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HomeMy WebLinkAbout081015_cabs01County Administrator Briefing JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator FROM: Carl Smith, Community Development Director `— DATE: August 3, 2015 SUBJECT: Review of proposed amendments to the County Wide Planning Policies. ATTACHMENTS: County Wide Planning Policies with proposed amendments. STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The County and City of Port Townsend will be convening a meeting of the Joint Growth Management Steering Committee (JGMSC) in the near future to discuss population projections for each jurisdiction's comprehensive plan update. The JGMSC may also discuss potential amendments of the County Wide Planning Policies (CWPP's). This is an opportunity to review existing proposed amendments prior to a meeting of the JGMSC. ANALYSIS: The requirement for County Wide Planning Policies comes from the GMA at 36.70A.210. The purpose is to promote orderly growth and coordination between counties and cities within counties. In 2005, the JGMSC discussed and proposed certain amendments to the CWPP's. However, no action was taken on these proposed amendments (attached). More recently, when staff from the County and City met to coordinate on proposed new population projections, staff identified certain amendments to propose to the JGMSC. When the JGMSC meets again it may want to review these proposed amendments and may take action or defer the proposed amendments for further review and possible action at a later time. Staff from the County and City agree that the highest priority item for the JGMSC to address is the future population projections, as these projections are critical to further work on completing our GMA required comp plan updates. County Administrator Briefing FISCAL IMPACT /COST- BENEFIT ANALYSIS: Other than a commitment of time from the staff and the Board members, no significant expense is anticipated for convening meetings of the Joint Growth Management Steering Committee. RECOMMENDATION: Receive a briefing on this topic and provide any comments, and indicate possible dates and times that Board members could attend a meeting of the JGMSC REVIEWED BY: orl , C unty Adminis for Date COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY A POLICY FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANS INTRODUCTION: The opening section of the Growth Management Act (RCW 3G.70A) sets forth the following legislative finding: "uncoordinated and unplanned growth together with a lack of common goals expressing the public's interest in the conservation and the wise use of our lands, pose a threat to the environment, sustainable economic development, and the health, safety, and high quality of life enjoyed by the residents of the state ". The legislature went on to develop a state -wide growth management strategy encompassing the following goals: • Urban growth. Encourage development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner, • Reduce sprawl. Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low- density development. • Transportation. Encourage efficient multimodal transportation systems that are based on regional priorities and coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans. • Housing. Encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of the population of this state, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage preservation of existing housing stock. • Economic development. Encourage economic development throughout the state that is consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all citizens of this state, especially for unemployed and for disadvantaged persons, and encourage growth in areas experiencing insufficient economic growth, all within the capacities of the state's natural resources, public services, and public facilities. • Property rights. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been made. The property rights of landowners shall be protected from arbitrary and discriminatory actions. • Permits. Applications for both state and local government permits should be processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability. • Natural resource industries. Maintain and enhance natural resource -based industries, including productive limber, agricultural, and fisheries industries. Encourage the conservation of productive forest lands and productive agricultural lands, and Revised'(313il5) discourage incompatible uses. • Open space and recreation. Encourage the retention of open space and development of recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks. • Environment. Protect the environment and enhance the state's high quality of life, including air and water quality, and the availability of water. • Citizen participation and coordination. Encourage the involvement of citizens in the planning process and ensure coordination between communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts. • Public facilities and services. Ensure that those public facilities and services necessary to support development shall be adequate to serve the development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use without decreasing current service levels below locally established minimum standards. • Historic preservation. Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures, that have historical or archaeological significance. • Shoreline management For shorelines of the state the goals and policies of the shoreline management act as set forth in RC W 90 58 020 are added as one of the fourteen I . