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Home My WebLink About2024 05 08 Memo to GMSC re CPP Workshop To: Growth Management Steering Committee (GMSC) From: Josh D. Peters, AICP, Community Development Director Karla Boughton, Cross Sound Consulting Date: May 8, 2024 Subject: Introduction to Proposed 2024 Amendments to the Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) of Jefferson County At the May 14, 2024 GMSC meeting, Cross Sound Consulting and planning staff will present an overview of proposed amendments to the CPPs of Jefferson County. The presentation will be followed by questions and discussion. Action may be taken, if appropriate. This memorandum is presented in advance of the meeting for your review, along with the staff slide presentation and the initial set of proposed amendments. Background The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires the development and adoption of Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) to establish a framework for drafting and adopting county and city comprehensive plans. The role of the CPPs is to coordinate the comprehensive plans of jurisdictions in the same county for regional issues or issues affecting common borders. RCW 36.70A.210 identifies a series of topics to be included in CPPs, and sets forth who need to be involved in the development and maintenance of the policies. The CPPs of Jefferson County were adopted in 1992, under this initial GMA requirement. Staff analysis is that amendments to the CPPs are needed this year because of several recent legislative amendments. Primarily, our CPPs remain sound; the proposed amendments are suggested after reviewing: • 2005 staff amendments that were developed, but not forwarded • GMA statutes recently revised and Washington State Department of Commerce guidance • recently updated CPPs in other counties (Kitsap, Snohomish) Our approach, in coordination with City of Port Townsend staff, was to: 1) identify amendments necessary due to recent legislative changes; 2) provide clarification to select policies; and 3) delete those no longer relevant. 2 The proposed amendments found in 2024 Draft Countywide Planning Policies of Jefferson County included with this memo are identified in this format: underline for additions and strikeout for deletions. The following provides an overview of each CPP topic and summary of the proposed amendments, and may be referred to when reviewing of the Draft CPP document: Introduction: The Introduction establishes the framework and introduces the goals of GMA and the process for CPP development. Proposed amendments include: • Adding two new goals to GMA: climate change & resiliency, and shorelines of the state • Deletions of narrative no longer relevant • Addition of Key Objectives Policy #1 – Urban Growth Areas: These policies relate to UGAs and include population forecasting process, how UGAs are sized and delineated, Port Hadlock/Irondale UGA, and how UGA boundaries are modified. Proposed amendments include: • Added policy on preferred population distribution 70%/30% (urban/rural) split • Deleted language on UGA tiers; replaced with GMA language on lands characterized by urban development • Added reference to new “land swap” ability for UGA boundary modification • Added policy for Major Industrial Developments, as authorized by RCW 36.70A.367 Policy #2 – Promotion of Contiguous and Orderly Development: These policies relate to the provision of urban services within UGAs. Proposed minor amendments include: • County may appoint citizen advisory committee for unincorporated UGAs • Level of Service (LOS) standards for transitional urban facilities and services • Countywide Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP); delete reference to “Chelan Agreement” and reference that watershed planning efforts may affect CWSP and/or land use element Policy #3 – Joint County & City Planning within Urban Growth Areas: These policies relate to coordination between Jefferson County and City of Port Townsend when there are unincorporated lands within the Port Townsend UGA. Proposed minor amendments include: • Clarification regarding County-City coordination when/if unincorporated area within Port Townsend UGA • Clarifications for requirements of new Fully Contained Communities 3 Policy #4 – Siting Public Capital & Transportation Facilities of a County or Statewide Significance: These policies address regional capital and transportation facilities, including essential public facilities. Proposed amendments include: • Addresses legislative amendments removing essential public facilities, and adding public capital & transportation facilities o Adds revised GMA definition of essential public facilities o Each jurisdiction’s comprehensive plan identifies process for siting • New policies regarding capital and transportation facilities of a county or statewide significance Policy #5 – Countywide Transportation Facilities & Strategies: These policies relate to regional transportation facilities, and include role of Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization (PRTPO) and Regional Transportation Plan, service standards, and priorities of focus for 6-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Proposed minor amendments include: • Clarifying edits • Incorporate new term ‘active transportation’ in lieu of non-motorized transportation • New policy regarding environmental and resource land considerations Policy #6 – Provision of Affordable Housing: These policies speak to how affordable housing is provided in Jefferson County, including definition of affordable housing, ensuring sufficient available land for a variety of housing types, and an affordable housing strategy in comprehensive plans. Proposed amendments include: • Updated definition of Affordable Housing using GMA • Added policy and policy references required by recent legislative amendments, including: o Housing targets by income band o Middle Housing o Permanent supportive housing & emergency housing o New policy considering displacement risk Policy #7 – Countywide Economic Development & Employment: These policies address economic development, defining ‘hubs,’ and that an economic development element be included in comprehensive plans. Proposed amendments include: • Major Industrial Developments (MID) outside of UGAs as authorized under RCW 36.70A.365 • Two master planned locations outside of UGAs as authorized under RCW 36.70A.367 4 Policy #8 – Rural Areas: These policies relate to rural lands, and include uses, LOS standards, parcel sizes, rural centers, and appropriate industries. Minor proposed amendment include: • Reference Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDs), as authorized by RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d), as rural centers Policy #9 – Fiscal Impact Analysis: These policies provide guidance on fiscal assessments and if/when interlocal agreements (ILAs) are needed for UGAs. • No amendments are proposed. Policy #10 – Protection of Tribal Cultural Resources & Tribal Coordination: This is a new policy section, due to House Bill (HB) 1717, which amended various sections of GMA, including provisions related to CPPs, and requires counties to invite tribes to participate in developing countywide planning policies. Counites must develop policies for the protection of tribal cultural resources in collaboration with tribes, should they choose to participate. New proposed amendments include: • Protection of Tribal Cultural Resources o Reviewed Commerce guidance and resources o Began with current policies included County Comprehensive Plan • Tribal Coordination o Reviewed Commerce guidance and resources o Reviewed neighboring counties’ CPPs Policy #11 – Use, Monitoring, Review, and Amendment: These policies define how CPPs are utilized, define when policies are periodically reviewed, and establishes the Growth Management Steering Committee (GMSC) role. Minor proposed amendments include: • GMSC responsibilities on population projections • Addition of legislative changes as a reason for amendments [end]