Susan Colts | Opinion: New Upper Kittitas County Maintenance Yard – Government Transparency … Really?

editited 3/24/19

Has there been County Transparency on Land Use with this project? Has the county done a study on what traffic will be like accross the street from our gradeschool?

In reading the story in the Northern Kittitas Tribune about the Maintenance Yard the “County” wants to build in UKC … the new facility seemed so needed and tucked away. But what I realized after seeing the “Land Use” sign go up on 903 is that it sits directly across hwy 903 from the Elementary school.

That led to a number of questions so I went to the website listed on the sign and in the newspaper article. I couldn’t find any information on the new yard on the website which prompted a call to the phone number listed on the sign. Kathy at Community Development Services (whose phone number was on the sign AND in the newspaper article,) told me that it was a Public Works project and transferred me to Public Works. The woman who answered at Public Works didn’t know anything about the website or where to find the plans and put me on hold. When she came back on the line she wasn’t sure where the plans could be found but they weren’t at their office and she wasn’t sure where the newspaper got the information they printed (from the sign, maybe?). So back I went to Community Development Services where someone with some information said she would transfer me to the  planner of the project.  The planner directed me to the place on the website where I could find the plans that were submitted to CDS, (for project approval I guess)…. but I absolutely cannot find my way back to those plans. The county website is so user unfriendly. So much for county transparency, Commissioner ???

So okay… the one time I got into the plans they showed

• It is well planned with screening by trees as a buffer along 903
• All the maintenance towards the back of the acreage
• Trucks entering and exiting the yard from #5 Mine Road.

But the trucks still have to turn either left or right on 903 across from the Elementary School. How many trucks a day be turning onto 903?

I wonder if the County has done that kind of study?

And as I looked at the plans submitted by the County to the County I could see that the piece of property next to the parcel bought by the County (read that taxpayers) is next to a piece zoned Rural Residential. What was the piece of land zoned that the county just had to have? I have been told it is Rural Residential. I wondered if the residents in the area had been informed and after a couple of phone calls I found out that they had not been informed. And to top that off the land directly behind the parcel the County bought is zoned Commercial Industrial. Why wouldn’t they put it there if it needs to be on 903? Obviously, the County thought it was a good idea to have the land parcels zoned the way they are.

I also wondered why the problems with the old sight on the East side of  Cle Elum, (which is less obtrusive than that site on 903) couldn’t be fixed. What was the need for the County (read that taxpayer) to buy more land?

Seems to be lots of questions and nowhere to gets answers. Oh, I would also guess there is lots of run around you can get if you know what to ask.

I think this needs a public hearing which the newspaper article made clear the County doesn’t need to do.

Oh, and by the way, Mr. Community Minded Average Citizen…  it will cost you $1,400 to appeal what the KITCO BOCC is already doing with no community input.