Working Group Meeting 3 April 20, 2017 MEETING 1 MEETING 2 There - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Working Group Meeting 3 April 20, 2017

MEETING 1 MEETING 2 § There is a large supply of § Housing shortage undeveloped lots § Dearth of affordable housing § Reduce non-conforming lots § Isolated pockets of zoning § Overzoning of ag-20 § Provide incentives for § Buyers are often unaware of clustering zoning many development challenges development § Review the public benefit of tax § Need a variety of rural system densities § Many rural areas do not have § Lack of protection of rural access to water character § Expensive electricity § Protect food sources § Irregular tax rates

NATURAL FEATURES § Varied natural landscape (7) Jagged snow-capped mountains (The Cascades, The § Stuarts, Snoqulamie Pass, Blewett Pass, natural § Please list below the natural features, woodlands) economic patterns or structures/ Rolling curved ridgeline with alpine habitats and high § precipitation development patterns that you think Harsh arid shrub steppe with limited precipitation § make Kittitas County special? Pastures and farms dotted with family homes § LOCATION The Yakima River and its tributaries and creeks § Lakes, irrigation reservoirs and ponds § Close but not too close to larger urban areas § § Limiting development in open and sensitive places (5) Abundant access to surrounding vast tracks of § undeveloped land § Excellent habitat for a wide array of fish and Wildlife § wildlife species (4) Scenic landscapes § § Variety of year-round recreational opportunities Clean healthy air and water § (3) EMPLOYMENT MANMADE LANDSCAPES § Livestock pastures, irrigated fields, farms and Employment includes 20% State (Including § ranches, orchards, agricultural-related businesses, CWU) and 18% local government. seasonal harvests (3) Job growth primarily in the accommodations § § Traditional structures found on farms; along the old and food service sector railways; barns, hay fields, farm equipment Wages are low § § Varied residential architectural characteristics High poverty level § Farm houses with front porches and barns § 18% locally § Newer tight-knit neighborhoods § 13 % State wide 14 % nationally Grand homes in Suncadia § Modern slant-roof homes § Diverse base of education § § Not afraid to use the sun, water and wind or the soil as energy resources

ENVIRONMENT § Conversion of remaining shrub steppe § Are there any habitat developments or § The continued development of practices that you have floodplains (mapped and un-mapped by observed in the county FEMA) over the past 10 years that you would like to address AESTHETICS or make sure do not § Random suburban style development in continue as such over the existing agriculture areas, esp. open next 20 years? pasture EQUITY § Industries with tall security fencing and their impact on rural character § Economic growth in the county is lead by low wage jobs in the food service § The run-down homes and neighborhoods and accommodations sectors ( 18%) full of broken down cars and household garbage § Poverty level of 18% in the county underscores the need to attract higher wage jobs § Developers will build housing that generates the highest return Cater to those who can afford new homes § (Outside buyers) § Increased disparity as local population will be priced out of housing

NOT DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTIVE Increase opportunities for economic growth § § Are there any Innovations in forest management (wildfire § prevention), renewable energy, recreation, etc. developments or practices that you have Need for business friendly zoning, land use, and § observed in the county other regulatory tools over the past 10 years that you would like to address Trails § Access points is an issue or make sure do not § Shrinking size of trails § continue as such over the Preserve historical access § next 20 years (Contd)? Lack of information/warning to public for § private development INFRASTRUCTURE Give people knowledge of zoning protocol § § The county & developers have not changes earlier in the process. always worked closely with water purveyors Overall improve communication tactics and § processes. Not enough information to property § purchasers State government changes to community forests § § Industrial solar farm facilities does not involve enough, if any, public comment. displacing agricultural production Can county create an administrative process to § § Cluster plats in rural areas that keep county planners in the loop regarding affect infrastructure and water public land projects/planning to represent county interests? Hostility toward the marijuana industry and solar § development "I have mine but you can't have yours" mentality §

§ Views of the mountains, ranges, hills and ridgelines surrounding the valley floor § Do you have any views within the county that you would like to § Views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. protect over the next 20 years? If Stuart (2) yes, please describe. § Roslyn and Cle Elum Ridges (no § Three major threats to the views intense logging) § Unchecked sprawl into open § Views of open spaces of farm spaces fields § Dirty air § Burned landscapes due to § Views of the Yakima River and wildfire. the Yakima Canyon § The state has invested a great § Columbia River deal in the Teanaway Watershed § Lake Cle Elum for ecosystem services and working lands. (2) § Wind farms add to the beauty of § Support this investment by our views limiting development and limiting short plats § Let's be open and flexible to allow for innovative and creative § Protecting important wildlife ideas corridors (particularly in shrub steppe habitat) will be critical to preserving habitat

NATURAL HABITAT § Preserving shrub steppe habitat Particularly for wildlife mobility § § What challenges do you think need § Protecting floodplains to be addressed as we plan for the For habitat and to prevent damage to § county's growth over the next 20 infrastructure years? § Reduce days with unhealthy air quality Manage forest lands to prevent wildfires § DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ECONOMY § Development is not a bad thing, but needs to be managed well § Keep next generation through job Loss of farm land to other uses § creation (4) Preserve rural character § § Support for public land acquisitions § Accommodate population growth while To support the recreational economy maintaining agriculture interests § (KC Right to Farm – expand this program) § § Availability of water § How to deal with the existing non- § Transportation conforming lots and still preserve habitat and rural character Road conditions § Recreation and tourism § Incentives for re-aggregating previous § segregations should be encouraged Passenger rail § § Population density in ALL rural areas § Economic support for parks and recreation § Lack of affordable housing options (3) § Hire Local programs for Government § Pamphlet needed for new home buyers explaining how to be a good neighbor contracts § Revenue through increased shopping options (counties cannot plan for retail or office development)

§ How would you prioritize the following? Subsistence based agriculture for local consumption Ability to accept new residents into the county Existing export-based agriculture Introduce alternative means for regional travel Expand shopping choices Ability to accommodate new seasonal accommodations 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 9 responses

§ ACTIVITIES § Working lands (livestock and cultivated crops) § § Why do you enjoy living in § Reasonable access to shopping Kittitas County? (food, household needs, building supply, art, § clothing, etc.) SCENIC BEAUTY § 4 season recreational opportunities (4) § Variety § Hunting opportunities § Rural activities § Proximity § Quiet, safe, public land § Abundant COMMUNITY § Viewing (3) § A supportive community (2) § Availability of sun (climate) (2) § Small town atmosphere (2) § Open spaces (2) § Freedom from violent crime and gang activity § Beautiful barns § Agricultural heritage continuity (3) § Feeling of spaciousness § Welcoming to new-comers LOCATION § Creative and intellectual atmosphere from CWU § Distance between cities & towns § People who live here - hard working, § Proximity to Puget Sound free thinkers

§ 4 votes – 1 image § 63 images § 3 votes – 7 images § 15 votes allowed per person § 2 votes – 18 images § 5 responses (75 votes) by 3pm on April 19, 2017 § 1 vote – 14 images § Poll open till May 30 th § Outreach Strategy § Newspaper § Fliers § Direct Email

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