Current Projects

SUNCADIA CONTRACT COMPLIANCE

Currently RIDGE is working with Suncadia Resort (formerly called Trendwest and then MountainStar) to enforce the contract both parties signed in 2001. The terms of the RIDGE Agreement extend beyond the initial construction and land platting period of Washington State’s first Master Planned Resort (MPR) to cover ongoing operations of the resort. It also addresses limited development elements within the City of Cle Elum’s Urban Growth Area (UGA).

RIDGE and Suncadia are mandated by the Agreement to hold quarterly meetings, and to address disputes through a specific dispute resolution process. RIDGE is committed to a productive, proactive relationship with Suncadia as the Agreement continues to address development impacts.

For the first time since this Agreement was signed, RIDGE has been forced to go to court to do enforce its terms, and did so on December 8, 2009. The suit calls on Suncadia to honor its 2001 contract commitment to purchase in stream water rights. In stream water rights are dedicated to the river for protecting endangered salmon habitat. Specifically the suit, filed in Kittitas County Superior Court, calls on Suncadia to spend the amount of money necessary to purchase the quantity of water rights for in stream flow that could have been purchased for $50,000 in each of the six years between 2001 and 2007, as required by the 2001 RIDGE Settlement Agreement. Suncadia has produced no evidence that it purchased the rights. Details are in our Press Releases.

HISTORY OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

This Agreement was negotiated by RIDGE, on behalf of the local community, to mitigate the impacts of development both on the 6,700 acres owned by Suncadia and secondary development in Upper Kittitas County.

You can find a copy of the "Settlement Agreement Regarding MountainStar Master Planned Resort (MPR), Cle Elum Urban Growth Area (UGA) and Supporting Infrastructure and Services" in our Documents Library.

In 2004 a Second Amendment to the Agreement was signed. Suncadia negotiated with RIDGE for modifications of the original agreement to address its changing development needs. In exchange, RIDGE negotiated for Suncadia's purchase and subsequent donation of approximately 330 acres of forested lands to the City of Roslyn. These lands, located along the north and east perimeter of town, are now the Roslyn Urban Forest. They are managed by the City of Roslyn, under a Land Stewardship Plan (LSP), which was part of this Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment to the original RIDGE Settlement Agreement and the Roslyn Urban Forest LSP are in our Documents Library.

A Fourth Amendment to the Agreement was signed in 2006. This Amendment allowed the MPR to incorporate lands that were formerly the site of the Nelson Dairy. Some of these lands were added to the MPR’s "buildable footprint." Significant portions were added to open space that will managed for wildlife, habitat, and passive recreation in perpetuity (as part of the Stream C Corridor that continues on to the Cle Elum River).

The Fourth Amendment to the original RIDGE Settlement Agreement is in our Documents Library.