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - Camm tad psah proposed addition, 2014 The passage of the Growth Management Act (G.Y]A) fundamentally changed the way com- prehensive land use planning is carried out in the state. The GMA requires that cities and counties update their comprehensive land use plans consistent with state -wide goals and minimum requirements as established by the statute and coordinate their planning efforts with each other. The central theme behind the Growth Management Act is that spontaneous and unstructured growth and development is wasteful of our natural resource base and costly in the provision of public services and facilities; and by managing growth and development, the negative effects can be minimized and the benefits can be maximized. The act is built on the principle that Cities and Counties, special purpose districts and those agencies or jurisdictions involved in the delivery of public services will coordinate their efforts consistent with each other and the provisions of the act. In an effort to assure these principles are carried out, the legislature passed companion legislation requiring Counties and Cities to coordinate the independent development of local comprehensive plans through a set of mutually developed County-wide Planning Policies. These written policy statements are to address eight subject areas and are intend to be used as a guiding framework for subsequent development and adoption of comprehensive plans. The required County-wide Planning Policy subject areas include: • the designation of Urban Growth Areas • promotion of contiguous and orderly development and the provision of urban services to such development • joint county and city planning within urban growth areas • the siting of essential public facilities of a county or state wide significance • county-wide transportation facilities and strategies • the need for affordable housing for all economic segments of the population Revised (3 /3/15) • county-wide economic development and employment • analysis of fiscal impact. In addition to the eight required policy areas, the City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County agreed to add policies pertaining to rural areas and the context within which the County-wide Planning Policies are to be used. THE COUNTY -WmE PLANNING PROCESS The County-wide Planning Policies were developed through a collaborative process between the City and County, public service providers, utilities, special purpose districts and community or- ganizations. The development of these policies has been overseen by a steering committee comprising the three Jefferson County Commissioners (B.G. Brown, Larry Dennison, and Richard Wcjt), two Port Townsend City Council members Qean Camfield and Norma Owsley) and Port Townsend Mayor John Clise. Background information leading up to the development of these policies is found in a discussion "white paper" paper titled County-Wide Planning Policies: A Strategic Analysis. This "white paper" provides an in -depth discussion of the legislative back ground, strategic elements or issues concerning local application and policy considerations for each of the policy areas. Copies of the "white paper" are available from the Office of the County Commissioners, County Courthouse. The "white paper" is not adopted as part of the County-wide Planning Policies. The County-wide Planning Policies represent a composite framework, not a series of individual, stand -alone concepts. The ideas represented here balance each other to create an overall direction for development of individual comprehensive plans. These policies establish the foundation for determining consistency of individual plans with each other and with the tenets of the Growth Management Act, as well as a mechanism to coordinate the provision of public facilities and services throughout the community. Finally, these policies encompass broad concepts encouraging flexibility and innovation in meeting the goals and intent of the Growth Management Act and will, like the planning documents they are intended to guide, evolve over time. eRmsne: vxannevsesntesser .�aersiasa•em- ----- Revised. (3 /3115) Revised: (3,/3115) POLICY # 1 POLICY TO IMPLEMENT RCW 36.70A.110 URBAN GROWTH AREAS 1. The County and City will jointly prepare a regional population forecast for growth management planning purposes. - .^^ ° ',�.reoast-wil"se uumZ the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) population projection as the low or 19ase pFajoetion, and establish a medi� and igk- rangeprej�tion. This forecast will delineate a tou twenty-- and-fifty -year ultimate population projection and be used in the preparation of water, utility and transportation plans and for the capital improvement plans to implement the same. To assure consistent and coordinated planning horizons, the population forecast will be designated as the official source reference by the County and City, and utilized when determining consistency of special purpose district service plans. The forecast shall be reviewed and updated- £vsyearaperiodicallypursuant to RCW 36.70A.190. 2. For planning purposes, the capacity of Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) will IPsized -te accommodate at- kasi�80 %- et'•'�.,.�:o ^.