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Kittitas County extends one‑year moratorium on Transfer of Development Rights code
Summary
The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners voted 2‑0 on Aug. 4 to extend a one‑year moratorium on new applications under Section 17.13 (Transfer of Development Rights) so staff can revise code language after the Washington State Department of Commerce found it legally deficient; public commenters urged a 90‑day fix and submitted a redline.
The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners voted 2‑0 on Aug. 4 to approve Resolution No. 2026‑133, extending for one year the moratorium on accepting new applications for Section 17.13, the county's Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) code. Vice‑Chairman Laura Osiadacz moved to approve the resolution and Chairman Brett Wachsmith seconded; "Motion carried 2‑0," the minutes record.
County planning staff told the commissioners the moratorium is needed because the Washington State Department of Commerce "had determined the language in the current Transfer of Development Rights code did not meet applicable legal standards and required revision," Long Range Planner Jeremy Johnston told the Board. Staff said the pause will provide time for a comprehensive review and drafting of revisions to ensure the code complies with state requirements.
Three members of the public spoke during the hearing. Pat Deneen urged a faster timeline, saying the review "should not take more than 90 days" and provided a redlined version of the code for staff consideration. Jack Piper thanked the Board for a careful review and warned that TDRs are permanent once implemented. Tom Morris said he agreed a moratorium was appropriate but that a one‑year pause "seemed longer than necessary," echoing calls for a 90‑day process.
Resolution No. 2026‑133 formally extends the moratorium while staff conduct revisions; the minutes do not specify interim reporting deadlines, outreach plans, or a staff timeline beyond the stated purpose of allowing sufficient time for a legally compliant rewrite. The Board concluded the special meeting at 2:37 p.m.
