HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM V-DcrrY of
Memorandum
* WASHINGTgN Planning and Development Dept.
To: Planning and Community Development Committee
From: Elizabeth Chamberlain, Principal Planner
CC: Kevin Snyder, Interim Director
Date: April 6, 2010
Re: Amendments to Pierce County's Countywide Planning Policies
Background
When Vision 2040 was adopted by the Puget Sound Regional Council General Assembly in May
2008, there were provisions for the four counties to update their Countywide Planning Policies
(CPP) to be consistent with the Multi-County Planning Policies identified in Vision 2040. Pierce
County began that work, through the Growth Management Coordinating Committee (GMCC), towards the end of 2009. The GMCC is a staff level committee representing each jurisdiction in
Pierce County that makes recommendations, related to growth management, to the Pierce
County Regional Council (PCRC).
The GMCC has been working on proposed changes to the CPPs to be consistent with Vision
2040 and will be making a recommendation to the PCRC in the near future. Once the GMCC
forwards their recommendation, then the PCRC will begin working through the proposed
amendments and eventually make a recommendation to the Pierce County Council.
Summary of Proposed Amendments
Attached to this memo for the Committee's reference is the current proposed changes to the
CPPs. The GMCC is working on a fifth draft that will be available April 15, 2010. At the April 12,
2010 meeting staff will review a summary of the proposed amendments outlined below:
1. Addition of three new chapters
• Community and Urban Design
• Health and Wellbeing
• Rural Areas
2. Introduction
Page 1 of 3
A~TBUAN ~k MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
• Proposed changes to address changes made to state law regarding the Growth
Management Act
• Identify that plans be consistent with the Multi-County Planning Policies
• Addition of language to include transportation strategies to address concurrency
such as public transportation • Addition of section stating purpose of Countywide Planning Policies and deletion
of how CPPs first established
• Addition of section identifying Vision 2040 and the Multi-County Planning Policies
3. Affordable Housing
• Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (page 14)
• Policy that jurisdictions with designated regional growth center should consider
affordable housing allocations as part of population allocations for those centers.
Comment: Aubum's regional growth center is within King County so this does not
apply.
• Policy that jurisdictions should review and streamline development standards
(page 17).
4. Agricultural Lands
• Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (Page 19)
• Addition of criteria for determining long-term significance for agriculture (Pages
20-21)
5. Economic Development and Employment
• Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (Page 25)
• Amendments to support job creation and businesses
• Amendments to include jobs/housing balance
• New policies added that are from Vision 2040 (Pages 26-30)
6. Education
• Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (Page 31)
• New policy added that is from Vision 2040 (Page 32)
Fiscallmpact
• Minor non-substantive changes (Page 35)
8. Historic, Archaeological, and Cultural Preservation
• Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (Page 37)
• New policy added that is from Vision 2040 (Page 39)
9. Natural Resources, Open Space, Protection of Environmentally Sensitive Lands, and
the Environment
• Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (Page 41)
• New policies added that are from Vision 2040 (Pages 42-44, 46, 48-49, 52)
• Addition of language supporting transfer/purchase of development rights and
cluster design
• Addition of policies related to climate change (Pages 52-53)
Page 2 of 3
A~TBUAN ~k MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
10. Siting of Public Capital Facilities of a Countywide or Statewide Significance
• Title proposed to read "Siting of Essential Public Capital Facilities of a
Countywide or Statewide Significance"
• Addition of specific facility requirements from the MPPs (Page 56); 4.1.10 is proposed to be moved to Section 6 and the add language "to the site and/or
incompatible uses"
• New policies added that are from Vision 2040 (Pages 57-58)
11. Transportation Facilities and Strategies
• Addition of Commute Trip Reduction statement (Page 59)
• Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (Page 59)
• New policies to promote sustainable transportation system and improve safety
• Addition of non-motorized facilities as a transportation service that is Countywide
• Expand what considered multi-modal
• Addition of a transit level of service policy (Page 61)
• New policies added that are from Vision 2040 (Page 66)
12. UGAs
• Adding of language that it is not appropriate that urban services be extended or
expanded in rural areas (Page 67) • Addition of Vision 2040 MPP statement (Page 68-67)
• Amending language on centers to be consistent with Vision 2040 terminology
• Addition of two designated Manufacturing/Industrial Centers (Page 71)
• Deletion of criteria when the County first designated UGAs as process not
applicable any longer (Pages 74-75)
• New policies added that are from Vision 2040 (Page 76-78)
13. Buildable Lands
• Addition of new policy to provide clarification on who responsible for Buildable
Lands, identify the first report, what is the Buildable Lands Program, and
jurisdiction responsibility (Pages 99-100)
• New policy stating that an ad-hoc be convened every five years to review the
capacity analysis for residential and employment (Page 102)
14. Amendments and Transitions
• Policy 2.3 is being re-worked by the GMCC (Page 104)
15. Community and Urban Design
• New chapter to the CPPs.
• Policies primarily from Vision 2040
16. Health and Wellbeing (new chapter)
• New chapter to the CPPs.
• Policies primarily from Vision 2040
17. Rural Areas (new chapter)
• New chapter to the CPPs.
• Policies primarily from Vision 2040 with some modification by the GMCC
Page 3 of 3
A~TBUAN ~k MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
Countywide
Planning Policies
for Pierce County, Washington
2010 Amendments
Changes are in strikeout/underline format
DRAFT 4
Highlights show changes from Draft 3
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICIES
FOR
PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
PIERCE COUNTY REGIONAL COUNCIL
Ex officio Members:
Recommended by the Pierce County Regional Council
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION l
II. RULES OF INTERPRETATION ...........................................................................................~~~211
III. COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICIES ...........................................................................~i? 12
Preamble to Countywide Planning Policies ~-312
Affordable Housing ..............................................................................................................,.I.~..13
Agricultural Lands .....................................................................................................................19
Economic Development and Employment .........................................................................23%%25
Education 2 ° 31
Fiscal Impact .........................................................................................................................~3~2 35
Historic, Archaeological and Cultural Preservation 37
Natural Resources, Open Space,nnnandnnnProtection ofEnvironmentally-Sensitive Lands.,.
and the Environment ? ~ 41
Siting of Public Capital Facilities of a Countywide or Statewide Nature ..........................9 55
Transportation Facilities and Strategies ...............................................................................~s3 59
UGAs 67
Buildable Lands ~9u~99
Amendments and Transition ...............................................................................................~9~9103
Communit and Urban Desi n ........................................................................................~.0? 107 ..................................................y.........................
......................................................g................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
Health and Wellbein~ ~~~109 h~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rural Areas ~u~u5113
APPENDIX A: TABLE 1 Comparison of Criteria -Pierce County CPPs and PSRC
Designation Criteria ...........................................................116
This document was originally adopted on June 30,1992 and amended on April 9,1996, December
17,1996, and November 18, 2004 etc, etc.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background and Statutory Framework
In response to legislative findings that uncoordinated and unplanned growth.,... together with a lack of
common goals toward land conservation,., pose a threat to the environment, to the public health,
safety and welfare, and to sustainable economic development, the State legislature enacted the
Growth Management Act.l The Act identifies 1~? planning goals which are intended to be used
e~c~usiv~ay..for the purpose ofto guidin~~ the development and adoption of comprehensive plans
and develo ment re ulations of munici alities and counties re uired to lan.2 The Cate ories in p g p q p g
which goals have been propounded are: urban growth, sprawl reduction, transportation, housing,
economic development, property rights, permits, natural resource industries, open space and
recreation, shorelne,nnnenvironment, citizen participation and coordination, public facilities and
services, and historic preservation. Theo.uprincipaluuf~cusu.o~utheuuGr~~~thuuManag~n~on~u~tuu.~s..o~.,the
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mandatory3 and optional4 %%plan elements as follows:
Mandatory Elements Optional Elements
land use conservation
housing solar energy
capital facilities recreation
utilities nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnecnonomicnnndeyelnon~mentn
rural (County only) historic preservation
transportation any other relating to the physical
development of the jurisdiction
In addition, subarea plans are permitted.5
1 RCW Chapter 36.70A (1990).
2 RCW 36.70A.020(1) - (1~?).
3 RCW 36.70A.070.
4 RCW 36.70A.080(1).
5 RCW 36.70A.080(2).
~ RCW 36.70A.070(9): these optional elements become mandatory if state funding is provided.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 1
One of the most important planning tenets expressed in the Growth Management Act is the
consistency requirement, which takes many forms as follows:
• consistency of municipal/County plans with the planning goals identified in RCW
36.70A.020
• internal consistency between plan elements
• consistency of all other plan elements with the future land use map
• consistency of any subarea plans with the comprehensive plan
• consistency of the transportation element with the land use element
• consistency of the transportation element with the six-year plans required by RCW
35.77.010 for cities, RCW 36.81.121 for counties, and RCW 35.58.2795 for public
transportation systems
• consistency between the County Comprehensive Plan and the comprehensive plans
of all municipalities within the County
• consistency of comprehensive plans of each municipality and county with
comprehensive plans of neighboring municipalities and counties with common
borders or faced with related regional issues
• consistency of development regulations with the comprehensive plan
• consistency of capital budget decisions with the comprehensive plan
consistency with the Puget Sound Regional Council's (PSRC's) Multi-County
Planning Policies (MPPs) as required by RCW.36.70A.210(7).