•, baseor- 4) €!vl- pref ecci€ d- poput :uiomgrowtk- aud- if- suppertL•d by an dal- €ac- ititi€s�1an, may -he -sized tu-at cemmodat€ the locally adiumand high raugeanticipated population accordirry to the a W—u on determined iointly thorn r adoption of the population projection under 1 above. (Note: The GMA does not direct where people may choose to live, however, it does require that urban development be accommodated within urban growth areas. This policy is forwarded to ensure that UGAs and their attendant facilities are properly sized to accommodate future populations.) 3. The size and delineation of boundaries of UGAs will be determined by the following criteria: • adequate amount of developable land to accommodate forecasted growth for the next 20 years based on the joint population forecast. • sufficient developable land for residential, commercial and industrial uses to sustain a healthy Revised (3/3/15) local and regional economy. • lands within incorporated city limits. • lands already characterized by urban development which are currently served or are planned to be served by roads, water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage, schools and other urban services within the next twenty years; provided that such urban services which are not yet in place are included in a capital facilities plan. • the type and degree of existing urban services necessary to support urban development at the adopted interim level of service standards. • sufficient area for the designation of greenbelts and open space corridors. • topographical features or environmentally sensitive areas which may form natural boundaries such as bays, watersheds, rivers or ridge lines. 4. There are two UGAs in Jefferson County, Port Townsend and Port Hadlock & Irondale. Port lownsen_d is the ority incorporated _UGA4ajef£eMM -CGu*4._ -- _ _.____ and Port Ludlow and Brinnon are considered being "characterized by urban growth ._ " -tiar- -the purpose of a- L1GA- in-th€ rlinecarporateci County. Both have been e designated a Master Planned Resort LMPRhrough RCW 36.70A.362: Port Ludlow at the time of adoption of the County Comprehensive Plan in 1998 and Brinnon in 20 ". The Irondale & Port Hadlock L1GA was designated in 2002 with Yowls policie- }internal land use districts and development regulations beingadopted in 2004_ Th�P- ri- At�aC- omnuanity- Plenandlhe ; >vrt l;udtew Master Plan ...:n 'g�'� ^ °-' °^ ..i.'z -tn itc4neation of UGA the- srtte- rfabovc-- _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ _ _ 5. Land use plans, regulations and capital facility plans within each UGA will be designed to accommodate the projected population. Growth should be directed into tw tiers: first tier - existing commercial centers and urbanized areas where the six (6) year capital facilities plan is prepared to provide urban infrastructure; second tier - areas included within the capital facilities plan to receive the full range of urban services within twenty (20) years. Infrastructure improvements necessary to support development in the second tier will be provided by the eeyised:(3 /3/151 COIIa1101Red []521:2-05 nev¢s4ons with 2014 uptlat =s developer concurrent with development, or by public entities as a result of implementing all or a portion of the capital facilities plan. A'ofe. Tier Z in CityW rT Tier 3 — ersidetitial fu!/ cam( 6. UGA boundaries maybe changed whenever it can be shown that the criteria set forth above for size and boundary delineation may no longer be met; provided, said expansion shall only occur after the capital facilities plan is updated and adopted assuring adequate urban service to support the additional area. 7. Before adopting boundaries of UGAS, interim level of service standards for public services and facilities located inside and outside of UGA a will be adopted by the County and its UGAS. New urban public facilities will only be provided within and not be extended beyond UGAS, unless deemed as an essential public service to mitigate a threat to the public health, safety or general welfare. 8. UGAS will be separated from each other by designated rural or resource lands, open space corridors, or unique topographic features such as a stream or ravine. is -— no lon3ez re< ended by Ceocty staff. State statutes antl both City staff c s IZ014) Revised (3 /3/15) POLICY #2 POLICY ON THE PROMOTION OF CONTIGUOUS AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROVISION Of URBAN SERVICES TO SUCH DEVELOPMENT 1. The full range of governmental urban services at the adopted level of service standards will be planned for and provided within UGAs, as defined in the capital facilities plan, including community water, sanitary sewer, piped fire flow, and storm water systems. 2. The County is the designated planning agency for unincorporated UGAs. A citizen's advisory committee will be appointed for each unincorporated UGA to guide development of a community plan for these areas. Said plan will include the following elements: capital facilities, utilities, open space, recreation, housing, land use and transportation. S. New development will meet the adopted level of service standards established for UGAs as a condition of project approval. Said standards will include interim provisions for those urban facilities identified in the capital facilities plan but not yet developed. New development will contribute its proportionate share towards provision of urban facilities identified in the capital facilities plan once adopted in compliance with the Growth Management Act. 4. Urban services and facilities will not be extended beyond UGA boundaries unless needed to mitigate a threat to the public health or welfare, or to protect an area of environmental sensitivity. To avoid encouraging the spreading of urban development outside of UGAs, this policy shall apply only to threats caused by existing development, and only those existing uses requiring the service or facility to mitigate the threat will be allowed to hook up to any extended services. 