City of Cle Elum

Heart of the Cascades

47 Degrees North Project

Link to project sponsor website: 47North

Recent Updates

September 19, 2023, Revised Processing Schedule

August 24, 2023, Public Comments Posted Online

The comments submitted to the City on the application for the preliminary plat are now available for review, CLICK HERE.  In addition, comments submitted to the City on the proposed modifications to the approved Bullfrog UGA Master Site Plan and Development Agreement and the SEIS Addendum will also be included in the Official Record for this preliminary plat application.  Those comments can be found by following the links under the July 6th, 2023, heading below.  All comments have been made available to the Project Sponsor and the City’s Development Review Team.  In addition, these comments will be included in the Record of Proceedings and will be made available for review by the City’s Hearing Examiner and the Cle Elum City Council.

July 20, 2023, Notice of Application for Preliminary Plat

On July 14, 2023, the City made a Completeness Determination finding that the preliminary plat application submitted by Sun Communities on March 21, 2023, was now complete and ready for processing. Accordingly, the City has published a Notice of Application and will be accepting comments on this preliminary plat application through Monday August 21, 2023. Please note that all comments that were recently submitted on the proposed modifications to the approved Bullfrog UGA Master Site Plan and Development Agreement and the SEIS Addendum will also be included in the Official Record for this preliminary plat application. Additional comments may be submitted, but previous comments do not need to be resubmitted. Also please note that a notice regarding the City’s recent SEPA actions on this project have been integrated into this Notice of Application. As a result, additional comments may be submitted on the Addendum to the SEIS recently issued by the City, but previous comments do not need to be resubmitted. All comments received by the City will be posted on the City website and will be available for consideration throughout the review of this preliminary plat application. The Project Sponsor will also be provided with an opportunity to review and respond to these comments as appropriate.

The City Development Review Team is now reviewing both the application with the proposed Modifications to the approved Master Site Plan and Development Agreement as well as the preliminary plat application. It is the goal of the City’s Development Review Team to prepare a single integrated Staff Report that addresses the Consistency of both applications. This Staff Report will be made available for public review and comment in conjunction with scheduling The City Hearings Examiner will then conduct a single integrated public hearing to receive further comments. All comments received by the City will be reviewed by the Hearings Examiner and a recommendation will then be made to the City Council, who will decide whether to approve, modify, or deny the modified Master Site Plan and Development Agreement as well as the proposed preliminary plat application.

In a related matter, please note that the boundary line adjustment application submitted by Sun Communities on March 21, 2023, has been withdrawn and no further action will be taken by the City.

July 14, 2023, Preliminary Plat Completeness Determination 

The City has determined that the preliminary plat application submitted by Sun Communities on March 21, 2023, in conjunction with the application to modify the approved Master Site Plan and Development Agreement, is now complete and ready for processing. A Notice of Application will be issued within 14-days.  To download documents related to this review, CLICK HERE.

July 6, 2023, Public Comments Posted Online

The comments submitted to the City on the application proposing to modify the Bullfrog Urban Growth Area Master Site Plan and Development Agreement are available for review, CLICK HERE.  These comments have been made available to the Project Sponsor and the City’s Development Review Team. In addition, these comments will be included in the Record of Proceedings and will be made available for review by the City’s Hearing Examiner and the Cle Elum City Council.  For a link to all Agency Comments, CLICK HERE.

July 5, 2023, Special Use Permit Issued

The City has issued a Special Use Permit authorizing Sun Communities to continue to display five model homes through April 24, 2024.  The display is located at 4240 Bullfrog Road, Cle Elum, WA 98922.

Click here for more information

May 11, 2023, Revised Notice of Application

The City has issued a Revised Notice of Application which extends the public comment period to June 26, 2023.

Revised Notice of Application

April 27, 2023, Notice of Application 

On April 18, 2023, the City issued a Completeness Determination finding that the application for the proposed modifications to the Bullfrog UGA Master Site Plan and Development Agreement was complete and ready for processing. This application will now be processed as a Type 4 application with an extended 30-day public comment period. During this period, comments may also be submitted on the Addendum to the SEIS recently issued by the City. A notice regarding the City’s recent SEPA actions has been integrated into this Notice of Application. All comments received by the City will be posted on the City website and will be available for consideration throughout the review process. The Project Sponsor will also be provided with an opportunity to review and respond to these comments as appropriate. The City Development Review Team will then review the application materials and all comments received and determine whether the application is consistent with the Development Agreement and the regulations under which the project is vested. A written Staff Report with recommended Conditions of Approval or the basis for denial will be prepared and made available for public review and comment. The City Hearings Examiner will then conduct a public hearing to receive further comments. All comments received by the City will be reviewed by the Hearings Examiner and a recommendation will then be made to the City Council, who will decide whether to approve the modified Master Site Plan and Development Agreement.

Notice of Application

How to provide public comments for the 47 Degrees North Project, Notice of Application

April 19, 2023 (correction)

The City of Cle Elum Development Review Team has conducted the required review of the applications submitted by Sun Communities on March 21, 2023, to implement and amend the Bullfrog UGA Master Site Plan and Development Agreement including:

  • Proposed modifications to the Master Site Plan and the Conditions of Approval, and associated updates to the Development Agreement.
  • A preliminary plat application for the residential subdivision.
  • A proposed boundary line adjustment to consolidate and reconfigure existing parcels to align with the areas proposed for development as well as designated open space and conservation areas.

