Climate Element and Resiliency Subelement

The Climate Element was reviewed at a public hearing held by the Kittitas County Planning Commission on March 17, 2026. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the Comprehensive Plan and other documents with several recommended amendments. Please see the meeting minutes for the exact amendments approved by the Planning Commission.  

The Climate Element will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners. Another public hearing will be scheduled for the opportunity to provide public comment. Currently, no date is officially confirmed. Meetings are expected to take place in May and June 2026.  

To see the drafts that were reviewed by the Planning Commission, go the documents page.

Please go the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners website to check meeting dates.
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​Legislation signed into law in 2023 (HB1181) added a climate goal to the Growth Management Act (GMA) and requires local comprehensive plans to have a climate element. Climate elements must maximize economic, environmental, and social co-benefits and prioritize environmental justice in order to avoid worsening environmental health disparities. A climate element can take the form of a single comprehensive plan chapter or be integrated into several chapters/elements, such as housing, transportation, and land use. 

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The climate resilience subelement is mandatory for all fully-planning jurisdictions under the Growth Management Act (GMA). The resilience subelement is required to: 

• Address natural hazards created or aggravated by climate change, including drought and wildfire, 

• Identify, protect, and enhance natural areas to foster climate resilience, and 

• Identify, protect, and enhance community resilience to climate impacts, including social, economic, and built-environment factors.

 

 

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The Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan Update is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.