Planning

Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan Update

LOCATION

Kittitas County, WA

CLIENT

Kittitas County

INVOLVEMENT

Prime Consultant

SERVICES PROVIDED

SCJ prepared the update to Kittitas County’s Comprehensive Plan, restarting the work after efforts by other consultant teams stalled out. Focusing on pragmatism, respect for residents, good communication, and right-sized solutions, we engaged key stakeholders and encouraged citizen involvement to re-establish public trust. Working with County staff, we charted a practical and analytic approach to revising the 20-year old, 405-page document. As a rural, agricultural-based county in Central Washington, Kittitas County struggled to coordinate planning and density to ensure that rural areas, natural areas, and working lands were sustained for the benefit of current and future generations. With coordinated input from staff, state agencies, and County leadership, we devised maps, policies, and goals to foster a diverse economy, balancing residential, agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing areas to ensure opportunities for rural-based employment and various housing types. The plan also included use policies for solar power and wind-powered land.