Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.2 Foundation 2018_12Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan i December 2018 Plan Foundation INTRODUCTION This Comprehensive Plan is the foundation for ensuring our community values are preserved while we proactively plan for future growth. This Comprehensive Plan considers the voice, vision, and future of the Jefferson County community in the Jefferson County Planning Area through the year 2038. This Chapter describes: ▶ The Jefferson County planning area. ▶ The purpose of this Comprehensive Plan. ▶ The planning process and public involvement ▶ The Vision Statement and Framework Goals that guide this Comprehensive Plan. ▶ Use of this Comprehensive Plan in decision-making. ▶ How this Comprehensive Plan is amended and monitored. Carolyn Gallaway PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan ii December 2018 PLANNING AREA Jefferson County is in the north-central portion of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. The County is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and on the east by the waters of the Admiralty Inlet and Hood Canal. Clallam County and the Strait of Juan de Fuca define the northern border, while Mason and Grays Harbor Counties define the southern boundaries. Jefferson County comprises approximately 1,814 square miles of land area and approximately 2,187 square miles within the full county boundary, which includes offshore water areas. It is the eighteenth largest of the State’s thirty-nine counties. The Olympic National Park and National Forest, which bisect the County into western and eastern halves, comprise approximately 60% of the County’s 1.16 million acres of land. About another 20% of land is under the jurisdiction of other federal and state agencies. Most of the County’s population—nearly 96%—resides in eastern Jefferson County. Jefferson County largely is a rural county with one incorporated city, Port Townsend—the largest community and a de facto Urban Growth Area (UGA) under the Growth Management Act. Jefferson County has one other Urban Growth Area (UGA), defined by the unincorporated communities of Port Hadlock and Irondale. These areas meet UGA criteria because they have pre-Growth Management Act (GMA) development patterns characteristic of urban growth. However, at this time the UGA relies entirely on septic systems for wastewater treatment. To comply with GMA, the Port Hadlock/Irondale UGA cannot be developed at planned urban densities without a sanitary sewer system. A zoning overlay of Transitional Zoning is in place, implementing lower density development until sanitary sewer service is available. There are two Master Planned Resorts (MPR), Port Ludlow and the designated, yet undeveloped, Pleasant Harbor MPR in the Brinnon Community. The bulk of the County’s population is located primarily in the northeast portion of the county, in the communities of Port Townsend, the Tri-Area (Irondale, Port Hadlock and Chimacum), and Port Ludlow. Quilcene and Brinnon are the largest communities in the southern portion of the county. The county is comprised primarily of forest lands, along with a smaller portion of agricultural lands. Clusters of small residential developments are found along waterways and rural roads, a reflection of settlement along Puget Sound, early transportation routes, and a resource-based economy. This rural quality of life is what attracts many residents and tourists to the county and is what most residents have expressed a desire to protect. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan iii December 2018 EXHIBIT A Jefferson County Planning Area Source: Jefferson County Community Development, BERK Consulting, 2018. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan iv December 2018 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURPOSE This Comprehensive Plan is a legal document that serves as a decision- making guide for both officials and citizens. This Comprehensive Plan serves as a tool for making decisions about future growth and development in Jefferson County over the next 20 years. This Comprehensive Plan outlines goals and policies that help define, direct and guide future growth and development throughout the county. Why Plan? Comprehensive land use planning is a systematic process designed to define a long-range community vision. The process unites a clear understanding of existing conditions within a community with the development of goals and policies that enable that community to make decisions from which its long-range vision will be addressed. The process is a powerful tool for turning promising possibilities into long-term realities. Planning enhances the ability to weigh competing needs in the community and make judicious allowances for each. It affords the opportunity to balance the demands of development with benefits of economic development and protection of human health and the environment. It provides tools for supplying family wage jobs and affordable housing without compromising our rural character. In addition, it prepares for harnessing the rewards of a growing population while simultaneously meeting the challenge of providing safe, healthy, and convenient community services for everyone. Planning enables addressing the current needs of the community before development begins and then directs how and where that growth should occur. Guiding Land Use & Growth Decisions This Comprehensive Plan provides a legally recognized framework for making decisions about land use in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County. This Comprehensive Plan manages growth by directing more intensive development to appropriate areas while protecting public health and conserving environmentally sensitive areas and natural