• consistency of state agency actions in relation to the location, financing and
expansion of transportation systems and other public facilities with county and
municipal comprehensive planning
Despite the fact that the word "consistency" is used repeatedly in the Growth Management Act, it is
not defined. The Standard Planning Enabling Act promulgated in 1928 by the United States
Department of Commerce established the concept that zoning regulations should be "in accordance
with a comprehensive plan." In the years since the model act was developed this concept has
evolved from being merely advisory or guiding to one that mandates that the goals, objectives,
policies,: and strategies of each document must be in agreement with and harmonious with the
provisions of all other required documents. The consistency doctrine has been continually
strengthened by both state statutes and by court decisions, in both ,.`.consistency statute states.'., and
those states adopting the concept by increasingly vigorous interpretation of the "in accordance with"
statutory language.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 2
A second planning tenet which the Growth Management Act promotes is concurrency i. e., that
concept that public facilities and services necessary to serve new development at adopted level of
service standards are actually available at the time of development. The concurrency requirement is
stated generally in the planning goals6 as follows:
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.
In the transportation element, which is a required plan element for all municipal and County
comprehensive plans, the concurrency requirement is restated in more forceful terms as follows:'
...local jurisdictions must adopt and enforce ordinances which
prohibit development approval if the development causes the level of
service on a transportation facility to decline below the standards
adopted in the transportation element of the comprehensive plan,
unless transportation improvements or strategies to accommodate the
impacts of development are made concurrent with the development.
These strategies may include increased public transportation service, ride sharing programs,
demand mana ement and other trans ortation s stems mana ement strate ies• the im ortance of g............................... p............................................... ~ g......................
....................................... g.............. ~ p..................................................,
considering multimodal transportation improvements is set forth in RCW 36.70A.108.
Concurrent with the development means that for non-transportation facilities, improvements or
strategies are in place at the time of development and in the case of transportation facilities, that a
financial commitment is in place to complete the improvements or strategies within six (6) years.
Portions of the mandatory planning, consistency, and concurrency requirements combine to suggest
a strong relationship between the accommodation of growth and the provision and financing of
public facilities and services to meet facility and service demands generated by that growth. This
relationship is then strengthened by the UGA boundary designation and public facility
requirements. g
In order to accomplish these new planning and plan implementation requirements, the legislature
has expressly authorized the use of innovative techniques,9 including impact fees.lo
6 RCW 36.70A.020(12).
' RCW 36.70A.070(6)(b).
s RCW 36.70A.110.
9 RCW 36.70A.090.
to RCW 82.02.050 - .090.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 3
In 1991, the State legislature amended the Growth Management Act, inter alia, to require that the
legislative body of the County adopt countywide planning policies; in cooperation with the
municipalities in the County. Countywide planning policies are Wrltten policy statements
establishing a countywide framework from Which county and municipal comprehensive plans are
developed and adopted. The framework is intended to ensure that municipal and County
comprehensive plans are consistent.ll
The development of the countywide planning policies is~as%%intended to be a collaborative process
between the County and the municipalities. The legislation required the County legislative body to
convene a meeting With representatives of each municipality. The County and the municipalities
then determine the process by ....=Which they Will agree to all provisions and procedures of the
countywide planning policies including..,, but not limited to desired planning policies, deadlines,, and
ratification. ~uuluate~uthanu.I~dlyuuulu;uuul9u92, the legislative authority of the County is required to adopt
countywide planning policies in accordance with the agreed-upon process after holding the requisite
public hearing or hearings.12
The Countywide Planning Policies are not substitutes for comprehensive plans but, rather goals,
objectives, policies,,,,. and strategies to guide the production of the County and municipal
compre ensive p ans.
The Countywide Planning Policies shall, at a minimum, address the following:13
(a) Policies to implement RCW 36.70A.110;
(b) Policies for promotion of contiguous and orderly development
and provision of urban services to such development;
(c) Policies for siting public capital facilities of a countywide or
statewide nature;
(d) Policies for countywide transportation facilities and strategies;
(e) Policies that consider the need for affordable housing, such as
housing for all economic segments of the population and
parameters for its distribution;
Policies for j Dint County and city planning within UGAs;
ll RCW 36.70A.210(1).
12 RCW 36.70A.210(2).
13 RCW 36.70A.210(3)(a) - (h).
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 4
(g) Policies for countywide economic development and
employment; and
(h) An analysis of the fiscal impact.
B. Framework Agreement for the Adoption of the Countywide Plannin Policies
Pursuant to the Growth Management Act, Pierce County and the municipalities have entered into an
Interlocal Agreement for the development, %%%~nd adoption, and amendment of the Countywide
Plannin Policies.14 The A reement rovides for the establishment of a Steerin Committee g g p g
consisting of one elected official from Pierce County and one elected official from every
municipality in the County. The principal responsibility of drafting the Countywide Planning
Policies was given to the Steering Committee.15 The Steering Committee is now the Pierce County
Regional Council and receivesd technical/staff support from the Growth Management Coordinating
Committee (GMCC), which additionally established the UGA Subcommittee.16 Tl~e cteell lg
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Ratification of and amendments to the Countywide Planning Policies requires the affirmative vote
of 60% of the affected governments in Pierce County representing a minimum of 75% of the total
Pierce County population as designated by the State Office of Financial Management at the time of
the proposed ratification.
C. ~'Iet'~ouolo~, y' for th° Le ~~elo; merit of Countywide Plannin Policies _ _
Coun wide lannin olicies are olic documents that have both a rocedural and a substantive effect ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,~,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,~,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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on the com rehensive lans of cities and the Coun The immediate a ose of the CPPs is to achieve
consistency between and among the plans of cities and the county on regional matters. A long-term
purpose of the CPPs is to facilitate the transformation of local governance in urban growth areas so that
cities become the primary providers of urban governmental services and counties become the providers of
regional andururaluuservicesuandutheuumakers of regional policies. ~Poulsbo, 92-3-0009c, FDO, at 23.E ~Alsou, Srioc~ualmie,xxxx92x-3,-DOx04c~xxxFDOx,xxxat„9.,~ Another purpose is to
facilitate urban growth at urban densities.
The Countywide Planning Policies are intended to provide the guiding goals, objectives, policies
and strategies for the subsequent adoption of comprehensive plans, but are not to be a substitute for
such plans. The level of detail in the Countywide Planning Policies must be sufficient to provide
specific guidance, yet not so detailed as to constrain appropriate local choice in future
14 Interlocal Agreement: Framework Agreement for the Adoption of the Countywide
Planning Policy (Pierce County Council Resolution No. R91-172, September 24,1991)(See
Attachment "B") .
1 s Interlocal Agreement, 2.
16 Interlocal Agreement, 4.
l~ Interlocal Agreement, 5.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 5
comprehensive planning by the County and municipalities. This is particularly true because the
Countywide Planning Policies apply to the County and all municipalities, both large and small, both
adjacent to other urban areas and remote from other urban areas, each with somewhat different
characteristics.
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UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 6
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UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 7
D.......nnnnnn~ff~ct.~f Adopti~nnof nCounwide...P~ann~n.nP~nlicni~s
Countywide Planning Policies are written policy statements used =sl~~ y........for establishing a
countywide framework from which county and municipal comprehensive plans are developed and
adopted. The framework is intended to ensure that municipal and County comprehensive plans are
consistent.lg While the Growth Management Act does not specify the legal effect of adoption of the
Countywide Planning Policies, it clearly acknowledges their importance by providing that failure to
adopt Countywide Planning Policies meeting the requirements may result in the imposition of
sanctions 19 including, but not limited to the withholding of state revenues and rescinding the County
or municipality's authority to collect the real estate excise tax.20 Cities and the Governor may
appeal adopted Countywide Planning Policies to the appropriate Growth Planning Hearings Board
within sixty (60) days of the adoption of the policy.21 After the 60-day period, Countywide
Planning Policies cannot be drectlynnchallenged.
un~I7v~ Tor Tthe effectiveness of the Countywide Planning Policies is not based merely on the fact 11V Y Y 4 Y \.1,
that they are adopted, but rather on the fact that they must be adhered to and implemented in the
County and municipality comprehensive plans and development regulations. The legislation
provides a process to challenge the failure of a County or municipality to comply with the
Countywide Planning Policies through petition to the Growth Pl~~n~ng~~~Mana~ement Hearings
Board.22 The Growth P~a~~~ng~~Management Hearings Board shall hear and determine only those
petitions alleging either: (a) that the State, county or municipality is not in compliance with the
Growth Management Act; or (b) that the 20-year growth management planning population
projections adopted by the State Office of Financial Management should be adjusted.23 Petitions
must be filed within sixty (60) days after publication of the ordinance adopting the comprehensive
plan or development regulations.24 Comprehensive plans and development regulations and
amendments thereto are presumed valid upon adoption.2s
18 RCW 36.70A.210(1).
19 RCW 36.70A.210(5).
20 RCW 36.70A.340(2) and (3).
21 RCW 36.70A.210(6).
22 RCW 36.70A.250.
23 RCW 36.70A.280(1).
24 RCW 36.70A.290(2).
Zs RCW 36.70A.320.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 8
The Pierce County Countywide Planning Policies must be consistent with the Puget Sound
Re Tonal Council's PSRC's Multi-Count Plannin Policies MPPs .The most recent set of
~....................................................................y.............................................................................................~..............................~....
