Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout033Er Zz PLAN FOUNDATION FRAMEWORK GOALS This Comprehensive Plan represents a synthesis between a thorough analysis of existing conditions, the history of development patterns, anticipated population growth, the requirements of the GMA, the opportunities for new land uses, and the Vision Statement. Community engagement described in Appendix A shaped the following framework goals, which echo the county-wide vision statement. They are the heart of this Comprehensive Plan and provide a bridge from the Vision Statement to the Element-specific aoals and policies. Although these goals are not listed in priority order, they are interrelated, provide structure in the document, and are to be balanced with each other to support the desired future of Jefferson County. Framework Goal I Preserving Rural Character Conserve Jefferso n Cou nty's fu nctioni n g ru ra I way of life, agricultural and forest working lands, shoreline and mountain vistas, and natural ecosystems, not just to be preserved to provide scenery, but to be preserved as a living, working, and sustaining rural landscape with which the commu nitlr has a I iving/rruorki ng relationship. Framework Goal ll Sustainable and Suitable Growth patterns Maintain a rural landscape by smartly growing in urban areas, resorts, and established rural centers and crossroads. Plan for infrastructure needed to care for these communities. Consider environmental, economic, and fiscal sustainability when investing in infrastructure and adding new development in rural and urban places. Corolyn Colloway Corolyn Collowoy Jefferson County Comprehensive plan December 2Ol8 xrv I FJ a PLAN FOUNDATION Framework Goal lll Enhancement of the Rural Economy Crow a robust economy with living wage jobs based on resource lands, manufacturing, tourist and recreation-oriented services, and evolvi ng technologies that allows our communities to thrive; through a concept of a sustainable rural economy - benefiting the county's clean environment, and benefiting from the county's clean environment. Framework Goal lV Housing Variety and Affordability Create opportunities for innovation and flexibility in housing types affordable and attainable across incomes, ages, and abilities. Promote an adequate supply of quality year-round housing for the work- force, seasonal housing for farmworkers, and recreational homes or accommodations for visitors. Framework Goal V Allocation of Land and lnvestment to Meet Anticipated Needs Meet projected community needs for housing, commercial, and industrial growth through appropriate zoning and capital facility investment. To be consistent with urban growth and rural character goals, focus higher densities in urban growth areas and secondarily within resorts, rural centers and crossroads. Framework Goal Vl Environmental Conservation Foster envi ronmenta I stewa rdsh i p, preserve clea n air and water, and protect fish and wildlife habitat. Anticipate and respond to climate change with mitigation and adaptation strategies. PHA, Port Hodlock Jefferson County Zillow, Quilcene Zillow, Port Hodlock Property Corolyn Collowoy Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan December 2O'18 XV 41Y'_ LAND USE Elements, and the entirety of the Comprehensive Plan reflects our definition of rural character. Within the aesthetics of our rural character, there is an expectation of an ambient background of rural life affecting our senses: sounds, smells, views, perhaps even tastes of working rural communities and local neighborhoods. Along with the variety of these experiences is an understanding that a rural area is distinctly set apart from a largely urbanized landscape, and there is an expectation of comfort and quiet that is often sought in a rural residential neighborhood. Living in a rural area does not necessarily ensure a continuous bucolic experience. Chainsaws, recreational shooting, or an occasional portable saw mill operating nearby are not out of character in our rural setting. But there is an expectation that one property owner's use of a property will not interfere with another's reasonable use and enjoyment of theirs. Our land use goals and policies give direction to protect rural character in ways that meet the broader set of community needs, and our definition of rural character guides the development of implementing regu lations. Rura I Cha ra cter & Review of F?egula tions for La nd Uses, Development Patterns, & Nuisances CMA encourages localjurisdictions to perform a periodic analysis of rural development, to determine if patterns of rural development are protecting rural character. lt is the County's policy to review implementing regulations that affect our rural character. Regulations are tailored for specific land uses. Also, regulations can be tailored to specific communities or sub-areas, such as in the special small-scale recreation and tourism overlays and expanded cottage industry standards for Brinnon and the West End. Many uses that have the potential to create nuisances or other impacts are reviewed under a conditional use permit process. Jefferson Cou nty Com prehensive Pla n December 2Ol8 1-29 The Comprehensive Plan establishes land designations, harmonizes goals and policies, and implements them through County regulations and local actions. Jefferson County defines rural character not only in terms of visual character, but also in terms of densities and intensities of use. Jefferson County protects natural resources, open spaces, and preserves critical environments. Jefferson County places high regard to meeting our housing, infrastructure, and economic development needs, as we appropriately balance each of the CMA goals to ensuring that our County's priorities and needs are addressed. LAND USE The conditional use permit process provides flexibility in the application of land use regulations accommodating uses that may be appropriate under certain circumstances, but inappropriate under others. Approval of a conditional use permit application includes compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and implementing development standards, such as cottage industry requirements, the Critical Areas Ordinance, the Shoreline Master Program, and the small-scale recreation and tourist overlay. Jefferson County's Conditional Use Permit Criteria (JCC 18.4o.53O('l)) (a) The conditional use is harmonious and appropriate in design, character and app€arance with the existing or intended character and quality of development in the vicinity of the subject property and with the physical characteristics of the subject property; (b) The conditional use will be seryed by adequate infrastructure including roads, fire protection, water, wastewater disposal, and stormwater control; (c) The conditional use will not be materially detrimental to uses or