The City has determined that the application submitted by Sun Communities proposing modifications to the approved Bullfrog Urban Growth Area (UGA) Master Site Plan and Conditions of Approval, as well as the amendment and restatement of the Bullfrog UGA Development Agreement is complete and ready for processing. The City will now prepare and distribute the required Notice of Application (NOA) which will initiate an extended 30-day public review and comment period on this application, as well as the Addendum to the SEIS recently issued by the City.  The target date for the distribution of this Notice of Application is April 27, 2023.

In addition, the City has determined that the preliminary plat application for a residential subdivision submitted by Sun Communities is not complete and ready for processing. As a result, the processing of this application has been placed on hold pending the submittal of the additional information requested by the City to complete this application. When this application is determined to be complete and ready for processing, a Notice of Application will be prepared and distributed that provide will an extended 30-day comment period specifically on the proposed residential subdivision.

The City has also determined that the boundary line adjustment application submitted by Sun Communities on March 21, 2023, is not complete and ready for processing. The processing of this application has also been placed on hold pending the submittal of the additional information requested by the City to complete this application. This application involves adjustments to the legal descriptions of the property acquired by Sun Communities and an updated survey. When this application is determined to be complete, it will be processed administratively by the City in consultation with the Kittitas County Assessor’s Office.

Click on the following links to see the following documents associated with this Completeness Determination:

For a complete list of applications submitted, please see below under the heading, March 22, 2023.

As additional information is submitted by Sun Communities, it will be posted here as will the Notice of Application (NOA) when it is distributed.

March 22, 2023

Sun Communities has submitted an application packet that includes proposed modifications to the approved Master Site Plan and the Conditions of Approval in the Bullfrog UGA Development Agreement and associated implementing approvals. The City now has up to 28 days to determine if the application is complete and ready for processing. Once the application is determined to be complete, the City will issue a Notice of Application inviting members of the public, as well as local, state, and federal agencies to submit comments on the proposed modifications and the recently issued addendum to the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Click on the following links to see a description of the application review process and to preview the application documents.

Modification Application Processing Schedule Online Version 03-22-23

An Addendum to the Supplemental EIS for the 47* North Major Modification was published today and can be accessed by using the links provided below. The Addendum addresses a revised master site plan proposal, which is similar to the proposal considered in the 2020/2021 Supplemental EIS. For the convenience of readers, 3 different versions of the Addendum document are available as follows: the entire Addendum with appendices in a single pdf file; the Addendum and appendices in separate pdf files; and the individual Addendum sections in separate pdf files. The combined Notice of Adoption of the SEIS and Notice of the Addendum, which was published in the newspaper and sent to the City’s mailing lists, is also provided below. 47 North SEIS Addendum – NOTICE

November 30, 2021

The City of Cle Elum received a letter from Sun Communities on November 30, 2021. Following review of the correspondence, the Mayor responded accordingly on December 2, 2021, and returned the Major Modification Application as requested by the applicant. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Background Information

In 2002 the Cle Elum City Council approved a Master Site Plan and an Annexation and Development Agreement to guide the development of approximately 1,100 acres generally bounded by I-90, Bullfrog Road, SR-903, the City Cemetery, and the Washington State Horse Park.  This planned mixed use development, as originally approved by the City Council provided for the construction of 1,334 dwelling units, 50-affordable housing units, a 75-acre business park, associated amenities, infrastructure improvements, and 524-acres of open space. Other than the dedication of properties to the School District and the City, until recently, no actions have been taken to implement the approved Master Site Plan.

In 2019 the City was notified that Suncadia, the successors in interest to the original Project Sponsor, Trendwest, had entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell approximately 809-acres within the Bullfrog UGA Master Site Plan to Sun Communities. Sun Communities has now submitted to the City an application to modify the Master Site Plan. With the requested modifications, the project would include:

  1. The installation of 673 manufactured housing units in accordance with federal standards.
  2. The development of an RV Resort with accommodations for up to 661 RVs or equivalent recreational units.
  3. The construction of an amenity center open to public use for a fee, on approximately 6-acres.
  4. The dedication of 7.5-acres to the City for the construction of 50-units of affordable housing.
  5. The set aside of approximately 10-acres for the expansion of the Cle Elum Cemetery.
  6. Approximately 6 miles of trails developed and maintained by Sun Communities open for public use.
  7. Neighborhood parks to be maintained by Sun Communities and open to the public.
  8. Construction of infrastructure including roads, intersection improvements, water and sewer system improvements, and stormwater facilities.
  9. Approximately 530-acres of Open Space including a Managed Open Space Area and a River Corridor Open Space subject to conservation easements.
  10. 26-acres set aside for a business park (to be retained by New Suncadia).

The Application for the Major Modification and associated documents, as well as background information on the 47 Degrees North Project can be accessed by clicking on the following links.

If you have questions about the 47 Degrees North Project please call (509) 674-2262 x102 and leave a message or email the Cle Elum Planning Department at planning@cleelum.gov and we will contact you as soon as possible. Please include your name, contact information, and a reference to the 47 Degrees North Project.

The City will use this website to provide information about the proposal and review processes as it becomes available. Check back regularly for updates.

Related Materials:

Returned Dec. 2, 2021 – Proposed Modifications to the Approved Master Site Plan

Bullfrog UGA Mixed Use Development – Overview

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Process (2019-2020)