resource, rural, and open space lands. It is also intended to PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan v December 2018 provide an educational and a policy implementation tool for a broad range of public and private users, including community groups, Jefferson County officials, and other government agencies. This Comprehensive Plan helps these users in several ways: ▶ This Plan is the framework for other plans and regulations that govern the location and intensity of land uses throughout unincorporated Jefferson County. This Comprehensive Plan’s policies provide the basis for updating community plans (subarea, local, and functional), for evaluating proposed changes in zoning development regulations, and in reviewing proposals for development projects such as land divisions. It also indicates to the public how Jefferson County would likely review and approve changes in plans, zoning, or other regulations that apply to an area or a specific parcel. ▶ It guides the provision of public facilities and services by integrating land use, infrastructure, and delivery of human services. This Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for decisions about public facilities and services (such as where facilities should be located to support planned growth). This Comprehensive Plan also directs public spending to areas where growth is targeted. ▶ It provides regional coordination and consistency with other jurisdictional planning efforts. It is intended that other public agencies (local, regional, state, federal, and tribal), in cooperation with Jefferson County, use this Comprehensive Plan in conjunction with the County-wide Planning Policy as regional perspectives or county-wide viewpoints when other plans and growth policies are developed and when making project decisions. ▶ It allows for citizen participation and involvement. Comprehensive planning is an evolving process which allows for periodic review and updates in response to changing community goals and vision as articulated by citizens, businesses, and interested organizations. ▶ It allows us to thoughtfully plan the future and create a place where we are happy to live. Carolyn Gallaway PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan vi December 2018 The Growth Management Act Through the Growth Management Act (GMA), the State of Washington provides a new framework for land use planning and the regulation of development in response to challenges posed to the health and quality of life by rapid growth. Within the framework established by the GMA, a wide diversity of local visions for the future can be accommodated; however, certain procedural criteria must be met. Recognition of the variations and diversity in local communities is implicit in the framework of GMA. A “Bottom-Up” approach to planning is recommended. “Bottom- Up” planning originates at the community level with the articulation of a vision statement, which encompasses the values of as many different community members as possible. The vision is then translated into goals and policies, and eventually regulations. The main requirement is that the vision is consistent with the goals and intent of the GMA. It is important to note that a “Bottom-Up” approach does not mean that procedural and regulatory constraints may be ignored. Successful “Bottom-Up” planning is predicated on allowing a community to choose the appropriate “tools” for the job, provided that those selected are located entirely within a “tool box” defined by the GMA. It is critical in the planning process for a jurisdiction to provide sufficient guidance so that a community understands the need to avoid selecting “tools” which are found outside of the “GMA toolbox.” Failure to provide adequate guidance will likely result in inappropriate choices being made. The GMA establishes several requirements for local comprehensive planning. The Act identifies specific goals for all Comprehensive Plans, prescribes the elements each plan is to contain, provides requirements for interim regulations, mandates the establishment of Urban Growth Areas (UGAs), requires local governments to demonstrate how they will pay for the improvements and facilities called for in their plans, and mandates extensive public participation in the planning process. The GMA changed the process for developing Comprehensive Plans in several important ways: ▶ It established 14 statewide goals with which local Comprehensive Plans and regulations must be consistent. See sidebar. ▶ In addition to the mandated goals, local Comprehensive Plans must contain the following elements per RCW 36.70A.070: — Land Use Element The Growth Management Act provides goals that guide the development and adoption of comprehensive plans and development regulations. See RCW 36.70A.020, for full goals; in summary goals address: ▶Urban Growth ▶Reduce Sprawl ▶Transportation ▶Housing ▶Economic Development ▶Property Rights ▶Permits ▶Natural Resource Industries ▶Open Space and Recreation ▶Environment ▶Citizen Participation and Coordination ▶Public Facilities and Services ▶Historic Preservation The goals and policies of the Shoreline Management Act in RCW 90.58.020 were added as one of the goals of the Growth Management Act. See RCW 36.70A.480. Growth Management Act Goals PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan vii December 2018 — Housing Element — Capital Facilities Plan Element — Utilities Element — Transportation Element — Rural Element for counties — Economic Development Element, when state funds are available — Park and Recreation Element, when state funds are available ▶ Local governments must adopt policies and regulations to protect critical areas and natural resource lands. ▶ Local governments must demonstrate how the capital facilities necessary to support the development