Zone Code Revision 

The continued Public Hearing regarding the Zone Code Update will be held on March 25th @ 6pm in the Okanogan County Agriplex at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds.  This meeting will NOT be held via Zoom or AV Capture, attendance will only be available in person.


Notice of Environmental Decision:
Determination of Non-Significance (Renoticed)

Notice is hereby given that Okanogan County is updating Okanogan County Code, Chapter 17A, Zoning.  The Okanogan County has issued a Threshold Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) pursuant to State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) (RCW 43.21C) SEPA rules (WAC 197-11).

PROJECT NAME: Okanogan County Code Amendment 2023-1, Chapter 17A Zoning

 FILE NO. Code Amendment 2023-1, SEPA

 PROPONENT:  Okanogan County

Contacts:  Jon Neal, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, Okanogan County; 123 5th Avenue North, Suite 130; Okanogan, WA 98840; Phone: (509) 422-7100

LEAD AGENCY: Okanogan County Planning Department

SEPA RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Stephanie Palmer, Director Okanogan County Planning and Development, 123 5th Ave N, Okanogan, WA 98840; Phone: (509) 422-7160; email: spalmer@co.okanogan.wa.us

LOCATION OF PROPOSAL: This is a non-site specific, non-project action. Codes will apply throughout the unincorporated Okanogan County, WA.

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL: Following the adoption of its Comprehensive Plan, Okanogan County is updating various sections of the Okanogan County Code, Chapter 17A, Zoning. Code updates include, but are not limited to, replacing the Rural 1 (R1) zone (OCC 17A.040) with the Rural 2 (R2) zone. This will also result in a map change only to change the zoning designation of all the properties currently designated R1 to R2.   

The water availability section of the code was revised to incorporate current statutory, regulatory, and judicial requirements.  A Special Uses provision was added to the code, which adopts zoning and land use regulations specific to cryptocurrency operations, electric vehicle charging stations, wind energy facilities, solar energy facilities, and high and low impact utilities.

The District Use chart was updated. Proposed updates to the District Use chart change (1) certain previously permitted or conditional uses to unpermitted, (2) change certain previously permitted uses to conditional uses, (3) change certain conditional uses to permitted uses; and (4) change certain previously unpermitted uses to conditional or permitted uses.

THRESHOLD DETERMINATION: The lead agency for this proposal has determined that it does not have a probable significant adverse impact of the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). This decision was made after review of the completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency.  This information is available to the public on request.  A copy of the proposed draft zoning code and the DNS may be reviewed in the Office of Planning at the address listed above or on-line at:  www.okanogancounty.org

This DNS is issued under 197-11- 340. The lead agency will not act on this proposal for 14 days from the date of issuance of the DNS.

LIST OF REQUIRED ACTIONS: Recommendation by the Okanogan County Planning Commission with final adoption of the ordinance by the Okanogan County Board of County Commissioners.

COMMENT PERIOD: Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the non-project SEPA Threshold Determination (DNS) and on the non-project action. The comment period on the SEPA DNS was initially scheduled to end on January 11, 2024.  The County has extended the comment period until 5 p.m. on January 25, 2024. Submit comments to: Rocky Robbins, Sr. Planner, Okanogan County Office of Planning & Development, 123 5th Ave. N, Suite 130, Okanogan, WA 98840 or email to her at rrobbins@co.okanogan.wa.us 

Public Hearing: A Public Hearing on the proposed code amendment was previously scheduled for February 5, 2024.  To accommodate the extended comment period, the public hearing on the proposed code amendment with the Okanogan County Planning Commission will now be February 20, 2024 at 6 p.m.  Environmental impacts and the SEPA Threshold Determination may be considered at the hearing on the proposal, but the deadline for submitting comments on the threshold determination is 5 p.m. on January 25, 2024.   Verbal comments on the proposed code amendment to Okanogan County Code, Chapter 17A, Zoning will be heard at the public hearing or can be submitted in writing before 5 p.m. on February 12, 2024.  Submit comments to: Rocky Robbins, Sr. Planner, Okanogan County Office of Planning & Development, 123 5th Ave. N, Suite 130, Okanogan, WA 98840 or email to her at rrobbins@co.okanogan.wa.us 

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS PREPARED FOR THE PROPOSAL: DNS, Environmental Checklist.

DATE OF ISSUANCE OF NOTICE OF APPLICATION/DNS: December 28, 2023; Renoticed with corrected webpage link and updated comment deadlines and hearing date on January 11, 2024

**This deadline has been extended following the initial notice due to the webpage link in the notice not working properly.

Public Comments

***The proposed change to the District Use Chart pertaining to the disallowance of gravel pits and quarries three acres or larger in the R2 and R5 designation is no longer being proposed.  The proposal is to revert back to the current permit requirements of a conditional use permit for gravel pits and quarries three acres or larger in the R2 and R5 designation.***