.......................................................................................................................... these is set forth in PSRC's VISION 2040, which specifically
requires that the Pierce County
Countywide Planning Policies be updated, where necessary, by December 31, 2010 to address
the MPPs in VISION 2040. The Countywide Plannin Policies should also be u dated to address
changes in the Growth Management Act lan~ua~e and interpretation that have taken place since
the on final ado tion of the Count wide Plannin Policies in 1995. The 2009 U date to those y ...................P.......................................y...............................~
....................................................................P...............................
provisions of the Washington Administrative Code that provide guidance for implementation of
the Growth Management Act should be of assistance in identifying Growth Management Act
Chan es and re uirements. It should also be noted that Federal a encies and Indian tribes ma
participate in and cooperate with the countywide planning policy adoption process and that adopted
countywide planning policies must be adhered. to by state agencies. RCW 36.70A.210 (4)
VISION 2040
VISION 2040 is the regional long-range growth management, environmental, economic, and
transportation strategy for the central Puget Sound region. VISION 2040 promotes an
environmentall friendl rowth attern that will contain the ex ansion of urban rowth areas ............................................................................~'................................
......~'....~..................................P.......................................................................................................................................................
.P.....................................................................................~............................................................~~
conserve farm and forest lands, support compact communities where people may both live and
work, and will focus new employment and housing in vibrant urban centers. VISION 2040
pronmotesnnthe theme not n"penoplen~. ~rospnernty~nnplanet'n'nnas annsustannablitynnframework..
VISION 2040 rovides s ecific uidance for the distribution of o ulation and em to ment ..............................................................................P..................................
.............P.................................~.......................................................................................................................................................
.............P......P...............................................................................P.........~........................,
growth into types of places defined as "regional ~eo~raphies." The largest share of growth is
distributed to metropolitan and core cities -places with designated regional growth centers that
are already connected byxmajxorxtransportatonxxcorridorsxxand.hihxcapacxityx ransxt..,
Multicounty Planning Policies
VISION 2040 includes a set of multicounty planning policies that provide an integrated
framework for addressin land use economic develo ment trans ortation ublic facilities and .............................................................................................................
...............~..............................................~.........................................................................................P.........................~....................
.........P........................................~....P.........................................................................~......................,
environmental issues. Multicounty planning policies are adopted by two or more counties and
establish a common re~ionwide framework that ensures consistency among county and city
com rehensive Tans ado ted ursuant to RCW 36.70A.070 and count wide Tannin olicies ...........P ......................p...................P..........P .........................~'............~........
.....~...P.........
adopted pursuant to RCW 36.70A.210.
Multicount Tannin olicies rovide a framework for re Tonal Tans develo ed within a
multicounty region, including regional transportation plans established under RCW 47.80.023, _as
well as Tans of cities counties and others that have common borders or related re Tonal issues ................P....
as required under RCW 36.70A.100. The regional transportation planning organization,
2.6 .......................RCW...3..6x.x70Ax.2..1..~~.~.~.
27 Vision 2040-MPP-G-2 need to connect to text
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 9
pursuant RCW 47.80.020, should be the agency to develop, adopt, and administer multicounty
x p 1 annni nnnnp o 1 ni c nine s
Multicount lannin olicies address at a minimum the same to ics identified for count wide Y .........................y..p.................p ................................~...........................
......~...........................p..................................................~
plannin as identified in RCW 36.70A.210 3 except for those res onsibilities assi ned
exclusively to counties.
In order to provide an on-~oin~ region-wide framework, a schedule for reviewing and revising
the multicounty planning policies may be established. This schedule should relate to the review
and revision deadlines for count and cit com rehensive lans ursuant to 36.70A.130.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 10
II. RULES OF INTERPRETATION
1. Words and terms used in the Countywide Planning Policies shall be defined as set
forth in the Policies and in the Growth Management Act to the extent defined
therein. To the extent not defined therein, words and terms shall be given their plain
and ordinary meanings.;..exceptxasxxoth~rv~~ixse;..provide~xherexin
2. The term "shall" is intended to be mandatory; the terms "may" and "should" are
advisory ~%irecto~~T%~only. While the term "shall" and "will" is mandatory, it should be
understood and implied that the policy statement in which it is used is applicable to a
municipality and/or the County only when, through objective determination, the
circumstances on which the Policy is premised are relevant.
~ T~ in >>r~~arn~nn~ nr~~ imr~~iv~ ~~n4 v~n~inion nra nr~v~~i~n~~a ~n m>>r~inir~n~i~ivn nr►~~nr ~~v 1.~ ~l~u~~~~~~u ~l~u ~~1~N~~~u ~~1~~ N~1~~1~.~ ~NN~I~~~~~ 1~~~~u~~N~1~~~~.~ ~~lu~
r'.,,,,-,+~~ ~,-,1~~ ~hr.,,,~1-, ~h;o~~;~~o ~o~or,-,,;,-,~+;,,~ X1-,0 ~;r~„Y,-,r+~~~on «~1-,;~1-, ~l-,o
p~l;~~~ ;n ,-,rv,-,,;nv~ pro ~~ro~n„~~l~,la~~ ~~~~~r.,,-,r;~~o~~ r„mil-, ,-,,,,~;~;,~.~1;~~~ ~,-„~hr 1~ Nl~~~~~~~u ~~lu ~NN~~NI~~~~ ~u~~l ~~~~1~~~~N~~~~~ ~~lu~
~~,o (~n>>r,~r ~il~ ~vuli~y .
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 11
III. COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICIES
PREAMBLE TO COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICIES
Countywide Planning Policies are written policy statements which are to be used ~olelyxxxfor
establishing a Countywide framework from which the County and municipal comprehensive plans
are developed and adopted. The framework is intended to ensure that the County and municipal
comprehensive plans are consistent, as required by the Washington statutes.
RCW 43.17.250.,,; Countywide Planning Policyuuuuuluncentu~veu requires State agencies that provide
funding to review local proposals for consistency with any adopted countywide planning
policies. State agencies will review local proposals to determine if they are addressed by a
Countywide Planning Policy and accord additional preference to the County, city, or town if
such Countywide Planning Policy exists. The County, and many of the municipalities within the
County, typically address specific proposals within their local comprehensive plans and capital
facilities plans. These locally adopted plans serve to supplement and refine the more generalized
policies contained within the Countywide Planning Policies. Therefore, this document, as well
as any locally adopted comprehensive plan and/or capital facilities plan, shall be considered by
State agencies in making determinations under RCW 43.17.250.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 12
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON THE "NEED
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL ECONOMIC SEGMENTS
OF THE POPULATION AND PARAMETERS FOR ITS DISTRIBUTION"
■ Background - Requirement of Growth Management Act
The Washington State Growth Management Act mandates i~cn tific~s~~as~~a~p~~ ~~~n ~~g~u~~~~.°gur
~he..%~~v~l~pn~~ntx...an~x...a~~pt~~n...~. f...cn~p~r~hcns%~~~~o...plaP~s....and....~~v~~op~~nt%x..r~g~~lat~~ns....that
counties and cities encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of
the population, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage
preservation of the existing housing stock. [RCW 36.70A.020(4)] The term "affordable
housing" is not defined, but the context in which it appears suggests that its meaning was
intended to be broadly construed to refer to housing of varying costs, since the reference is to all
economic segments of the community.
The Washington Growth Management Act requires the adoption of countywide planning
policies for affordable housing in order to establish a consistent county-wide framework from
which county and city comprehensive plans are developed and adopted. These policies are
required to, at a minimum, "consider the need for affordable housing, such as housing for all
economic segments of the population and parameters for its distribution" [RCW
36.70A.210(3)(e)].
The Washington Growth Management Act also identifies mandatory and optional plan
elements. [RCW 36.70A.070 and .080]. A Housing Element is a mandatory plan element that
must, at a minimum, include the following [RCw 36.70A.070(2)]:
(a) an inventory and analysis of existing and projected housing needs that identifies the
number of housing units necessary to manage proj ected growth;
(b) a statement of goals, policies and objectives, and mandatory provisions for the
preservation, improvement and development of housing, including single-family
residences;
(c) identification of sufficient land for housing, including, but not limited to, government-
assisted housing, housing for low income families, manufactured housing, multi-
familyhousing, group homes, and foster care facilities;
(d) adequate provisions for existing and projected housing needs of all economic
segments of the community
Since the Comprehensive Plan of every city and county must be an internally consistent
document [RCW 36.70A.070] and all plan elements must be consistent with the future land use
map prepared as part of the required land use element [RCW 36.70A.070], these other plan
elements will, to a great extent, dictate what will be in the housing element.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 13
Thus, the land use element, relying upon estimates of future population, growth, average
numbers of persons per household, and land use densities, will indicate how much (and where)
land needs to be made available to accommodate the identified housing needs. The capital
facilities, transportation and utilities elements will then indicate when and how public facilities
will be provided to accommodate the proj ected housing, by type, density and location.
