Hearing examiner to recommend approval of Rosslyn Ridge West PUD in Kittitas County

Kittitas County Hearing Examiner Andy Cotkamp heard testimony Dec. 17 on the Rosslyn Ridge West planned unit development and a companion two‑lot short plat and said he will issue a written recommended decision to the Board of County Commissioners within about 10 working days.

Planner Bradley Kosovsky told the hearing examiner that staff recommends approval of a rezone to Planned Unit Development for roughly 164.32 acres northwest of Rosslyn, plus approval of a preliminary two‑lot short plat. Kosovsky said the applications propose 61 single‑family housing sites across roughly 67–69 acres with the remaining acreage reserved as open space and recreation, and that the application process included agency review and public notice; an NDNS determination was issued in mid‑November 2024 with no appeals.

“We recommend approval of the PUD and the 2‑lot short plat to the BOCC with the four conditions detailed in the staff report,” Kosovsky said during his presentation.

Laura Henkel, representing applicant Blue Jay Land Company, said the proposal uses transfer development rights from 21 existing three‑acre parcels to concentrate density in the southern portion of the site and preserve northern parcels as open space. “We agree with the staff report and all its conditions as well as the final NDNS determination,” Henkel said. She described water service via the Evergreen Valley Water System and wastewater handled by the Evergreen Boundary Sewer System with individual septic systems and an approved disposal area.

Examiner Cotkamp asked whether the applicant would follow Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recommendations for a recreation management plan noted in a July 22, 2024 comment. Pat Deneen, a co‑owner of Blue Jay Land Company, said the applicant met on site with WDFW staff and “we can work with them on the recreation plan that she is thinking about.” Deneen also outlined the next approval steps: final development plan review with county staff, coordination with WDFW, Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington State Department of Health as needed, and final commission approval.

No members of the public were present in the hearing room or online, and the applicant did not object to the staff‑recommended conditions. Cotkamp closed the record and said he would circulate a written recommended decision to the Board of County Commissioners within 10 working days, aiming to issue it before Christmas.

The hearing record includes staff exhibits 1–36 and the applicant’s presentation (Exhibit 37); the recommended decision is not final Commission action and the Board of County Commissioners will make the final determination on the rezone and short plat.