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INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
According to the 1998 Comprehensive Plan, a rural quality of life is what attracts many
people to the County and is what most residents expressed a desire to protect. The
Comprehensive Plan preserves and promotes community values like this that affect our
quality of life. It is a legal document that outlines goals and policies to guide decisions
about future growth and development throughout the County. The Plan directs more
intensive development to appropriate areas while protecting and conserving
environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands, as well as natural resource, rural, and
open space lands.
The Growth Management Act adopted by the State of Washington in 1990 requires
counties and cities prepare a comprehensive plan to manage population and employment
growth. The plan must comply with GMA requirements such as that to include
“elements” addressing topics like transportation, land use, rural, housing, capital
facilities, and utilities. The plan also could include elements based on community values
and needs. The first plan was required for 20 years (1998-2018).
The 1998 Comprehensive Plan includes goals, policies, and strategies which help the
County to achieve desired land uses depicted on the Land Use Map and guide us to a
more predictable future. Each “element” in the Comprehensive Plan describes goals and
policies. A goal is a direction-setter. It is a general expression of community values and,
therefore, is abstract in nature. A policy is a specific statement that guides decision-
making. Zoning, land division, and environmental ordinances are examples of
implemented policies. A strategy describes how to implement policies to ensure that
goals are met.
Jefferson County’s comprehensive planning process is described using words like
“conflict” and “challenge." Yet it continually brings the community together to craft a
meaningful and enduring vision that is pragmatic and responsible. It is the intent of the
Plan to accept and build on the difficulties of the past; identify appropriate solutions
consistent with laws, decisions, adopted policies, and community involvement; and
propose a responsible strategy with which the County can effectively face the future.
Over time the Plan’s policies may change to ensure that the development pattern in the
County remains consistent with both the intent of the community’s vision for the future,
and the Plan’s goals and objectives. And, GMA requires counties and cities to periodically
update comprehensive plan and development regulations, which must be consistent with
GMA requirements to be eligible for grants and loans from certain state infrastructure
programs. As 2018 approaches, it’s time once again for the community to evaluate our
values and how to translate them into meaningful and effectives goals, policies, and
strategies. This is our time to think about what is important to our community and share
our vision. What needs will we have in the future that we can address today for a better
community and quality of life? How can we improve? This spectacular county is worth
our attention.
Share your thoughts, vision and values at: http://speakupjeffco.com/