VISION 2040 Multicounty Planning Policies
VISION 2040 reco nizes that to meet the demands of a rowin and Chan in o ulation in the ................................................................................................~..............
......................................................................................................................................................................................................g
.................................................g..........g....p......~..................................................................~
central Puget Sound, the region needs to develop vibrant communities that offer a diverse and
well-distributed mix of homes affordable to both owners and renters in every demo~ra~hic and
income group. VISION 2040 encourages housing production by jurisdictions that will meet our
needs and places a major emphasis providing residences that are safe and healthy, attractive, and
close to 'obs sho in and other amenities. The multicount lannin olicies address 1 .............................................~...................~........................pp..........g.~............
...............................................................................................................................................................................................Y......p
...............................~.....~.......................................................................................~,
housing diversity and affordability, 2) jobs-housing balance, and 3) best practices for home
construction. These multicounty planning policies place an emphasis on preserving and
ex andin housin affordabilit incor oratin ualit and environmentall friendl desi n in ............p ............................g.......................................................................
............................Y.~...............................~.............................g.....~......................~'............................................................................
............................Y.......................................~'.........................g.....................~
homebuildin~, and offering healthy and safe home choices for all the region's residents.
~~i~d~ng,~an~~~;ff~ring~~h~a~thy ~a~~~a~~~h~;n~e~~~h~~c~e~~f~~~a~~~th~~~~e~g~~'~~~~~i~~~nt~:.
■ Countyywide Planning Policy
1. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall determine the extent of the need for
housing for all economic segments of the population, both existing and proj ected for its
jurisdiction over the planning period.
2. The County, and each municipality in the County, should explore and identify
opportunities to reutilize and redevelop existing parcels where rehabilitation of the
buildings is not cost-effective, provided the same is consistent with the countywide policy
on historic, archaeological, and cultural preservation.
3. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall encourage the availability of
housing affordable to all economic segments of the population for each jurisdiction.
3.1 For the purpose of the Pierce County Countywide Planning Policies the following
definitions shall apply:
3.1.1 "Affordable housing" shall mean the housing affordable to households
earning up to 80 percent of the countywide median income.
3.1.2 "Low income households" shall mean households earning 80 percent or less
of the countywide median income.
3.1.3 "Moderate income households" shall mean households earning 80 to 120
percent of the countywide median income.
3.1.4 "Special Needs Housing" shall mean supportive housing opportunities for
populations with specialized requirements, such as the physically and
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 14
mentally disabled, the elderly, people with medical conditions, the homeless,
victims of domestic violence, foster youth, refugees, and others.
3.2 Affordable housing needs not typically met by the private housing market should be
addressed through a more coordinated countywide approach/strategy.
3.2.1 Each jurisdiction may adopt plans and policies for meeting its affordable
and moderate income housing needs in a manner that reflects its unique
demographic characteristics, comprehensive plan vision and policies,
development and infrastructure capacity, location and proximity to job
centers, local workforce, and access to transportation.
3.3 It shall be the goal of each jurisdiction in Pierce County that a minimum of 25% of the
growth population allocation is satisfied through affordable housing.
3M.3.1MMMM MMMMMMMJurisdictionsMwithMMdesi~natedMre~ionalMcentersMshouldMconsider
incorporating affordable housing allocations as part of their adopted
allocations for these centers. see MPP-DP-4 and H-5
4. The County and each municipality in the County should establish a countywide program by
an organization capable oflong-term consistent coordination of regional housing planning,
design, development, funding, and housing management. All jurisdictions should be
represented in directing the work program and priorities of the organization.
5. Jurisdictions should plan to meet their affordable and moderate-income housing needs goal
by utilizing a range of strategies that will result in the preservation of existing, and
production of new, affordable and moderate-income housing that is safe and healthy.
5.1 Techniques to preserve existing affordable and moderate-income housing stock may
include repair, maintenance, and/or rehabilitation and redevelopment in order to
extend the useful life of existing affordable housing units.
5.1.1 Jurisdictions should seek and secure state funds such as the Housing Trust
Fund, and federal subsidy funds such as Community Development Block
Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, and other sources to implement
housing preservation programs.
5.2 Jurisdictions should promote the use of reasonable measures and innovative
techniques (e.g. clustering, accessory dwelling units, cottage housing, small lots,
planned urban developments, and mixed use) to stimulate new higher-density
affordable and moderate-income housing stock on residentially-zoned vacant and
underutilized parcels.
5.3. To promote affordable housing and ensure access to services and jobs, jurisdictions
should consider the availability and proximity of public transportation,
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 15
governmental and commercial services necessary to support residents' needs. [see
MPP H-4 and Regional Growth Strategy]
5.4 Jurisdictions should consider providing incentives to developers and builders of
affordable housing for moderate- and low-income households, such as but not
limited to:
5.4.1 A menu of alternative development regulations (e.g. higher density,
reduced lot width/area and reduced parking stalls) in exchange for housing
that is ensured to be affordable.
5.4.2 A toolkit of financial incentives (e.g. permit and fee waivers or multi-
family tax exemptions) and grant writing assistance, through the regional
housing organization, that maybe dependent on the amount of affordable
housing proposed.
5.4.3 A toolkit of technical assistance (e.g. mapping, expedited processing and
permit approval) to affordable housing developers that maybe dependent
on the amount of affordable housing proposed.
5.5 Jurisdictions should consider inclusionary zoning measures as a condition of major
rezones and development.
s.s. i 5.6 New fully contained communities in unincorporated Pierce County shall contain
a mix of dwelling units to provide for the affordable and moderate-income housing
needs that will be created as a result of the development, as xwell xas helping xto
accommodate a share of the county's overall affordable housing need as expressed
in policy 3.3. ~~~~~~~~~~n
6. The County, and each municipality in the County, should cooperatively maximize
available local, state, and federal funding opportunities and private resources in the
development of affordable housing for households.
6.1 All jurisdictions should jointly explore opportunities to develop a countywide
funding mechanism and the potential for both voter approved measures (bond or
levy), and nonvoter approved sources of revenue to support the development of
affordable housing.
6.2 All jurisdictions should pursue state legislative changes to give local jurisdictions
the authority to provide tax relief to developers of affordable housing.
6.3 All jurisdictions should explore opportunities to dedicate revenues from sales of
publicly owned properties, including tax title sales, to affordable housing projects.
6.4 All jurisdictions should explore the feasibility of additional resources to facilitate
the development of affordable housing such as a new countywide organization
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 16
(based on inter-local agreements), expansion of existing non-profit partnerships,
increased coordination with local public housing authorities, acounty-wide land
trust, as well as future involvement of larger County employers, in the provision of
housing assistance for their workers.
The County, and each municipality in the County, should explore and identify opportunities
to reduce land costs for non-profit and for-profit developers to build affordable housing.
7.1 Jurisdictions should explore options to dedicate or make available below market-rate
surplus land for affordable housing projects.
7.2 All jurisdictions should explore and identify opportunities to assemble, reutilize, and
redevelop existing parcels.
7.3 All 'urisdictions should review and streamline develo ment standards and re ulations P..........................................................................................................
g......................................
to advance their publicMbenefit~ pprovde Mflexb_ilit~, and minimize costs to housinM [see rMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMM MM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM
MPP-H-7]
8. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall periodically monitor and assess
their success in meeting the housing needs to accommodate their 20-year population
allocation.
8.1 Jurisdictions should utilize the available data and analyses provided by federal,
state, and local sources to monitor their progress in meeting housing demand as part
of the required Growth Management Act comprehensive plan update process.
8.2 Countywide housing allocations shall be periodically monitored and evaluated to
determine if countywide needs are being adequately met; the evaluation should
identify all regulatory, pro~rammatic~ ,and financial measures taken to address the
allocation need.
8.3 Each jurisdiction should provide, if available, the quantity of affordable housing
units created, preserved, or rehabilitated since the previous required update.
8.4 Jurisdictions should consider using a consistent reporting template for their
evaluations to facilitate the countywide monitoring and assessment.
8.5 In conjunction with the Growth Management Act Update schedule, a report should
be forwarded from GMCC uto the Pierce County Regional Council addressing the
progress in developing new affordable housing.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 17
[PAGE LEFT BLANK]
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 18
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON
AGRICULTURAL LANDS
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington uStateu...u„Growth Management Act identifies the maintenance and
enhancement of natural resource-based industries, including productive agricultural
industries, and the conservation of productive agricultural lands as planning goals to guide
the development and adoption of comprehensive plans and development regulations. [RCW
36.70A.020(8)]. While the expression of planning goals in the Growth Management Act is
linked to "natural resource industries," including productive timber and fisheries, a separate
policy for Agricultural Lands has been deyelopedpr~p~s° because of their unique
importance in Pierce County and their relationship to UGA boundaries and policies.