envisioned by their Comprehensive Plan will be provided and paid for as development occurs, or within a specified time thereafter. ▶ The Comprehensive Plans of counties, and cities or towns within those counties, must be consistent with one another (e.g. alignment with growth allocations and Countywide Planning Policies, not local policies). ▶ In consultation with cities, Counties must adopt population allocations for the 20-year planning period. ▶ Counties and cities must agree on UGAs "within which urban growth shall be encouraged and outside of which growth can occur only if it is not urban in nature." The UGA must be able to accommodate the allocated growth that is expected to occur over 20 years. ▶ Counties and cities must jointly adopt County-wide Planning Policies which establish guidelines on how their Comprehensive Plans will be developed to be consistent. The GMA requires that Jefferson County and any city within it prepare comprehensive plans every eight years to manage population and employment growth for 20–year planning horizons. (RCW 36.70A.130(5)(b)). As long as the population of Jefferson County population is less than fifty thousand and has had its population increase by no more than 17% in the ten years preceding the deadline, the County has an additional twenty-four months following the eight-year deadline. (RCW 36.70A.130(7)(a)). The County has worked to meet this mandate with extensive public involvement and community outreach. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan viii December 2018 The County-wide Planning Policy On December 21, 1992, Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend adopted a joint resolution establishing the County-wide Planning Policies (CWPPs) as a policy framework to guide the development of comprehensive plans. CWPPs are designed to ensure that county and city comprehensive plans are consistent with one another and consistent with regional growth management planning. According to the Growth Management Act, each local Comprehensive Plan should demonstrate that such policies have been followed in its development. (RCW 36.70A.210(1) and WAC 365-196-510). The CWPPs recognized the need for counties, cities, special purpose districts, and those agencies and jurisdictions involved in the delivery of public services, to coordinate the independent development of Comprehensive Plans. The implementing legislation to the GMA required that counties and cities agree upon policy statements in eight subject areas, including: urban growth areas, contiguous and orderly development and the provision of urban services, joint county and city planning, siting of essential public facilities, county-wide transportation facilities and strategies, affordable housing for all economic segments of the population, county-wide development and employment, and rural areas. In addition, the City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County agreed to include policies pertaining to: fiscal impacts associated with the impacts of growth and how to use the CWPPs. Exhibit B offers a guide to the relationship between the County-wide Planning Policy and the Comprehensive Plan Elements. Compliance with the County-wide Planning Policies has been integral to the development of individual elements of this Comprehensive Plan, and each element provides an overview of consistency with relevant CWPPs. EXHIBIT B Relationship: County-wide Planning Policies & Elements County-wide Planning Policy Comprehensive Plan Element 1. Policy to Implement RCW 36.70A.110 Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) Land Use 2. Contiguous and Orderly Development and Provision of Urban Services Capital Facilities, Essential Public Facilities, and Utilities 3. Joint County and UGA Representation Planning within UGA Land Use 4. The Siting of Essential Public Facilities of County or Statewide Significance Capital Facilities, Essential Public Facilities, and Utilities Element PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan ix December 2018 County-wide Planning Policy Comprehensive Plan Element 5. County-wide Transportation Facilities and Strategies Transportation Capital Facilities, Essential Public Facilities, and Utilities 6. Affordable Housing Housing 7. County-wide Development and Employment Economic Development 8. Rural Areas Land Use 9. Fiscal Impacts Analysis Capital Facilities, Essential Public Facilities, and Utilities 10. County-wide Planning Policy: Use and Amendment Plan Foundation Source: Jefferson County, 2018. Jefferson County’s Compliance Strategy This Comprehensive Plan has been designed based on four fundamental sources of support and guidance. Together, they provide the framework for this Comprehensive Plan, which is responsive to local needs and regionally unique land use patterns and follows the goals and requirements of the GMA. ▶ Compliance with the goals and procedural criteria of the GMA and its implementing regulations. ▶ Compliance with CWPPs, adopted jointly by the City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County, to ensure that local plans are consistent with each other and with the GMA (e.g. alignment with growth allocations and Countywide Planning Policies, not local policies). ▶ Continuous, open public participation in the planning process. ▶ Analysis and compliance with the Growth Management Hearings Board decisions and decisions made by Washington State courts. The GMA goals and procedural criteria, and the Growth Hearings Board and court decisions, set the State-wide framework. The County-wide Planning Policy and public participation supply local detail for realizing the broader GMA goals within Jefferson County. