Kittitas County adopts 15-year Suncadia development agreement extension after hearing on safety, compliance and water rights

Kittitas County commissioners on Feb. 17 adopted a resolution extending the Amended and Restated Development Agreement for Suncadia Master Planned Resort by 15 years, moving the agreement's expiration from Oct. 9, 2030 to Oct. 9, 2045.

The board acted after an open-record hearing in which county planning staff recommended approval conditioned on several requirements, including annual performance reviews verifying compliance with specific DA exhibits, a stated October 9, 2045 expiration date for the extension, permitting for any new gates by the county fire marshal and clarification that emergency egress through the resort be available in both directions per Exhibit J.

Why it matters: The Suncadia Master Planned Resort covers about 6,320 acres and was originally approved in 2000 with a 30-year buildout timeline. The extension keeps the existing terms and conditions in place while adding time to complete the project. Homeowners, local fire officials and county staff told commissioners the extension touches issues that affect wildfire risk, water supply, infrastructure and the enforceability of long-standing obligations.

Homeowners urged verification of compliance before new time was granted. Dozens of written comments and multiple residents who spoke at the hearing said the county should first document which DA obligations have been completed and which remain outstanding. "Before any extension is granted, we must confirm if all promises have been kept," one commenter wrote in the record. Several homeowners asked the county to require independent verification of compliance or to condition an extension on enforceable milestones and reporting.

Fire officials pressed for firmer life-safety conditions. Aaron Lowe, fire chief for Kittitas County Fire District 7, told the record that fast-moving wildfires make even small delays dangerous and urged several concrete steps: automatic emergency-responsive gate systems, measurable roadside fuel reduction and evacuation plans, coordinated hydrant placement with Storz connections, and construction standards aligned with wildfire-resilient design. "During a rapidly advancing wildfire, delays of even a few minutes can have life-threatening consequences," Chief Lowe wrote.

Residents raised forest-management and treatment figures. Douglas Beck, a Suncadia homeowner and owner-elected representative to the SROA, urged more specific, enforceable forest-management timelines tied to the DA. He cited the DA's Land Stewardship Plan and the developer's own treatment schedule, saying that as of October 2025 only 987 of 3,248 open-space acres (about 30%) had recorded stand treatments and asked for annual compliance reports and outside agency input on priorities.

Suncadia defended infrastructure and water-rights sufficiency. In response to repeated questions about water and sewer capacity, the applicant submitted written responses and a separate water-rights letter saying Washington Department of Ecology authorizes up to 3,059 acre-feet per year for municipal supply on the MPR. The developer also told the county that wastewater treatment facilities constructed in Cle Elum in 2005 were sized to serve the approved buildout and said the extension would not waive existing obligations. "The proposed extension does not waive existing obligations but preserves the County's ability to enforce applicable requirements," an applicant response stated.

Staff recommendation and conditions. Planning Manager Jamey Ayling's staff report concluded the extension is consistent with the comprehensive plan and development regulations and recommended approval subject to conditions that include annual performance reviews confirming compliance with Exhibits A-1 through G-1, an expiration date of Oct. 9, 2045 for the extension, county permitting for any new gates, and the emergency-egress clarification in Exhibit J.

Outcome and next steps. The board adopted a resolution authorizing the chair to sign the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Development Agreement (RESOLUTION NO. 2026). The record remains part of the county file; staff will proceed with the conditions and any follow-up review steps the county determines are necessary.

What remains contested: Many homeowners said the county should require a formal, documented compliance review before granting additional time; the developer and county staff said compliance has been documented through phased approvals and inspections but noted that ongoing plat-level reviews and county oversight will continue. The Fire District reiterated that any extension should include enforceable fire-protection measures. The extension does not change permitted uses or development standards in the DA.

The county agenda packet, staff report and the applicant's response letters are available in the county's Community Development Services file for DV-25-00001; the public record contains dozens of written comments submitted during the application process.