Although the Growth Management Act does not expressly require a countywide planning
policy on agricultural lands, the requirement was added by the Interlocal Agreement:
Framework Agreement for the Adoption of the Countywide Planning Policy (Pierce County
Council Resolution No. R91-172, September 24,1991).
VISION 2040 Multicount_y Planning Policies
VISION 2040 recognizes that the agricultural land in the central Puget Sound region is
amon the most roductive in Washin ton State. It also reco nized that the loss of these ............................g..................................................P................................
...................................................................... g...............................................................................................................g...............
......................................................................................................................,
lands-along with their productivity- has impacts on the environment, including air and
water quality and quantity, our economy, and ultimately the health of the region's people.
VISION 2040 also identifies threats to the region's agricultural lands, including urban
development, incompatible adjacent land uses, and the loss of supporting services.
VISION 2040 seeks to ermanentl rotect these ke a ricultural resource lands. The
multicounty planning policies calls for conserving the region's natural resource lands,
eustabluishuin~guuuuuuuuubestuuuuuuuuumana~guementuuuuuuuuupractuicesuuuuuuuuuthatuuuuuuuuProtectuuuuuuuuutheuuuuuuuuuulongu-termuuuuuuuuuuintegruityuuuuuuuuuuand
productivity of these lands, limiting the conversion of these lands, and ensuring that
development does not adversely impact these lands.
■ Countywide Planning Policy
1. The County, and each municipality choosing to designate agricultural lands of long
termuuucommercuialuuuusignif cancer iN th° Coun ~r, shall douuuusuouuuuusuin~guuutheuuumethodologyuuuuand
criteria stated in WAC 365-190-050. Cities are encouraged to coordinate their
agricultural resource lands designations with the County and adjacent jurisdictions
and are encoura ed to ado t the same criteria ~p~Np n,~r,n„~+„rn> >~~,an n~ lA V 1111\r (A 11 \r 4L1 ~ 4t1(Al 11.L11~.L~J . L 1 ~ l.L
~~~~~'~~~;~~~~th~~~~~°~n~t~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~, ~~~~~~~~p~n~~~~~n~~~~~~~~~~°~~~~f~~l~`~'~~~~~~~~r~t~r~a:
Designation shall be based on the following factors:u
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 19
1.1 Thewwwlandwwwiswwnotwwalreadywwcharacterizedwwbywwurbanwwrowth.ww~he.....~efinitni~n......~n
T?(~'«T 2ti ~n n n2n~~~• iiln~.~ r~r~mnr~~~r ~a~rn~a~ ~n ~~o nnmmarn~n~ ~rn~iin~~nr~ 1\V YY JV. ! VL 1.VJV`LrJ. 1(.Llll.l ~Jlllll(.Llll~' \.LV V VI.VI.I ~V ~11V trV111111V1tr1(,Ll ~J1V~.LldtrL1V11
~f ~~'~~~~ltural, ~ ~'~~~~ltural, ~~f ~~r~~~l~t'~~~~~~~d~~~;~~~p~~r`~', ~ ~'~~~~a~~~~~ ~~n~~a~
Prod'~~t~~~~r~~~~;~~~b~~~~,~~~~r~~P~;~~~h~~~~~~~ti ~ ~;~;~~~t~~f;~~~~~~d;~~~.C~l~'~~t~~s~~mtr~~~ ~~~~t
rni~ivn~ ~n ~l,v avniro env imv~nra~ ~~r ur~~~ Qn nn ~ +l,rniinl, Qn ~ nn nr rJI.LUJ~rVI. l.V Llltr VL1~,r1~.7~. l.(.LL1 1111~JV~.7Vl.l U~' 1\\i YY V~.JJ.V71 1,111V1.1~11 V~.JJ.17V~
Vl
1x~v~sto~~,......and.....that.....has.....1~~~.....t~n~.....~~n~er~ial.....~i~nxixfiE~n~e......f~r.....a~~~cu~tural
nrn~iin~~nr~~~ ~nn~ ~v~n~ii~~t~rr r~nii~~r~r rn~c+~v~n ~nrra ~nrmr nn~ rnr~n~arl• ~.J1V~.IldtrL1V11 `(Alll.l~ 111V141~.1111~ ~JVU1L1~' 1(d1~J111~~ 11V1i,7~r 1(A1111~,7 (.Lllll 1(.L11Lr11tr~JJ'
1.2 The land is used or capable of being used for agricultural production.
1~oY1+~t1nn~~nY1 ~nro~ 77Nl~N niirrar~~ ~nt~~ lira r►~nnt~a~ ~nt~~ iic+n nr c+n~~ ~rr►n ~i n 1\,lVlll,llltr(.L1.1V11 U(.Li.7Vl.l l.l~IVll V 1d11V11L 1(.Lllll ld~J~~ ~J1(.L1111V1.1 1(,Lll~.l
U~JV Vl JV11 L~' 1JV `G. L. ~
s~~l~....i~~nt~fi~d...by....~h~...~Soui~...C~~s~~va~~on....S~urvie~...as....ha~in~...hi~h...pr~ductivuity
firm ar~~l tur~l~ us~~
1.2.1 Lands that are currently used for agricultural production and that are
caPableuuuuuof uuubueuin~uuuuuuseuduuuumustuuuuubeuuuuuueyaluateduuuuuforuuuuudesui~nation,uuuuuuincluduin~
lands receiving "use value assessments". .MMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMM ~ MM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
lxx.2.2xxxxxxxxxThexxxxU.xSx.xxxxxDxePartmentxxxxxof xxxA~rxiculturexxxxNaturalxxxxResxourcexxxxxConseryation
Service land use capability soils classification system based on the
~rowin~ caPacity~ ~roductiyity, and composition shall be assessed....
1.3 Theuuuuuluon~u-termuuuucommercuialuuuuusui~nuificanceuuuuuforuuuuua~ruicultureuuuushalluuuuubeuuuuudetermuined
by considerin~lunus ;,use 1L1~'r 1~VV1Vrl 1~ ~~u~° Vr(nA1~l,~lV u~S~~a111V l+l,~" ~u1~~l.~L(n.L 1L +l.V
~ahin~ton...sta~ute~...and%%%contract~%%%wi~h%%the%%%C~unty.
1.3.1 The classification of prime and unique farmland soils;
1.3.2 The types of agriculture that exist in the area and their interactivity
and contribution to the regional econom~~
1.3.3 The availability of water for agriculture;
luu.u3u.u4uuuuuuuuuuuuuTheuuuuuuuuuavauilabuilityuuuuuuuuuof uuuuuuupubluicuuuuuuuuufacuilities~uuuuuuuuuuincluduin~uuuuuuuuurouadsuuuuuuuuuuseuduuuuuuuufor
transporting agricultural products;
1.3.5 Tax status, including current use taxation, optional benefit rating
system,xxxandxxthexxxtransferxxxorxxxpurchasexxxof xdeyeloPmentxxxrxi~hts~%
1.3.6 The availability of public services;
1.3.7 The relationship and ~roximit~ to urban growth areas markets and
suPPliers~
1.3.8 Predominant parcel sizes;
luu.u3u.u9uuuuuuuuuuuuuLuanduuuuseuuusettlementuuupatternsuuuuanduutheuiruuucuompatuibuiluit~uu wuithuuua~ricultural
practices;
1.3.10 Intensity of nearby land uses;
lxx.3x.x1xxxlxxxxxxxxHxistoryxxxxxof xxxlandxxxxxdeyeloPmentxxxxpermxitsxxxxxissuexdxxx nearbyx~xxxxxandxxxxthexxxxxextent
that permits issued within five hundred feet of designated resource
lands have included a notice of potential incompatibility of
residential development with activities associated with resource land
uses per RCW 36.70A.060 (1)(b); and
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 20
l .3.12wwwLandwyalueswunderwalternatiyewuses.
1.4 When desi~natin~ agricultural resource lands, the County and cities should
consider food security issues including providing food supplies for food
banks, schools and institutions vocational training o~~ortunities and
preserynngn hernitagen or nartnsanalnnfoods
1.5 Designation of at least a minimum amount of agricultural land county-wide
necessary to maintain economic viability for the agricultural industry, and
retainxxxxxbusxinessesxxxxxxsuppxortxin~gxxxxxxagrxiculturexxxxxsuchxxxxxasxxxxxprocxessxorsx,xxxxxsuppliers,xxxxxand
ex~upmentxdealersx shouldxbexxconsidered.
1.6 Agricultural lands of local significance should be designated through
consultation with the public, local conservation districts, and organizations
promoting farming and local agricultural production such as the WSU
Extension, Pierce County Farm Board, and the Washington State Farm
Bureau. These lands may include designated critical areas such as bobs used
to brow cranberries or farmed wetlands.
2. The purposes of agricultural preservation are:
2.1 ensuring that agricultural lands are treated sensitively to their location and
the presence of urban growth pressures;
2.2 preventing urban sprawl;
2.3 maintaining open space and/or providing a visual green belt;
2.4 retaining natural systems and natural processes;
2.5 preserving the local economic base;
2.6 preserving a rural ~l~fe~;~lecharacter;
2.7 maintaining specialty crops;
2.8 maintaining regional, state and national agricultural reserves.