5. Priority for the funding of new or expanded public services and facilities will first be given to those which are responding to capacity deficiencies within UGAs or to those which provide an inducement for development within UGAs or to those responding to a public health threat. Reviud (3 /3;151 G. The minimum design capacity for all planned capital facilities will be based upon the total population projected for the service area at the end of the twenty year period identified in the adopted population forecast. 7. The County will, in consultation with City of Port Townsend, a4444€- Jefferson County PUD, and other public and private water purveyors, update the Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP), based on the joint population forecast and new data pertaining to future water supply and demand. The water supply and service provisions of an updated CWSP may require revisions to land use elements and community plans. Comprehensive plans shall include water quality and water conservation policies and standards. At 1- 1a rtaanage "i, �k�Wn ineerp©eat€d :=4)'rPlans aud-pe}44 ,.. completion of watershed planninu effoi�s under Chantet 90S2 Rl'}4'_ may prorrrot re n�ions to th_c.0 N.SP and /er land use elements. Revised' (3131151 POLICY #3 POLICY ON JOINT COUNTY AND CITY PLANNING WITHIN URBAN GROWTH AREAS (Note: There are two UGAs in iefferson County. Port Townsend and Port Hadlock & Irondale. Port Townsend is the only incorporated UGA. Port Ludlow and Brinnon are considered beirm "characterized by urban growth. ' _, «'-��� �-,.. �-� •va ,,,' , .:tu,_ ;�''�- ° °-- County, the City of F�rt T��S@Ad. As these plaiinil+s p9lieteq th. development . .eceman h.._^ JAL ___________________ ______________________________--- C n*nW[]64]: 20'_4 iPdace 1. Incorporated UGAs within the County and each provider of urban services within UGAs will assist the County in the planning, coordination, and establishment of urban services and facilities to serve the projected twenty year population. 2. The County and incorporated UGAs will coordinate the development and implementation of plans for the provision of county-wide services including public safety, transportation, solid waste, storm drainage facilities, water and waste water utilities. 3. Incorporated UGAs will work cooperatively with the County to identify and protect open space corridors. This process will include: • identification of open space corridors and urban separators. • identification of open space lands and corridors within UGAs. • identification of implementation strategies and regulatory and non - regulatory techniques to protect the corridors. 4. By interiocal agreement, incorporated urban areas and the County will establish a framework for joint planning, SEPA environmental review and decision making for unincorporated lands located Revin& (3 /3/151 10 within the incorporated urban area UGA. 5. Incorporated UGAs will coordinate with the County to assure joint review for addressing those development activities of a regional nature, such as a regional shopping center or large industrial complex. The purpose of this agreement is to insure impacts of a regional nature are addressed and the goals of the GMA are realized. 6. Due to the large scale nature and the impacts associated with fully contained communities, Such 4evelopments 81401111 Hot Igo cot' �ITY CompFelheRsive AR, ^ eR a-"epteot; -a thorough study of these types of development should be undertaken before implerrtntti i ;6.70A.350. If found -tO be A >unty. TComprehensive e4wPlan_w ill -b €needs to be modified to include provisions for fully contained communities prior to pursuit of thist"tion�_ 7. The County and each incorporated UGA which has a pending development proposal shall ensure timely circulation of development applications for review and comment by other agencies with jurisdiction. Revise& (3/3 /151 11 COIIIIII@IItsd(JSS]:Comty staff re<mmmends retaining the existing langnage of Policy 3.6. City staff conc.a (2019). POLICY #4 POLICY ON THE SITING OF ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FACILITIES OF A COUNTY OR STATE WIDE SIGNIFICANCE Essential public facilities are defined as: 'Public or privately -owned facilities that are required to accommodate basic public needs, including those facilities that are typically difficult to site, including local waste handling and treatment facilities such as landfills, drop -box sites and sewage treatment facilities, airports, state educational facilities, essential state public facilities, regional transportation and stormwater drainage, utility facilities, state and local correctional facilities, and in- patient facilities (including substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities and group homes).' 2. The County and incorporated UGAs will jointly dehelep- maintain specific siting criteria for and continually coordinate on the siting Mfessential public facilities. 