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Planning Commission reviews Critical Areas Ordinance update, aims for June adoption
Summary
Consultants outlined targeted updates to Whitman County's Critical Areas Ordinance to align with state law and best available science; commissioners asked for more time to review redline language and requested a mid‑April follow‑up meeting before the public hearing.
Whitman County Planning Commission members spent the April 1 workshop reviewing a proposed update to the county's Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) intended to align local rules with the Growth Management Act and the state's best available science. Dan Nickel, the consultant presenting the package, said the update is a “relatively minor” consistency effort and that staff hopes to get the ordinance before the Board of County Commissioners for adoption in June.
Nickel outlined the adoption timeline and regulatory steps: a 60‑day notice to the Washington State Department of Commerce to trigger state agency review, a SEPA review and a public comment period, and a Planning Commission public hearing likely in May. “We have a goal to have this before the board to adopt in June,” Nickel said, urging commissioners to flag issues quickly so the county can meet the 60‑day Commerce notice window in April.
Commissioners used the workshop to probe several substantive changes in the draft CAO and to request more time with the redline language. Multiple commissioners asked for printed copies and a possible April 15 workshop to review edits before the public hearing; staff agreed to resend the redline and provide paper copies. The meeting closed with the Planning Commission scheduling follow‑up review and a possible site visit tied to later items.