2u.9uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuenhancuin~uuuuuutheuuuuuuuluocaluuuuuuufooduuuuuuusyustemuuuuuuthroughuuuuuutheuuuuuuuproductuiuonuuuuuuuof uuuuufreshuuuuuuuand
minimally processed foods
3. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall achieve agricultural
preservation t oug
3.1 implementing agricultural area zoning that n~ain~ainuinguuuuuuumaintains large
minimum lot sizes in agricultural areas,uuuuuprohuibitionuuuuofuuuuconyersuionuuutouuuunon
farm uses and urban scale development, and flexible approaches such as
c usterin~;
3.2 buffering agricultural areas from urban development;
3.3 avoiding location of major new roads or capacity expansions in c~~;~~i~~g
agricultural z;~nil g dis~~i~t~areas unless access management is controlled to
.inhibit intrusion ofnon-farming uses;
3.4 purchase of development rights;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 21
3.5 transfer of development rights within the jurisdiction, including the
designation of receiving zones for agricultural development rights and
between jurisdictions, including the designation of receiving zones by local
agreement;
3.6 lease of development rights for a term of years;
3.7 "anti-nuisance" laws to protect agricultural activities from being defined as a
public nuisance;
3.8 preferential tax treatment ("use value assessment");
3.9 other innovative techniques including, but not limited to, purchase-leaseback
through issuance of bonds, university purchase for research, and prevention
of the formation of improvement districts or the creation of benefit
assessments within designated agricultural preservation areas.;
J.1 0 ~llv~v~nr+ ~~v rn1n+r~iv~r~~i~i+~T n~ ~arnrrv~rl+o~ ronnllrna ~r~v~~n ~n r~n+ nnv~~ror~ +~ona 1 ~u~~Vl~ ~ll~ ~u.~~u,llluvlll~y V1 u~~l~llc.~wu 1~,~VUlv~ lc.~ilu,~. 1~V 11V~ vVllv~l~
~ll~.~~
'gnus to eth°r us°s.reduced fee structure for agricultural related permitting,
and, [See the Natural Resource Policy 5.10.]
4. The County, and each municipality in the County that chooses to designate
agricultural lands., shall yaddress the effect of a~l~;~~~m~~rilit°u ue ~1eloNment i i some
agricultural °as practices on non-point source pollution and ground-water impacts
including the use of "best management practices" to reduce pesticides and fertilizers,
and minimize risk to human health and the environmentba eu- upon s~ tieu viitvc~i
ra~n~o~ ~n ~~v r~rv~nmlv~nv~~ nrrrlnll~~llrn~ llrar 1V1(,L~VI.I LV 1.11V rJ1~l.LV111111(.L11L (.L~11trl,lll.l.L1(.Ll l.l~.7V~J.
4.1 maintenance of surface water drainage networks to provide agricultural
surface water drainage and avoid draining of water from high density
residential areas to agricultural lands.
5. The County, and each municipality in the County that chooses to desi~nateuuuuuhal~
u~~r°ss th° effect of agricultural pi~ctices on 1Vn ~Vlnt sV41144 pV114L+1,1Vn 1n.11 u ~1V41 1L1
VY1~n.L+l.e1 impactslands shall work to:
Sx. l xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxprotectxxa~grculturalxxxxxxareasxxxfromxxxencroxachmentxxxbyxxxxincompxatxiblexxxusesx;
5.2 encourage related development such as farmers markets and roadside stands;
and
5.3 protect smaller-sized agricultural parcels which are not individually viable
for agricultural production but, which are within a lame area of more viable
parcuel suuushoulduubueuuuconsuidereduuuforuuude signatuion.
~ ..............................The......County......~n~.....e%aEh.....n~un%i~ip~l%ity......in......~h~.....C~un~y.~.......shad......extend......th~......ag~i~u~tur~l
vin ~nlAn ~n nnrl+~nr~n zx1~+ lY1 nv~ nr n ~nnAr~~ +n nrrr~rnl ~llrn ~rAnAr~m+lnr~ nrAnc+ ~v~ nr Ar {~1V11V1`+~,7 l.V 1Vtr(.L~1V11~,7 YY1~11111 lAll\.l( Vl IAIAJ(A\r`+11~ l.V 1A~11tr4t1~LL11.L1
~.11V~,7`+1 VI.Ll.1V11 lAl~(A.iJ 111 Vl~.l\rl 1 . 1
h ~ Y11^n~An~ C+11(~N nra7r trnm Rv1(~rn~ln~maN~ ~~1 1Nnnmr►n~1~~a 11raC• ~1N~ V.1 ~,J1Vl.`+trl. ~Jl~Ltrll (.1.1V(.L~J 11V111 V11Lr1V(.~Lr11111V111. V~' 111VV111~,J(.1.1.1V1V I.L~JVi.J,
(.~111.L
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 22
..2 ......................pr€~te~tnnr~lat~d...denv~l~pn~~nt...~uE~..as...fa~nenrs...n~a~~~ts...andnnr~ad~ide....stand~:
~:~~~~~~~~~~~~pr~t~~~~~~~a~°~r ~~~,~~d~~~gr'~ t~'~1~~~~r~~~~~~`'~~~~h~~~r~~~~~t~~~n~~~'~~~~~~'~~`~~~~1~
f~r~ agi~~l tur~~ ~pr;~du~t~~~ ~u~;~;~~h~~mta~~ ~~~~~~~t~~~~~~ ~~v~i th~ ~th~rm~~a~~~
c+i~o~ r►nrna~r iY► +~a reran ~nirv ~nNrY +orm rnrYr►i~;nnr►na ~nr nnrirni~+iirn~ rJ1L~~.l.l ~JC.L1tr~1~J 111 lll\✓ c.Ll~(.L, 11c.LYtr 1V11~ l,trllll rJ1~11111~rc.L11\r~ 1V1 c.L~11Vl.Lll,l.l1(.Ll
pry„ xuct~~~:
6. The County, and each municipality in the County choosing to designate agricultural
lands, shall address the conversion of agricultural land from agricultural to non-
agricultural use by:
6.1 establishing criteria for zoning changes and comprehensive plan
amendments;
6.2 establishing legal and financial mechanisms so that property owners realize
economic value that would have accrued from conversion, but land remains
in agricultural use if within UGAs.
7 T~a ~n>>r~+~r nvv~ onn~ m»r►iniv~n~i+~r ivv +~o ~n>>v~+~r c+~n~~ i~orv+i~r n~trin»~+>>rn~ ~nv~~n 111 ~,~ullcy, ullu ~uvll 111u111.,1Null~y 111 ~ll~ ~,VUllcy, ~llull lu~llclly u~llvulculul
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~llu 111V,1~
rcrn~„n+;~ra nnr;n„1+„rr~l lam,-„fin +l-,v 1~~,~r «rl-,;nh ror~ro +l-,o ,ti,nn+ ;,ti„-,nr+~~+ Nl~u~~~lv~ c~~ll~~l~ul~l 1~11.,~,~ ~llu ~ll~ 1~11.,~,~ YY111~11 ,~~1 v~ ~ll~ 111~,~~ 1111NV1~c~11~
nnr;n„1+„r~l ,-,,,r,~nronl h~r~ ~~ll~~l~ul~l N~1N~~~.~~ ~y .
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ul ~~11 ~1 V v v ill
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~1
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7 nnrvrn~~+ir~rr ~~ri+~ nrv~ ir~~rn~~rirvrr n«rr~Arn n~nr~rin>>~+>>rn~ ~nr~~n J ~ V 11~.J l,l l l 111 V V l l l l 1,111,1 111 V V 1 V 111 V V V 11~ 1 ~.J V 1 c,1 ~11 V l,l l ~ l,ll l,l
1 1 c,1llll ~J .
X I NA11111'1+~7 r]Y1!'1 Ar]nN W171N1n1V1~1~1+~r 1Y1 +NA 1 1~71N+~7 CrN~l~l 1!'IAY1+1 t[7 r](Trlnlll+llrr]I Ir]Y1~Cr 111 ~,~ull~y, ~llu ~~.,11 111u111~1N~111y 111 111., ~,VUll~y , ,~11~11
lu~ll~ll~ ~~ll~ul~ulc~l lc~ll..l,~
+~n+ ~rA rvn+ ~~rA~~~r n~nr~n+Ari~A~ ~~r >>r~nr~ rrrn~~rf~ nr~~ +~n+ ~r]~TA ~nrtr~ +Arm ~11u 1. ul v llv ~ call vuu~ vllul uv wl lc~vu v~ ul vull ~1 v v v 1.11 ullu ~llu c llu v v lvll~
wl 111
nirrr~i~nnr~nA ~nr +~A nnmmArni~~ r~rn~>>n+inr~ n~ ~nn~ nr n+~Ar nr~rin>>~+>>rn~ r~rn~»n+n ,r~7l~~~lyu`117~~11~~ (~1~1 ~ll(~ ~vVllvlill~l~l~1l Nl~u~~~l~ll ~1 l~~u Vl ~1 ~ll~l 1~~11~~1~~1~1
N1VU~~~.~
I-ll \~l a~ ~1 I ~ ~ ~1 I~~ 1~~] 1~ ~~r !'IA~7A~/11'11Y11T Cr+r]N~~]r~Cr ~]Yl!'I 11Y1!'IA1^~r]~T1Y117 r] ~r]Y1~ 11CrA ~1~~ yr .~v. i v~ 1.1 i v~l~~u~~ v~ uvvvlv~lll~ u~c.111uu1u.~ uilu
u11uv1~c.11~111~ c,1 lullu uw
rn Sri rA~ r ~ulvvy.