property in the vicinity of the subject parcel; (d) The conditional use will not introduce noise, smoke, dust, fumes, vibratlons, odors, or other conditions or which unreasonably impact existing uses in the vicinity of the subject palcel; (e) The location, size, and height of buildings structures, walls and fences, and screening vegetation for the conditional use will not unreasonably interfere with allowable development or use of neighboring properties; (0 The pedestrian and vehlcular traffic associated with the conditional use will ndt be hazardous to existing and anticipated traffic in the vicinity of the subject parcel; (g) The conditional use complies with all other applicable criteria and standards of this code and any other applicable local, state oi federal law; and more specifically, conforms to the standards contained in Chapters 18.2_0 and lB.3O JCC; (h) The proposed conditional use will not result in the siting of an incompatible use adjacent to an airport or airfield; (i) The conditional use will not cause significant adverse impacts on the human or natural environments that cannot be mitigated through conditioni of approval; (j) The conditional use has merit and value for the community as a whole; (k) Theconditional useisconsistentwithall relevantgoalsandpoliciesoftheJeffersonCountyComprehensive Plan; and (l) The public interest suffers no substantial detrimental effect. Consideration shall be given to the cumulative effect of similar actions in the area. Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan December 2Ol8 t-30 LAND USE lmpacts from small-scale commercial activity in rural residential zones associated with home business or cottage industries are inevitable. However, these impacts are analyzed under our development standards and typically approved only when they are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, rural character, and development regulations, including conditional use permit approval criteria. The conditional use criteria weigh public interest, potential cumulative effects, assure the use is harmonious and appropriate to the property and to the vicinity, and that the use is not materially detrimental to uses of other's property in the vicinity, including residential use. Community Planning Efforts Jefferson County has worked with interested communities on area- specific plans over time. The County's planning areas are shown in Exhibit l-17. Jefferson County adopted its first Comprehensive Plan in'1998. Prior to that, the County participated in the following community planning efforts spanning l9TT to .l998: > Brinnon Community Development Plan (orlginall982) > Coyle Community Development Plan (1977) > Cardiner Community Development Plan (1989) > Marrowstone Community Development Plan ('1978) > Tri-Area Community Development Plan (1982) Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan December 2Ol8 t-31 LAND USE 1,2 RURAL Rural Character Rural counties, as defined by the State of Washington, are "...a county with a population density of less than 1OO persons per square mile or a county smaller than two hundred twenty-five square miles" (RCW 82.14.370(5)). Based on this definition and OFM population estimates from April 1,2017, Jefferson County is a rural county.2 The CMA requires that the County "include measures that apply to rural development and protect the rural character of the area as established by the County." These measures must be used to control rural development, assure visual compatibility of rural development with surrounding areas, reduce sprawl, protect critical areas and surface and groundwater water resources, and protect against conflict with the use of agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands (RCW 36.70A.O7O(b)). The CMA defines rural character as follows: "Rurol chorocter" refers to the potterns of lond use ond development estob/ished by o county in the rurql element of its comprehensive plon: (o ) ln which open spoce, the noturol /ondscope, ond vegetotion predominote over the built environment; (b) Thot foster troditionol rurql lifestyles, rurol-bosed economies, ond opportunlties to both live ond work in rurol oreos; (c)Thot provide visuol lqndscopes thot ore troditionolly found in rurol oreos ond communities; (d)Thot ore compotible with the use of the lqnd by wildlife ond for fish ond wildlife hqbitqt; (e) Thot reduce the inappropriote conversion of undeveloped lqnd into sprowling, low-density development; (t) Thot generolly do not require the exfenslo n of urbon governmento I services; ond (g)Thot ore conslsfent with the protection of noturol surfoce woter flows ond groundwoter ond surfoce woter rechorge ond d i sc ho rge o reos RCW 3 6.70 A.O 3 O (1 6 ). 2 As of April 1, 2O17, Jefferson County hos o populotion density of t7.39 persons per squore mile (OFM, 2Ol7 ). Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan December 2Ol8 1-48 LAND USE Additional principles that define Jefferson County's rural character include the following (elements of the cMA definition for rural character supported by each principle are shown in parenthesis): > Ensure that the County's quality of life is preserved as it is enhanced. (all) > Protect and conserve the County's agricultural and forest working lands, shoreline and mountain vistas, visual and forest corridors, night sky, and natural ecosystems. (a, c, d) > Encourage development that blends with the County's natural setting. (a, c) > Promote low-density residential development that is consistent with the historical pattern of growth, prevents a new pattern of sprawling development, and offers a variety of residential densities. (e) > Promote economic development that supports place-based jobs, supports renewable resources, supports local healthy food and local job and housing choices for residents and the local workforce. (b, d) > Encourage and provide incentives for businesses to create local "family wage" employment opportunities, and for modern economic opportunities-including home-based business and cottage industries-compatible with surrounding uses. (b) > Provide efficient delivery of rural public services which minimize the need for additional infrastructure. (0 Protect and conserve the environment, ecologically sensitive areas, natural surface water and recharge areas, and preclude development and land uses which are incompatible with critical areas. (d, g) The land use designations and the goals and policies of this element have been developed to meet these criteria. Goals and policies of other elements of the Comprehensive Plan have been evaluated for consistency with the protection of rural character as defined above, and by the other factors contributing to local "rural character" as provided under the full text of the amendment. December 2Ol8 t-49Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan