Kittitas County moves forward with controversial subdivision plan

A preliminary plat application for a five-lot subdivision, known as the Nelson View project, was discussed during a recent Kittitas County government meeting. The application, submitted by Nelson View LLC, pertains to a 25.03-acre parcel zoned for agricultural use with a rural residential designation.

Staff planner Chase Peterson outlined the timeline of the application, which was deemed complete on March 28, 2024, following a notice of application sent to local agencies and adjacent landowners. The comment period concluded on April 24, 2024, with no public comments received, although several agency comments were documented in the staff report.

The project underwent a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review, resulting in a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS) issued on June 29, 2023, with no appeals filed. Peterson noted that the application complies with Kittitas County codes and the comprehensive plan, leading staff to recommend approval of the preliminary plat.

However, a point of contention arose regarding a request from the Department of Archaeological and Historic Preservation and the Colville Tribe for a cultural resource survey. Staff did not include this in the proposed conditions for approval, opting instead for an inadvertent discovery plan. This decision prompted questions from meeting participants about the rationale behind not recommending the survey, given the project's history and environmental review process.

The meeting highlighted the ongoing development efforts in Kittitas County and the importance of balancing growth with cultural and environmental considerations.