The County, and each municipality in the County choosing to designate agricultural
lands, shall ensure that prime agricultural lands presently in the unincorporated
County or within a municipality are preserved and protected by the enactment of
appropriate land use controls; or by including the land in the UGA boundary of a
municipality only if the municipality has delineated standards and criteria relating to
preserving the agricultural lands, and transfer and purchase of development right
programs.
y?~~8. The County, and each municipality in the County choosing to designate agricultural
lands., shall coordinate agricultural land preservation policies with other Countywide
Planning Policies through:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 23
n~n~8.3 correlating agricultural land preservation policies with UGA policies and
with public facility and service provision policies to avoid the extension of
urban services to areas intended for continued agricultural use;
i ~R8.4 ensuring that public facility and service extensions., even if not directly
serving the agricultural lands, do not stimulate the conversion of agricultural
land or make its preservation and protection more difficult~~ and
%~%~8.5 joint jurisdictional planning of agricultural land.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 24
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington State Growth Management Act mandates ~ ~ °N+~ ~ ° ~ n ~ ~ N' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ g gn n ~ ~n
11 11 11 1\.L\r11L111\r~J (A i,7 (.l 1(dlllllll V(,Ll ~V fSl_ll/YA _'fNp /Y_ASIA~_l1Y1YY]AY1~ _~]_Y1~ _~]_~f1Y1'ft/lYl___Clt !~!]Y]'fY1]^A~AY1C71SZp 11~_F]Y]C+ r7Y1~ ~°S7°~n1'1ri'1°Yl+
1^°lTll~r]~1nYl(7 .........1.~1~.~.......~11V.......~.~...~.v~..~,........~ 1~~~L 1 ~......~~.~.~......~l.l~.........~~.~;.1.~......~;.......~.~.~ ~.1...... ~..~1 ~ V l li.~l....~..v
..............loll.~......~ll~......~v...~...~.~.v........~11 V 11.~......~..v..........l.lL ~l~l li.~....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ that counties and cities encourage economic development throughout the state that is
consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all citizens
of the state, especially for unemployed and disadvantaged persons, promote the retention
and expansion of existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses, recognize regional
dnfferences.nimpactn~nneconomic.ndeyelopmentnnopportunitnies,nnand encourage growth in areas
experiencing insufficient economic growth, all within the capacities of the state's natural
resources, public services, and public facilities [RCW 36.70A.020(5)]. Additionally, the
Growth Management Act expressly requires that the County adopt a planning policy on
countywide economic development and employment [RCW 36.70A.210(3)(g)].
■ VISION 2040 Multicount_y Planning Policies
VISION 2040 reco nizes that a robust econom is rote ral to our environmental, social, and
financial well-being. It acknowledges that a healthy and diverse economy is vital for paying
for ublic services su ortin arts and cultural institutions and buildin our communities. .................p...................................................................~..............~p.........
.............g.............................................................................................................................................~...........................................
.................g.........................................................................................,
The multicounty planning policies for economic development in VISION 2040 are
organized around the topics of business, people, and places. An emphasis is placed on
enriching..the..region'xsxxxbusinesses.Hand.xempxloyment.xmarket throughx.~obx xretenton,xxgrowth,
and diversification. Importance is also placed on small and locally owned businesses,
because they create jobs, can offer family-wade jobs, and make vital contributions to the
sustainablli of the re ion's econom and ros eri VISION 2040 reco nizes the
region's economic well-being is also depended upon the safe and reliable movement of
eo le oods and services and information and includes rovisions for rioritizin ...........p.........~.......~ ..........................................................................................
.....~...........................................................................................................................................................................p.....................
....................................................p..........................................~
economic development and transportation funding to centers.
■ Countywide Planning Policy
1. The County, and each municipality in the County, will worknntonnnnacheyennnannnprospernin~g
and sustainable regional economy by supporting business and job creation, investing
in all eo le sustainin environmental ualit and creatin reat central laces Y ..............p.....p....~.......................g...................................q..........~. ~.......................
.....g...g...........................p............
diverse communities, and high quality of life. This will involve assuring
consistency between economic development policies and adopted comprehensive
plans by:
1.1 considering the future development of commercial and industrial facilities
X36.70An.2n1n0(3n).(g).]...........and...........creating in the land use element of each
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 25
comprehensive plan a designation of areas for "commerce" and "industry"
[RCw 3 6.70A.070(1)];
1.2 providing within the areas designated for urban development, sufficient land
to accommodate projected development v~~ithi i u mull,°t-baseu syst°m;
1.3 designating and zoning large tracts of developable~Npi oNriute land equitably
distributed throughout the various jurisdictions based on the related
population, employment base and land areas of the jurisdiction for planned
commercial and industrial centers;
1.3.1. "Equitably," means with consideration for:: the population and its
characteristics, including the skills of the current population; the
current employment base and its characteristics (i. e. , type of
businesses and industries, permanency of the existing employment
base, past trends,... and current projections); the amount of land in the
jurisdiction; the amount of vacant land in the jurisdiction
appropriately zoned for economic development; the current
unemployment rate; current commuting patterns; and.,, others, factors
as appropriate.
1.4 providing adequate public facilities and services to reauuudosignated uf~r
em o ment centers an an a e uate su y o LLlJlllli111L UL V Lill 11iLI1L .
housing with good access to employment centers. ~MPP-Ec-20~
1.5 separating, buffering, or leaving natural buffers between residential
development and areas of economic development where ~tuuiu~u=necessary due
to the type, characteristics,... and impacts of the economic development
actlVlty;
1.6 developing and adopting standards at the municipal level to guide
commercial and industrial development in aN~~', ' i',° setting that is
appropriately landscaped;
1.7 evaluating federal, state, and local regulatory, taxing, facility financing,,, and
expenditure practices uanduuthenuuumakinguuuchanguesuuuto assure that theseuuupractuicues
y. favor economic development at appropriate locations.
1.8 levera in the re ion's osition as an international atewa b su ortin ........~....g.................g .............P................... ..................................g............Y.....~'.....
...PP
businesses, ports, and agencies involved in trade-related activities [MPP-Ec-
4].
1.9 encoura~in~ the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to incorporate
envuironmentaluuuanduusocuialuuresponsibuiluityuuuuintouutheuiruupracticeus ~MPP-Ec-7~]u.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 26
1.10 maximizing the use of existing designated manufacturing and industrial
centersnnnbynnnfocusnin~gnnnnappropriatenntypnesnnnandnnnamountsnnnof nnemploymentnn~gronwthnnnnin
these areas and by protecting them from incompatible adjacent uses. ~MPP-
Ec-191,
2. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall promote diverse economic
opportunities for all citizens of the County, especially the unemployed,
disadvantaged persons, minorities,,, and small businesses. The following
measures may be used in accomplishing this policy, where appropriate:
~MPP xEc xxlx2
2.1 determining a reasonable "jobs/housing" balance and thennncoordinating land
use and development policies to help achieve the designated balance of
adequate affordable housing acceussuibleuuutouuu i°ai employment centers;
2.2 identifying urban land suitable for the accommodation of a wide range of
non-residential development activities;
2.3 utilizing state :and/or federal programs and financial assistance to the
maximum extent appropratepossible;
2.4 encouraging redevelopment of underutuilizeddL~l~jling commercial areas;
2.5 encouraging flexibility in local zoning and land use controls in order to
permit a variety of economic uses, but doing xxxso xxxwithout sacrificing
sound n~c~u~sa~~ design and development standards;
2.6 encouraging programs, in conjunction with other public, quasi-public and
private entities, in order to attract desir~b~le o~uuappropriate businesses and
industriuesy,,uuuuuuuupuarticuluarlyuuuuuuuthoseuuuuuuuuthatuuuuuuuduiyersiuuuu the economic base and/or
provide family-wade j obs;
2.7 to th° e ,t°nt possi'~'°, encouraging the location of economic development
activities in areas served by public transit and adequate transportation
facilities;
2.8 maintaining and enhancing natural resource-based industries, including
productive timber, agriculture, fishing;,,, and mining;;uuu~MPPu-Ecu-22~
2.9 co~l~ct~vel~T%~targeting the appropriate creation and retention of specific firms
and industries within in' Dui ng sm '~~si Hess °Ntel {~111~J`r~J,
established and emer~in~ industry clusters that export foods and services,
importuuucuapital,uuuanduuhaye growth potentialu.u ~MPP-Ec-3~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 27
2.10 promoting educational, job training, and cultural opportunities, particularly
fornnnthosnennnfacnin~gnnnuniquennnnobstaclensnnnnand/ornnnthosennnwithnnnnspnecninalnnnneends;nnnn~MPPn-Ecn-
10 and l l~
2.11 providing opportunities and locations for incubator industries.