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan x December 2018 PLANNING PROCESS & PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Planning Since 1991 The State legislature, responding to the Growth Strategies Commission Report on Long-Range Planning in the State of Washington, adopted the Growth Management Act (GMA) in 1990. Jefferson County Commissioners voted to “opt-in” to the GMA in late 1991. Public involvement in the planning process began immediately with the formation of citizen task forces to develop Interim Critical Area, Mineral Land, and Forest Resource Land Ordinances. Concurrently, the County developed a questionnaire, titled Jefferson 2000, which surveyed County residents’ opinions about their vision for the future. Jefferson 2000 also asked residents to rank “values,” such as economic growth, environmental protection, visual beauty, and the accessibility of services. The County convened the Jefferson 2000 Strategic Planning process, which involved 26 separate taxing districts and service providers responsible for water, fire protection, libraries, and similar services to County residents. Jefferson 2000 Strategic Planning used information generated by the Jefferson 2000 questionnaire and analysis of existing services, facilities, and long-range plans of the service providers to begin capital facilities planning required by the GMA. The Joint Growth Management Steering Committee was created in 1991 to oversee the development of GMA planning in Jefferson County. The Steering Committee consisted of three representatives from the City of Port Townsend, the only incorporated city in Jefferson County, and the three County Commissioners. The Steering Committee was formed with a provision that, should additional UGAs be designated, the Steering Committee would be expanded to accommodate representation from the newly designated UGA. The County-wide Planning Policy (CWPP) was developed cooperatively between City and County staff consistent with the requirements and procedural criteria of the GMA, and was reviewed by the Joint Growth Management Steering Committee. Public hearings were held on the CWPP, and both City and County government adopted these policies by resolution on December 21, 1992. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xi December 2018 Considering Alternative Futures To assist citizens and decision-makers in formulating a new long-range Comprehensive Plan for Jefferson County and to comply with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Chapter 43.21c RCW, the County commissioned and issued an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS contained an analysis of existing conditions and land use needs and demands and compared and analyzed the possible environmental impacts of the Comprehensive Plan alternatives. Alternatives evaluated were developed by the planning staff and Planning Commission with input from the County’s community groups and residents. The four alternative “Growth Scenarios” analyzed in the Draft EIS were: ▶ The Focused Growth Alternative ▶ The Dispersed Growth Alternative ▶ The Moderate Growth Alternative ▶ The Preferred Growth Alternative The 1997 Draft EIS evaluated environmental impacts that may result from the implementation of the proposed alternative plans. The alternatives explored the meaning of rural character, and the distribution of growth in urban areas, rural centers, and resorts, together with the balancing of GMA goals and CWPPs. The Draft EIS and the Draft Comprehensive Plan were considered in the public review and adoption process. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) of May 27, 1998 included additional analysis and findings resulting from public comments on the Draft EIS. The Final EIS included all comments received in writing along with County responses to the comments. The Final EIS, together with the Draft EIS it completes, provides a foundation of land use and environmental analysis for subsequent Comprehensive Plan periodic updates and amendments and implementation measures such as development regulations and projects. The Final EIS has been supplemented and addended since 1998. The Preferred Alternative, evaluated in the Final EIS was adjusted and integrated into the 1998 Comprehensive Plan. The 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update completed addressing the 2038 planning horizon draws on and benefits from the exploration of alternatives in the Final EIS, including the definition of rural character, approaches to distributing growth primarily in urban areas, and suggested environmental policies and mitigation. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xii December 2018 Plan Creation & Amendment Exhibit C below describes how the various pieces of the comprehensive planning process fit together. Concurrent with environmental review, public hearings and workshop meetings have been held by both the Jefferson County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. EXHIBIT C Comprehensive Plan Update Process Diagram Public Involvement Public involvement is the cornerstone of long-range comprehensive planning for any community. Complying with the requirements of the GMA in Jefferson County has engaged community leaders, interested citizens, developers, property rights advocates, environmentalists, and neighborhoods in a dynamic, active public process. Public participation has occurred not only through citizen participation in task forces and goals-setting workshops, but also under the auspices of the Planning Commission. Consistent with the Planning Enabling Act, Chapter 36.70 RCW, the Planning Commission has been involved in comprehensive planning in Jefferson County. The Planning Commission has advertised its activities in the local newspapers and held open houses on a variety of issues. Port Ludlow Open House Meeting, July 2016, Jefferson County Community Visioning Inventory & Analysis Discussion Draft Elements Public Outreach, Consultation with Tribes, State, & Other Governments, & Planning Commission Review Draft Plan & SEPA Environmental Review Planning Commission Public Hearing & Recs. Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing & Adoption PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xiii December 2018 Draft Plan Open House in Quilcene (left) and Chimacum (right), April 2018, BERK Public involvement in comprehensive planning is required for compliance with the GMA and has been identified by the Growth Management Hearings Board as essential to proper development and adoption of plans. In addition, public participation is essential in adopting a Comprehensive Plan which preserves the character of Jefferson County as envisioned by community residents. With the 1998 adoption and with other periodic and annual amendment cycles, the County has conducted public engagement efforts. Appendix A documents the 2018 Comprehensive Plan periodic update community involvement efforts. VISION STATEMENT Comprehensive Planning in Jefferson County has matured in the quarter century since the Growth Management Act (GMA) was passed, and the diverse viewpoints shared during participation of the community has shaped a meaningful and enduring vision that is pragmatic and responsible. Jefferson County’s vision statement is prominently located at the beginning of this plan following the table of contents. This vision guides and directs the Comprehensive Plan element goals and policies. Board of County Commissioners Meeting, BERK PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xiv December 2018 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 goals 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 Jefferson County’s functioning rural 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 community has a living/working relationship. Carolyn Gallaway Framework Goal II 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. Carolyn Gallaway PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xv December 2018 Framework Goal III Enhancement of the Rural Economy Grow a robust economy with living wage jobs based on resource lands, manufacturing, tourist and recreation-oriented services, and evolving 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. Jefferson County Framework Goal IV 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. PHA, Port Hadlock Zillow, Quilcene Framework Goal V Allocation of Land and Investment 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. Zillow, Port Hadlock Property Framework Goal VI Environmental Conservation Foster environmental stewardship, preserve clean air and water, and protect fish and wildlife habitat. Anticipate and respond to climate change with mitigation and adaptation strategies. Carolyn Gallaway PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xvi December 2018 Framework Goal VII Mobility Provide a transportation system where residents, workers, and visitors have safe, comfortable, and interconnected ways to travel in Jefferson County whether as a driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Kitsap Sun, Olympic Discovery Trail, Port Townsend Framework Goal VIII Active and Healthy Living Promote community health and safety by fostering built environments that increase access to nutritious foods, active lifestyles and community services that are convenient to where residents live, work, learn and play. Chimacum Market, Jefferson County Public Health Framework Goal IX Continuous and Ongoing Public Involvement Provide opportunities for meaningful public involvement. Engage diverse stakeholders. Jefferson County Tri-Areas Open House Meeting Framework Goal X Compliant with GMA Maintain a Comprehensive Plan consistent with GMA goals, requirements, case law, and the County-wide Planning Policies, and within this framework, strive to provide leadership and collaborative work with the State on legislative and local solutions to the challenges met with GMA by rural counties. Carolyn Gallaway PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xvii December 2018 USING THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Comprehensive Plan Contents This Comprehensive Plan is organized in the following elements: ▶ Plan Foundation ▶ Element 1 Land Use ▶ Element 2 Natural Resources ▶ Element 3 Housing ▶ Element 4 Open Space, Parks & Recreation, Historical & Cultural Preservation ▶ Element 5 Environment ▶ Element 6 Transportation ▶ Element 7 Economic Development ▶ Element 8 Capital Facilities & Utilities Appendices provide additional detail and supporting materials, as follows: ▶ Appendix A: Community Engagement Summary Vision 2038 ▶ Appendix B: Resolution #38-15, Population Forecast & Allocations ▶ Appendix C: Transportation Technical Document ▶ Appendix D: Capital Facilities Plan Technical Document ▶ Appendix E: Port Hadlock/Irondale Land Capacity Analysis Each element includes assessments of existing conditions containing baseline data for key areas. Individual “elements” of this Comprehensive Plan describe goals and policies that have been developed to provide clear policy direction for land use decision-making in the future. Each element also includes strategies that implement the goals and policies. The Unified Development Code (UDC) provides detailed regulations for implementation of these goals and policies. Vision: A community’s best desired future. Framework Goal: Framework goals are an extension of a vision and form the foundation for the goals and policies contained in other elements of the Comprehensive Plan. Goal: A goal is a direction-setter. It is an ideal future end, condition or state related to the public health, safety, or general welfare toward which planning and implementation measures are directed. A