'Fhe- pwposeA- iFehikv;i}} -4�€ ctasieie€i- in-the cira €mpr€flc- ttttMUe- {r]a +rpolieya 3dre,�;sing {h; - ,- �,,,a� Elements of siting criteria should include, but not be limited to the following: • proximity to major transportation routes and essential infrastructure. •... land use compatibility with surrounding area. •... potential environmental impacts. •... effects on resource and critical areas. • proximity to UGA. • public costs and benefits including operation and maintenance. • current capacity and location of equivalent facilities. • the existence, within the community, of reasonable alternatives to the proposed activity. 3. Comprehensive plans and development regulations will not preclude the siting of essential public facilities; however, standards may be generated to insure that reasonable compatibility with other land uses can be achieved. Revised: f3/V151 12 4. Essential public facilities sited outside of urban growth areas should be self- supporting and not require the extension, construction, or maintenance of urban services and facilities unless no practicable alternative exists. Adopted F;ititeia- criteria will ^'� ".,�,� -... °a a "�� address the provision of services when siting an essential public facility. Essential public facilities shall not be located in resource lands or critical areas if incompatible. Revised (3/3115) 13 POLICY #3 POLICY ON COUNTY -WIDE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND STRATEGIES 1. The Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization (PRTPO) will, has developed a Peninsula regiona4- Regional k4nsportation Transonr!;y uon_plan -Plan for the 9%ste North Olympic and Kitsap Peninsula areas. The City and County comprehensive -plans w+4} -shall each i � � 1q, conta in a transportation element 4,44c -v hersivplarrthat emphasizes local transportation needs and provides IinkaRe to the Regional Plan in order to ensure In <kusd<�,i.- t < <: � i ;;rki - '� •,iT�,et- i{u.�+n%a;rs- with- tku:- rEttienrF- p4aet- wilt -4 2. Service standards for highways, arterial, and transit routes will be coordinated and adopted at a county -wide level. These standards may vary depending on the type of development pattern anticipated (i.e., urban vs. rural) or by the specific growth management objectives being considered. When a variance to level of service standards is established, it will be clearly delineated in the transportation and land use element of the comprehensive plan. 3. In developing the County's six year road program, the priority of focus should be: • ... first, to maintain or expand capacity within the UGAs. • ... second, to maintain or expand capacity for transportation to and from UGAs and regional centers. 4. The land use and transportation elements of the comprehensive plan will be used by Jefferson Transit as a guide in the development of its service delivery strategy. The thrust of this strategy is to increase ridership and expand transportation options within UGAs, between UGAs, and between the county and the region at large. Revised (3/3/151 14 5. Jefferson International Airport will remain the public link to the larger air transportation system. The Port of Port Townsend will have the lead responsibility to develop a service delivery strategy for this mode of transportation consistent with the transportation and land use elements of the County comprehensive plan. 6. The development or expansion of any air -based or water -based transportation system will require specific linkage with the ground transportation system and compatibility with the land use element of the comprehensive plans. 7. In establishing the land use element of comprehensive plans and the level of service standards for transportation systems within UGAs, the City and County will insure that use densities, design elements and development policies are supportive and make accommodation for public transit and non - motorized forms of transportation. S. The transportation element of the comprehensive plans wiill -shall be designed around the following principles: •... seek to increase efficiency of the existing transportation system. w.. emphasize the movement of people and goods first, and vehicles second. • ... encourage and integrate non - motorized modes and high occupancy vehicles in transportation system design. •... encourage employers to implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) techniques. This is particularly true in the review of new employment generators at a fixed location. •... seek to assure that the proportionate share of costs of new or upgraded transportation facilities are borne by those who create the need for the facility, as well as those who benefit from it. 9. The T'xanspoit uien- transportation PIRu lementh of the comprehensive plans Will-Shall provide a summary and analysis of planning information including: •...land use assumptions upon which the transportation element is based including: population, employment by type, recreation, comprehensive land use designations, and the density of Revised (33/151 15 current and projected development including the ratio of single and multi - family units to total housing units within CGAs. •...level of service standards for arterials and collectors. •... an analysis and forecast of future transportation needs. •... evaluate the operation and maintenance of transportation facilities in a manner which considers present and future operation and maintenance costs. •... incorporate pedestrian and bicycle travel as part of the transportation element within a coordinated and regional basis. The bicycle and pedestrian component shall be a part of the funding component of the capital improvement program for transportation improvements. 