Public hearing on draft proposal set for Monday After more than two years, Okanogan County has a new draft of its comprehensive plan — and an accompanying environmental analysis — for review by the public. Based on earlier public input, the county made the most significant changes to sections on groundwater, where the county should build, on roads, and […]
Comprehensive plan
Judge won’t dismiss agreement between county and Yakama Nation
Although Okanogan County hasn’t met any deadlines in a March 2017 agreement with the Yakama Nation to redo the county’s comp plan and zoning code, dismissing the agreement wouldn’t accomplish any of the Yakama Nation’s goals, said Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Henry Rawson in a ruling on Aug. 12. Rawson agreed that the county […]
Yakama Nation revisits comprehensive plan suit against county
The Yakama Nation has run out of patience with Okanogan County, saying the county “intentionally disregarded” its obligations to redo its comprehensive plan and zoning code by the end of last year. The Yakama Nation is asking the court to vacate the March 2017 stipulated settlement of a lawsuit they filed over water protections in […]
County releases comp plan draft and environmental review
Okanogan County has issued a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed revisions to its 2014 comprehensive plan. The comp plan informs other county land-use regulations. It serves as the basis for the zoning code, which applies the comp plan principles to specific areas and parcels throughout the county. The proposed revisions to the […]
County reviewing comp plan comments
Editor’s note: This version of the article was updated from the version that appeared in the March 6, 2019 issue of the Methow Valley News to correct information about the outcome of the lawsuit over the plan. Most of the input came from Methow Valley residents Although Okanogan County’s comprehensive plan outlines the future of […]
Commissioners look back to the future with comp plan update
When it comes to long-range planning, sometimes hindsight is as helpful as a view into the future.
The board of Okanogan County commissioners think their predecessors — from two boards ago — may have had the right idea about the county’s comprehensive plan after all.
County’s comp plan review begins in earnest this month
It took 51 years for the Okanogan County commissioners to adopt a new comprehensive plan, but that 2014 plan quickly became the subject of lawsuits contending that it fails to protect water quality, doesn’t address wildfire risk, and doesn’t protect wildlife habitat.
Another chance to comment on the comp plan
The Okanogan County commissioners and the public are getting another look at the county’s comprehensive plan — in particular, its policies regarding water quality and quantity. The county commissioners adopted a new comp plan in 2014, but it was quickly challenged in court by the Methow Valley Citizens Council and Futurewise. The lawsuit claimed the plan fails […]
Superior Court judge suspends comp plan lawsuit against county
A lawsuit challenging Okanogan County’s comprehensive plan and zoning code has been suspended for now, while county commissioners reconsider the planning and zoning documents.
The Methow Valley Citizens Council (MVCC), which filed the lawsuit with Futurewise, welcomed the stay issued last week …
Oral arguments heard in county comp plan suit
Oral arguments in the lawsuit over Okanogan County’s comprehensive plan and zoning code—the suit claims the plans fail to protect water quality, don’t address wildfire risk, and don’t protect wildlife habitat—were heard in court recently.
Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Chris Culp heard arguments on May 1, …
