Opinion ID: 2455395
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The County Developed a Written Record Explaining the Rural Element of the Plan

Text: ¶ 102 RCW 36.70A.070(5) requires counties to include a rural element in their comprehensive plan. Because circumstances vary from county to county, a county may consider local circumstances, but shall develop a written record explaining how the rural element harmonizes the planning goals in RCW 36.70A.020[ [10] ] and meets the requirements of this chapter. RCW 36.70A.070(5)(a). ¶ 103 The GMA does not specify what form the record must take or how detailed it must be, recognizing that these are local decisions made by elected local representatives. Thus, hearings boards have recognized, as should we, that the GMA does not require a local jurisdiction to develop a separate statement explaining how its rural element harmonizes the planning goals in RCW 36.70A.020, as long as the plan itself `is clear in its description of how its amendments harmonize with the overall goals in Section 020.' Bayfield Res. Co. v. Thurston County, No. 07-2-0017c, 2008 WL 2115328, at  (W. Wash. Growth Mgmt. Hr'gs Bd. Apr. 17, 2008) (quoting Friends of Skagit County v. Skagit County, No. 99-2-0016, 1999 WL 721857, at  (W. Wash. Growth Mgmt. Hr'gs Bd. Sept. 7, 1999)). ¶ 104 Here, chapter 8 of the Plan has the required rural element, which identifies rural lands in Kittitas County, their uses, current land use patterns, government services in rural lands, and the goals, policies, and objectives for rural land in Kittitas County. Within chapter 8, the goals of the GMA are found interspersed with the County's policies to varying degrees. [11] Because the Board (and the majority) misapprehended what may constitute a written record, we consider the County's expression of these goals, policies, and objectives (GPOs) in the next few paragraphs. ¶ 105 With respect to urban growth and public services, GPO 8.1 states that municipal and public services should not be extended outside of urban growth areas in Rural Lands. 1 AR at 215. GPO 8.4 states that [e]ssential public facilities should not be located outside cities, urban growth areas or nodes.... Id. at 216. With respect to reducing sprawl, GPO 8.3 states that sprawl will be discouraged if public services and public facilities established under RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d) are limited to just those necessary to serve the developed area boundaries and are not allowed to expand into adjacent Rural Land. Id. GPO 8.13 states that methods other than large lot zoning to reduce densities and prevent sprawl should be investigated. Id. at 217. ¶ 106 With respect to housing, GPOs 8.46-8.53 discuss where residential lots may be located and what types of developments will be considered. Id. at 220-21. GPO 8.46 states that residential development on rural lands must be in areas that can support adequate private water and sewer systems. Id. at 220. With respect to economic development, GPOs 8.38-8.45 discuss business uses in rural lands. Id. As section 8.5(D) elaborates, The economy of our rural community has traditionally been based on natural resource activities and Kittitas County encourages and supports their continuation in Rural Lands.... Rural Areas are not just rustic places; they are vital, thriving communities with working landscapes and working peoples. Id. at 219. ¶ 107 With respect to property rights, GPO 8.7 states that private owners should not be expected to provide public benefits without just compensation. Id. at 216. With respect to natural resource industries, section 8.2 states that the County will strive to encourage and support [historic] resource-based activities in whatever areas and zones they occur. Id. at 214. With respect to historic preservation, GPO 8.11 states that existing and traditional uses should be protected and supported while allowing as much as possible for diversity, progress, experimentation, development and choice in keeping with the retention of Rural Lands. Id. at 217. GPOs 8.54-8.61 discuss goals related to open space and recreation. Id. at 222-23. ¶ 108 With respect to the environment, section 8.5(G), which includes GPOs 8.62-8.66B, discusses shorelines, critical areas, habitat, and scenic areas in Kittitas County. Id. at 223. GPO 8.9 adds that [p]rojects or developments which result in the significant conservation of rural lands or rural character will be encouraged. Id. at 217. ¶ 109 Viewed as a whole then, the County's Plan is clear in its description of how its amendments harmonize with the overall goals of RCW 36.70A.020. Indeed, the Plan is how the County explains how its rural element harmonizes the planning goals in RCW 36.70A.020. The County has developed a written record that satisfies the flexible standard of RCW 36.70A.020(5). This was supplemented by consideration of the community testimony and public input taken by the County during the year and eight months leading up to the adoption of Ordinance 2006-63. In light of this community testimony and the Plan itself, the Board's conclusion that the County failed to develop a written record is erroneous.