goal is a general expression of community values and, therefore, is abstract in nature. Consequently, a goal is generally not quantifiable, time-dependent, or suggestive of specific actions for its achievement. Policy: A policy is a specific statement that guides decision-making. It indicates a clear commitment of the local legislative body. A policy is based on a comprehensive plan’s goals and the analysis of the data. A policy is put into effect through implementation measures such as zoning, land division, and environmental ordinances. Terms PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xviii December 2018 Related Plans The following related plans address shorelines, subarea, and parks important to meeting Growth Management Act (GMA) requirements for required or optional elements, and are hereby incorporated by reference as amended: ▶ Shoreline Master Program Goals and Policies (2014) ▶ Brinnon Subarea Plan (2004) ▶ Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (2015) Community Plans Prior to the development of its initial Comprehensive Plan, Jefferson County invited communities to help prepare area-specific plans. The general content and direction of these community plans provided information for development of the 1998 Comprehensive Plan. The community plans were incorporated into the goals and policies of the 1998 Comprehensive Plan. The community plans have no further standing as individual community plans. Following are the plans completed through that process: ▶ Brinnon Community Development Plan (original 1982) ▶ Coyle Community Development Plan (1977) ▶ Gardiner Community Development Plan (1989) ▶ Marrowstone Community Development Plan (1978) ▶ Tri-Area Community Development Plan (1982) Both Planning Commission and Department of Community Development staff reviewed Community Plans. The results of the Community Planning Process and the Community Plans have been integral to the identification of goals and policies included in this Comprehensive Plan. Additional information can be found in the Land Use Element—Community Planning Efforts. Wayfinding: Western Jefferson County Existing conditions, goals, and policies related to western Jefferson County are denoted with a “W” icon and corresponding text in the sidebar throughout this plan, as shown at right. While all elements pertain to western Jefferson County, the Land Use, Natural Resources, Related to western Jefferson County PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xix December 2018 Open Space, Parks, and Recreation, Historical & Cultural Preservation, Environment, and Economic Development elements include information specific to the area. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION & MONITORING The Decision-Making Process Planning decisions must be consistent with the intent of this Comprehensive Plan. This Comprehensive Plan is a legal, binding document and cannot be disregarded; it is also a document designed to adapt to changing trends and circumstances. This Comprehensive Plan serves as the basis for land use decisions. Over time this Comprehensive Plan’s policies may change to ensure that the development pattern occurring in the county remains consistent with both the intent of the Vision Statement, and the Comprehensive Plan’s goals and objectives. Limitations in County Finance Structure to Implement Plan To carry out county duties and other duties required by the state, the State Constitution enables a county to collect taxes for municipal purposes. Levying taxes on assessed properties provides these funds. State law limits the property tax levy on the regular rate and annual increases. Although there are various sources of state funds that come to local jurisdictions and, at times, grant funding is available, Jefferson County is limited in its ability to provide funds and financing to implement policies in the Comprehensive Plan. This forces the County to make hard decisions when developing budgets. The county must prioritize what can be done or must delay project phases when there are inadequate funds. The County’s budget must fund many items to provide local governance. This includes services like health and emergency services, water quality protection, sheriff, the court system, correctional facilities, assessor, parks and recreation, and auditor functions including elections. These and many other basic services need funding to allow the County to function. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xx December 2018 The Comprehensive Plan recognizes these funding limitations and the need to balance aspirational policies with the need to identify where funds will come from. Alternative methods of accomplishing goals and policies are important in light of revenue collection challenges. Levies outside of this regular limit are “excess” or “special” levies that may be elected to fund specific community needs like school and fire districts, or funds for housing programs. Volunteerism Tremendous actions have been accomplished by an active and energized community. There are countless examples of creative and motivated citizens filling the gaps between identified needs which may be outside of the County’s purview or needs that suffer from chronically unfunded or underfunded programs. Our County can harness a collective spirit and collective responsibility, to overcome funding hurdles. Jefferson County supports and embraces community involvement and volunteerism as a community development strategy. Amending this Comprehensive Plan This Comprehensive Plan addresses long-range and County-wide issues that are beyond the scope of decisions on subarea, local or functional plans or individual development proposals. This Comprehensive Plan serves as a vital guide to the future and provides a framework for managing