10. The adopted level of service standards will be used in evaluating concurrency for long -range transportation planning, development review and programming of transportation improvements. Revised. (3/3/15) 16 POLICY #6 POLICY ON THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING 1. For planning purposes the definition of "affordable housing is: Those housing units available for purchase or rent to individuals or families with a gross income between the federally recognized poverty level and the median income for working families in Jefferson County; and w4q,4Ls -ty ho_se costs, including utilities, would not exceed 30% of gross bncome. - - commented 1356]:'ow veoion sreeea, ---------------- - - - - -J mum ddefuJebn.c fare wren xev ". ee wa�lo«nd+hr Me e�'ti�ws, y3,aenw.l sszrosmapv counryxemrva tt2- 9➢arMOtyRemlubun NO. 94 -128) (�S3 /3 /IS) 2. The provision of affordable housing is acknowledged as a general public need and will be addressed in Jefferson County pr_m_a.1;i{ythrough private sector programs and projects a, s well as by Loe ' ^ '^ • • «assumtafiiui -rolc t ".,�,,.n ^•. ^'^:^ •^ ,a».inistv*4 4 public- dssisto*4 housing meet low m,,..., , _..,:, 1.4a ,., 41is .u... , be ,r,.._ _..... «o non -profit e -and quasi- public entities. 3. The housing and /or land use elements of comprehensive plans will include an assessment of land available and the process of siting special purpose housing (such as homeless shelters, group homes, etc.), to ensure that such housing can be accommodated. 4. A sufficient quantity of land will be appropriately zoned or designated to accommodate a wide range of housing types, densities and mixtures. Multi- family housing should only be located within UGAs :fit, FRS or rural centers. 5. An affordable housing strategy will be developed as part of the housing element of the comprehensive plan. This affordable housing strategy will examine existing regulations and policies to identify opportunities to encourage the provision of affordable housing mechanisms such as accessory dwelling units ( "mother -in -law') or efficiency apartments, density bonuses, mitigation fees waivers, priority permit processing and the like. 6. Each UGA shall accommodate its fair share of housing affordable to low and moderate income Revised: (3/3 /151 17 households according to its percentage share of the county population and by promoting a balanced mix of diverse housing types. 7. Undeveloped land owned by the public entities will be inventoried and those that are appropriately located should be considered for development of low income housing. Consideration of assembling these parcels for development by non - profit housing organizations or private developers should be encouraged. S. The housing element will include criteria for locating higher density residential areas near public facilities and services, commercial services, arterial or within walking distance of jobs or transit. Revlsc& (3/3 /I5) 18 POLICY #7 POLICY ON COUNTY -WIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT 1. The private sector is primarily responsible for the creation of economic opportunity in Jefferson County. The responsibility of the public sector is to assure that these activities are carried out consistent with defined community and environmental values. To this end, comprehensive plans should clearly identify these values in order that economic opportunity is not lost due to confusion or unreliability of process. Particular attention will be given to the needs of non - service sector businesses and industries as a strategy to increase wage earning potential within the community. 2. An economic development element shmdd -s�be prepared an included in the County's and incorporated areas' comprehensive plans. This element should identify and designate adequate areas for commercial, retail, and industrial growth necessary to sustain and meet future population and employment forecasts. The economic development element shall be coordinated with the capital facility, land use and utilities elements of the comprehensive plan. S. Each UGA and rural center is considered the commercial and business "hub" in their respective area of the County. UGAs should be viewed as regional service and retail centers, while the rural center focus is on local community retail and service needs, and transient accommodations. 4. The GMA contains prcivisions for the designation of N4-6 r, Industrial Developments MY).) under RCW�3,G 70A.B(•r „a ..��a �_ o „ °� "«. ,.r ., jeep .,., _a......:.,1 r....., Bank n. , ande_ R9 - -- -- on- Tfa sc.p ,n )lions acknowledge that Certain industries, due to their size or type of operation, or due to their dependence on the local resource base, should not be located within the boundaries of UGAs. When locating these types of activities outside of UGAs, special attention must be given to assure that the activity will not promote "urban development" of the surrounding area. These activities will need to be self- supporting and not require the extension of urban mrvice�._ - _ _ _ _ - - C--ted [asr]: covn.y staff does not afend this 200 Proposed revision. city f honors. (2014) Revised (33/15) 19 57. The Port of Port Townsend's t@gis[aiive tatutory authority should be utilized as a tool to implement industry and trade strategies, including the promotion of employment opportunities, the consolidation and parceling of property, and the development of infrastructure to meet the needs of industry consistent with comprehensive plans and development regulations. Reviw& (3 /3/15) 20 POLICY #8 POLICY ON RURAL AREAS 1. Rural areas are those lands located outside of UGAs and resource lands. These areas are characterized by low density development, open spaces, minimal public services, resource dependent activities, and industries; and outdoor recreational facilities. Activities such as regional retail - commercial facilities, business office parks and similar high intensity land uses are considered urban in nature and are inconsistent with rural area designations. The rural element of the comprehensive plan will be designed to recognize and maintain the unique character of individual rural areas without degrading the environment or creating the need for urban level of services. 