HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 25-032-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Grant County, Washington
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A ORDINANCE No. 25- 03 � -CC
MORATORIUM ON THE
ACCEPTANCE, PROCESSING, REVIEW
AND ISSUANCE OF ANY AND ALL
PERMITS FOR MAJOR AND MINOR
UTILITY DEVELOPMENTS AND UN-
NAMED UTILITY USES, PROVIDING
FOR EXCEPTIONS THERETO,
PROVIDING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING,
AND PROVIDING THAT THE
MORATORIUM, UNLESS EXTENDED,
SHALL SUNSET WITHIN 6 MONTHS
OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
ADOPTION.
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, Grant County is geographically located in a region of the state that has
significant potential for the siting and development of a variety of sizes and types of wind energy
conversion systems (aka "wind farms or WECS"); and,
WHEREAS, although wind power is recognized as a form of clean energy production
these projects also have associated impacts relating to source material concerns, impacts to views,
property values, environmental impacts to fragile ecosystems and protected habitats and species,
and disposal/abandonment impacts from derelict or defunct sites; and,
WHEREAS, the Grant County Code does not currently provide specific development
standards for wind energy production facilities; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners believes that unless this land use issue
is addressed immediately with reviewed or new zoning controls, the development of wind energy
facilities may proliferate through the County without adequate mitigation and/or zoning controls
to ensure the facilities are consistent with the adopted goals and policies in the Comprehensive
Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners believes that it is in the best interests of
the County to impose a moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, and issuance of permits
for a "utility development, major" and "utility development, minor" and "un-named utility uses"
4910-4942-6987.3
as provided for under the Grant County Unified Development Code, during the period of this
moratorium for the purpose of evaluating the County's Unified Development Code for all utility
developments, provided, however, the County moratorium shall not extend to electrical substations
and other accessory wind generation facilities described herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners finds that this issue presents an
emergency condition within the County and that imposing this moratorium is necessary to preserve
the public health, safety, and welfare of the community;
WHEREAS, pursuant to WAC 197-11-880, the adoption of this ordinance is exempt from
the requirements of a threshold determination under the State Environmental Policy Act ("SEPA");
WHEREAS, RCW 36.70A.390 authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to enact a
moratorium for a period of six (6) months subject to conducting a public hearing on the moratorium
within sixty (60) days of its enactment; and,
WHEREAS., RCW 36.70A.390 also authorizes the extension of the moratorium by one or
more six (6) month periods as necessary.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED THAT the Grant County Board of
Commissioners enact a moratorium as follows:
A. The Board of County Commissioners hereby impose a moratorium on the
acceptance, processing, review, or issuance of any pen -nit applications that allows
for the use, construction or operation of a "utility development, major", "utility
development, minor," and "un-named utility uses" as provided for under the
Grant County Unified Development Code, pursuant to RCW 36.70A.390.
B. This moratorium shall not apply to the acceptance, processing, and issuance of
any permit applications for "utility development, major", "utility development
minor" or "un-named utility uses" that had an issued and valid land use pen -nit in
place prior to the effective date of this moratorium.
C. This moratorium shall not apply to the acceptance, processing, and issuance of
any permit applications for electrical substations and electrical transmission lines.
D. This moratorium shall not apply to residential accessory wind generation. uses
constructed on or adjacent to an existing private rivate single-family residence for
purposes of augmenting that specific single-family residence's energy resources.
E. A public hearing will be conducted within sixty (60) days of the effective date of
this ordinance.
F. Should any -part of this moratorium be found to be unlawful or unconstitutional
and set aside, the remaining portions of the moratorium will remain in full effect.
G. This moratorium is necessary to protect the public health, safety and general
welfare.
H. This ordinance shall be effective immediately.
4910-4942-6987.3
DATED this day of .12025.
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Yea Nay
Abstain GRANT COUNTY,
WASHINGTON
El
R Chairhair
El
El
Cindy Cart 6r,Vice-Chair
E/ El
El A
kevin Burges ,Member
ATTEST:
,4arara J. Vasquez
erof the Board
4910-4942-6987.3