change. It is important that amendments to this Comprehensive Plan retain the broad perspectives articulated in the community vision statements, satisfy the goals, policies, and strategies of this Comprehensive Plan, and remain consistent with the intent of the Growth Management Act (GMA). There are typically two means of addressing Comprehensive Plan Amendments: through an annual docket review or periodic review per RCW 36.70A.130. Amendments are to be justified through findings from monitoring of “growth management indicators” (see following section). Amendments to this Comprehensive Plan must also conform to the following: a. The requirements of the Washington State Growth Management Act, Chapter RCW 36.70A and the State Planning Enabling Act, Chapter RCW 36.70, and the GMA implementing rules at Chapter 365-196 WAC. b. Any proposed amendments to this Comprehensive Plan must be submitted by the County to the Washington State Department of PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xxi December 2018 Commerce at least 60 days prior to final adoption by the Board of County Commissioners (RCW 36.70A.106). c. Planners should refer to: Sources of law at all levels of government, including federal and state constitutions, federal and state statutes, federal and state administrative regulations, and judicial interpretations for proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments (WAC 365-196-720-745); this Comprehensive Plan’s Vision Statement, Framework Goals, and Community Vision Statements; the County- wide Planning Policy, related plans, and the comprehensive plans of other counties or cities with which the County has, in part, common borders or regulated regional issues (WAC 365-196-010] and 365 196- 510). d. Proposed amendments to this Comprehensive Plan will be considered on an annual basis (no more frequently than once per year), except when the following circumstances apply: (i) the initial adoption of a subarea plan that does not modify this Comprehensive Plan policies and designations applicable to the subarea, and (ii) the adoption or amendment of a shoreline master program pursuant to RCW 90.58. Other exceptions to the annual process are stated in RCW 36.70A.130(2)(a). All proposals will be considered concurrently so the cumulative effect of the various proposals can be ascertained (WAC 365-195-620[3]). The County may consider adopting amendments more frequently than once per year if a declared emergency exists. e. Consistent with the timelines contained in the GMA (RCW 36.70A), the County must review all UGA boundaries, as well as the densities permitted within both the incorporated and unincorporated portions of each UGA. If necessary, the UGA boundaries will be revised to accommodate the urban growth projected to occur in the county for the succeeding 20-year period. f. Amendments or changes to natural resource lands and critical area designations should be based on consistency with one or more of the following criteria: — Change in circumstances pertaining to this Comprehensive Plan or public policy. — A change in circumstances beyond the control of the landowner pertaining to the subject property. — An error in designation. — New information on natural resource land or critical area status (WAC 365-190-485). Details of the amendment process are contained in Jefferson County Code Chapter 18.45. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xxii December 2018 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Appeals Growth Management Hearings Board Review A petition for review to challenge an amendment to this Comprehensive Plan or related plans that are within the jurisdiction of the Growth Management Hearings Board must be filed with sixty days of publication of the amendment per RCW 36.70A.280-290. Judicial Review Any judicial action to review any decision concerning the amendment of this Comprehensive Plan, including related plans, shall be commenced in superior court within sixty days from the date of the final decision of the Growth Management Hearings Board per RCW 36.70A.300(5). Pursuant to RCW 36.70A.295, direct review of an amendment to a Comprehensive Plan is possible if all the parties to the proceedings before the Growth Management Hearings Board agree to direct review by the superior court. Monitoring The monitoring of growth management indicators such as those listed below improves the effectiveness of public policy and allows progress in achieving the goals and objectives behind that policy to be measured: ▶ population growth, actual v. projected, ▶ land capacity, actual v. projected, ▶ economic indicators, property values/comparative sales compared to statewide averages and local trends, ▶ public health and safety ▶ natural resource consumption, ▶ changes in technology, ▶ needs, ▶ omissions or errors, or ▶ a declared emergency. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xxiii December 2018 Use of growth management indicators assures accountability to the public. It demonstrates how effectively the County is moving toward identified goals. Ongoing monitoring allows public resources to be prioritized to meet goals and, if the desired outcome is not achieved, to consider modifying the goals or implementing regulations. Growth management indicators work well with the public participation process of the planning cycle. Using growth management indicators, citizens and decision-makers can review growth management policy and make changes that reflect present day realities. These indicators are considered during the regular periodic review of this Comprehensive Plan or may be considered during annual review dockets where appropriate. PLAN FOUNDATION Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan xxiv December 2018 [ This page intentionally blank ]