ADU ordinance confusion stems from incorrect version; will go back before Klickitat County Commissioners Oct. 27

"Good things that we deliberated on for months have been thrown out,” said Planning Commission Member Matt Chiles, “including increasing the maximum number of bedrooms, increasing the maximum ADU size, increasing the allowed setbacks for the main residents, eliminating the resident ownership requirement, and most importantly, removing the onerous and permanent restrictive covenant branding on the deed of any parcel that has a legal ADU."

Chiles said Klickitat County citizens are in desperate need of housing, and that ADUs, done properly, can create that needed housing. He added that when there is not enough housing, it's the poor who suffer the most.

When it came time to approve the consent agenda, which contained the ADU ordinance, Chair Ron Ihrig removed that item. That’s when it was discovered that Community Development Director Scott Edelman had placed the wrong version of the ordinance in the agenda packet.

He apologized, and the correct version, including changes approved by the Planning Commission, will appear in the consent agenda at the Oct. 27 meeting.

Other commenters expressed concern that commissioners were not moving fast enough or forcefully enough to avoid being steamrolled by a data center industrial giant. Goldendale resident Mike Todd put it this way:

"Private equity will outgun, outlaw, out-legal us at every single aspect. They can ‘law fare’ you to death. And so I just want to urge you with as much as I can to slow roll this process."

Edelman reported the latest draft of the data center ordinance removed specific distance placeholders (500 feet, one mile) and replaced them with Xs, clarifying these were always intended as placeholders for planning commission and board decision, not staff determinations.

The commission is awaiting input from the prosecuting attorney (PA) on the ordinance. with the understanding that she might consult with outside counsel.