Planning commission recommends updates to development regulations and critical‑areas rules, including wetlands language and professional qualifications

The Kittitas County Planning Commission voted to forward revisions to the county's draft development regulations and critical areas ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners after a public hearing and extended discussion of wetlands mapping, professional qualifications and land‑use table changes.

Planning staff member Bill Winkles opened the hearing by summarizing outreach and the comment record, saying, "So, again, all of our public hearings, we've been updating the County 2026 project website," and noting that written comments from the 30‑day public comment period are posted and will be forwarded to the commissioners. Staff also said the eastern subarea produced many of the submitted comments.

County planner Jeremy Johnson told the commission the team had met repeatedly with neighborhood contacts and that staff had removed or softened language that generated the most opposition: "We've been working with ... for close to 2 years now, on the sub area plan," he said, describing mailers to property owners, community meetings and repeated concerns about items such as sidewalks and other infrastructure.

Commissioners and commenters focused much of the discussion on wetlands: how wetlands are identified, when the county can rely on the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) versus project‑specific delineations, and how map updates are supported. Staff explained that map changes require evidence from on‑site delineations by qualified biologists, agency concurrence and, in many cases, coordination with tribes and state agencies before submission to the NWI.

A central edit the commission agreed to was to simplify the CAO mapping sentence so that it read, in staff wording, that "the county shall update the maps periodically as new wetland information becomes available." Commissioners said that wording would allow updates that both add and remove wetlands when reliable new information is produced and supported by appropriate studies and agency review.

Members also debated a proposed definition of "qualified professional" for wetland work. One commenter and several commissioners raised concerns about a suggested new minimum of five years' experience delineating and rating wetlands. Supporters said the higher requirement would ensure competence on technical delineations and ratings; critics said raising the bar risks reducing the pool of available professionals and could slow permitting.

After deliberation, a planning commission member moved to adopt the discussed language changes to the draft code and recommend the development regulations and critical areas ordinance updates to the Board of County Commissioners; the motion was seconded by the commission chair and carried by voice vote. Staff was directed to draft the precise ordinance language and memos reflecting the changes for the Board.

The commission also discussed related topics including whether some residential uses should be allowed in commercial designations to support housing, and cautioned that any increase of rural density could trigger state review by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Commissioners agreed to return the land‑use table edits for separate, more detailed review.

The hearing was closed for the evening with staff and members agreeing to continue refinement and outreach; commissioners thanked staff for their work (a member singled out Kimberly Hart for particular praise).