county staff member urged commissioners and planning commissioners to direct questions to county staff: “If you don't have questions tonight, that's fine. Please get your questions to myself or the planning manager, Jamie Aileen, or my long range…