2. The concept of clustering or density transfer is considered a positive tool in maintaining the character of rural areas. This concept assists in more efficient delivery of public services, minimizes the need for additional infrastructure, and at the same time maximizes land available for rural uses. Clustering of new development is preferred in rural areas. 3. Level of service standards will be adopted which identifies the type and scale of public facility and infrastructure improvements anticipated for rural areas and rural centers. Typically these will include: •... emergency services. •... transportation and roads. •,., individual septic systems. •... individual or community water systems. •... storm water and water quality. 4. Parcel sizes established for rural areas of the county should be commensurate with the character of existing rural communities. This policy anticipates that rural areas will maintain a variety of acreage parcels. Revised '13 /31151 21 5. Rural centers are those existing unincorporated places which serve the retail commercial and service needs of the local area. These areas will be delineated and recognized in the comprehensive plan consistent with level of service standards. Land uses within these centers include: •... shopping, employment, and services for residents, supplies for resource industries, including commercial, industrial, and tourism development at a scale that preserves the surrounding rural characteristics. •... residential development, including small -lot single - family and multi - family; and mixed -use developments. •... community facilities and services necessary to support the rural center and promote pedestrian mobility. 6. The rural element of the comprehensive plan will recognize existing industry located outside UGAs, as well as establish a framework for the siting of industries which, due to their size, resource dependence, or incompatibility with UGAs, would be better suited to locate in rural areas. Provisions will be made to ensure that adjacent land uses are not converted to urban uses due to the proximity of these developments or to infrastructure necessary to support them. Revised:(3 /315) 22 POLICY #9 POLICY ON FISCAL LYIPACT ANALYSIS 1. Include a fiscal impact assessment on the provision of public capital facilities, that are intended to serve the community, as an ongoing part of the comprehensive planning process. This assessment will include project revenues and expenditures and an analysis of the cumulative fiscal impacts of providing governmental services to accommodate the targeted population. The purpose of the fiscal assessment is to assure that projected capital costs can be reasonably supported within the capabilities of the community. 2. Within the elements of the comprehensive plan, incentives and non - regulatory options will be identified and developed as alternatives to regulatory programs in the implementation of comprehensive plan policy. 3. The City, any future incorporated UGA, and the County will address issues of tax revenue sharing, the provision of regional services, annexations, and similar fiscal components through the development of interlocal agreements. Revised (3/31151 23 POLICY #10 POLICY ON USE, MONITORING, REVIEW AND AMENDMENT The Countywide Planning Policies will be utilized to: •... establish a framework for the development, and adoption, and amendment of comprehensive plans and supporting regulations. •... provide a foundation for establishing locally defined terms, and to determine consistency with the criteria of the Growth Management Act. •... coordinate and assure consistency among plans of the County, UGAs, special purpose districts and service providers. 2. The Growth Management Steering Committee will serve as a regional oversight body during the development of the comprehensive plans. Once unincorporated UGAs are identified, representation of the unincorporated UGA will be included on the steering committee. The committee will review draft plans for consistency with these policies in an advisory capacity and report its findings to the appropriate jurisdiction. 3. These policies shall be periodically reviewed and may be amended in the following manner: •... the amendment is placed in writing and includes a brief explanation of why the amendment is warranted, and •... the amendment is reviewed and commented on by the Growth Management Steering Committee or its successor entity, and •... a public hearing is conducted by the County prior to amending these policies, and •.., the amendment is agreed to by both the County Board of Commissioners and City Council of incorporated UGAs, and •... the amendment is adopted by the County Board of Commissioners. Revised f3 /3 /751 24