2.12 fosterin a su ortive environment for business startu s small businesses g.. .....pp..................................................................
and locally owned businesses to help them continue to prosper. ~MPP-Ec-51
3. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall encourage economic
development in areas in which there are nsuffcientisnnnnnnnnannnnnnnnim~~~nan~~nnnnnnnbet~~~e~n
av ail~.b~~ employment opportunities fora nd the local population base by:
3.1 considering tar~eteduuuuuudevelopment incentives foi e onomi de ~relopm°nt;
~MPP Ec-12
3.2 marketing development opportunities i n sly ~v grov ~h areas.
4. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall take the following steps to
ensure that economic growth remains within the capacities of the state's natural
resources, public services,.. and public facilities:
4.1 identifying existing and future demand for services; ~MPP-Ec-151
4.2 encouraging the location of economic development act~v~tiesuuwithin UGAs;
4.3 limiting incompatible economic development activities in or adjacent to
designated natural resource lands and critical areas and/or buuurequiring
adequate buffers between economic development pro~uects ~cti Y~ities and
designated natural resource lands and critical areas,... and by ensuring that
economic development activities occur in areas with adequate public
facilities.
5. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall plan for sufficient economic
growth and development to ensure an appropriate balance of land uses which will
produce =auuuuuusound financial positionspo~s~ure given the fiscal/economic costs and
benefits derived from different land uses by:
5.1 e%insuring that the land use element of each Comprehensive Plan allows for
an appropriate mix and balance of uses;
5.2 reducing inefficient,: sprawluing development patterns;
5.3 reducing transportation demand;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 28
5.4 coordinating the provision of public facilities and services and/or einsuring
that new development supports the cost of public facility and service
expansions made necessary by such development;
5.5 promoting development in areas with existing available pubacnnnnfacility
capacity;
5.6 encouraging joint public/private development as appropriate.
Sx.7xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcxoncentratingxxxaxxxsxi~gnif cantxxxamountxxxof xeconomxicxxx~groxwthxxxxinxxdesxignatedxxxcxenters
5.8 ensuring the efficient flow of people, goods, services, and information in and
through n the n n n re~nonn n n nwnith n n infrastructure investments particularly n n n nn n n n and
connecting designated centers.
6. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall work to strengthen existing
businesses and industries ,andxxxxto add to the diversity of economic opportunity and
employment by:
6.1 promoting infill development to assist in maintaining a viable market for
existing businesses;
6.2 utilizing redevelopment or other public financing mechanismste ~ limes,
where appropriate, to maintain existing businesses;
6.3 making available information, technical assistance and loans for business
expansion and j ob creation;
6.4 protecting existing viable businesses~c~n~n~ui~uud~~~~~l~p~n~entu~u~~acti~~itieus from
incompatible neighbors;
6.5 streamlining permit processing;
6.6 striving to maintain adequate public facilities and service levels;
6.7 evaluating regulatory and other constraints to ~ontinueu business operations
and devising an appropriate plan to minimize the effect of such constraints:...;
6.8 supporting the contributions of the region's culturally and ethnically diverse
communities in helping the region continue to expand its international
economy;
~.l 1~1'~~llking~~l.~J~ V11~~rV ~~llat~~l~l~~l~gl~~ ~ V~~1ll~l'll~~ ~~rV ~pi%~~~~h1~~U'~~gll'
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 29
6.fin~nfl9 in rural areas promoting compatible occupations (such as, but not limited to,
..........wwwwwwwww......wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww~ .................................wwww~..........................~.........................................................~.............
..........................Y................................................................................................................................... tourism cottagennnnandnnnnhomen-bnasnedn
nnnbusinensses and local services that do not
conflict with rural character and resource-based land uses, but provides
needed employmentuun cuitesuuinutheuururaluareas andN[see MPP-Ec-21]
6.n~nn~xnl 0 _nn rural and natural resourcennareasnnsupportnng economic activity n~~..r~r~~nn
1(,Lhldl(A1 1\r~JVl~L1V4 ul°~S at a size and scale that is com atible with the lon g-
term integrity and productivity of these lands. [see MPP-Ec-22]
The County, and each municipality in the County, shall provide both the private
sector and the public sector with information necessary to support and promote
economic development by:
7.1 coordinating the collection and dissemination of information with various
local governments;
7.2 cooperating with private and quasi-private entities and sharing information to
attract new industries.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 30
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON EDUCATION
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington State Growth Management Act does not identify education as a planning
goal to guide the development and adoption of comprehensive plans and development
regulations. Neither is education listed as a planning policy requirement in the Growth
Management Act. However, the list of topics identified in the Growth Management Act is
intended to delineate only the minimum policy requirements. Education was identified as
an additional policy area in the Interlocal Agreement: "Framework Agreement for the
Adoption of the Countywide Planning Policy (Pierce County Council Resolution No. R91-
172, September 24,1991)'.'.
■ VISION 2040 _ultcount~ _Plannn~ _Polces
VISION 2040 contains olicies related to education obtainment services and the shin of p................................................................................................................
................................................................................. g..............
education facilities. It calls for ensuring accessible and high quality education and skills-
trainin~ programs to all of the region's residents and integrates the provision of education
facilities and services with care for the environment. VISION addresses the rovision of
educational facilities and services that are provided to both urban and rural populations by
callin for the shin of schools institutions and other communi facilities that rimaril ..........................g..............................................................g.......................
................................~...........................................................~......................................................................................................'...
.....................................................................p.................................y,
serve urban populations within the urban growth area in locations where they will promote
the local desired growth plans. It also calls for locating schools, institutions, and other
communit facilities servin rural residents in nei hborin cities and towns and desi n these .......................y................................. g............................................g....
..........g......................................................g................
facilities in keeping with the size and scale of the local community.
■ Countywide Planning Policy
l . "Educational Facilities," means%~ne~u~es%%%~all public and private educational facilities,
including, but not limited to, kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools,
junior high schools, high schools, junior colleges, colleges, academies, and similar
institutions.
2. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall strive to achieve excellence
in education and to offer diverse educational opportunities to be made available to
all residents of the County, cities,... and towns by:
2.1 developing a broad tax base;
2.2 encouraging citizen participation;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 31
2.3 encouraging coordination between educational and employment
requirements.
2.4 working to ensure that the region has high quality and accessible training
programs that n~iyennpeoplnennopportuntiesntonnlearn maintain and u~~rade nsknlls
necessary to meet the current and forecast needs of the _re~ional and__~lobal
economy. ~MPPu-Ecu-9uuuanduuuluu0u~
3. The County, and each municipality the County, shall coordinate with other
institutions or governmental entities responsible for providing educational services,
in orderuto ensure the provision of educational facilities alonguuwith other necessary
public facilities and services and alongnnwith established and planned growth patterns
through:
3.1 the capital facilities plan element;
3.2 the land use element;
3.3 school site location decisions;
3.4 coordination and, if necessary, formal interlocal agreements between school
districts and other governmental entities exercising land use planning,
regulation,. and capital improvement planning functions;
3.5 the possible use of impact fees, voluntary advancements:,; and other
regulatory requirements for a portion of school facility financing;
3.6 encouragnineme nt of joint (municipal/school district) use of playgrounds,
parks, open-spaces and recreational facilities;
3.7 supporting for sufficient funding of educational facilities and services;
3.8 supporting for the provision of educational facilities and services to meet
specialized needs.
4. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall ~.uuress t'~° issu° of the
n~ultiplui~u~tyuu~fcoordinate with school districts by:
4.1 incorporating school facility location criteria, developed in conjunction with
the local school district, in the local comprehensive plan;
4.2 including school districts in the comprehensive planning process;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 32
4.3 developing a common base of data and sharing the data with school districts
concerning population, household, and school-age population projections,
non-educational capital facility needs, and land uses;
4.4 initiating dialogues with school districts about school district boundaries and
service areas in relation to municipal boundaries, designated UGAs,
annexation plans;,, and service extension plans and policies.
5. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall determine specific siting
requirements for all public and private educational facilities and shall meet specific
educational facility needs by:
5.1 locating schools innn nannnnnmannernnn that nnnnsnn nnconsistently with the local
comprehensive plan, including the capital facilities element;
5.2 deciding all facility locations, types.,. and sizes with consideration for the
provision of other necessary public facilities and services and the
compatibility and effect of the provision of such facilities on land use and
development patterns., and
5.3 prioritizing the location of these facilities to be in urban areas.:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 33
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UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 34
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON
FISCAL IMPACT
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington ;Stateuu„Growth Management Act requires that the Countywide Planning
Policies address "an th~~analysis of fiscal impact" [RCW 36.70A.210(3)(h)]. However, the
legislature did not define the scope of the required fiscal impact analysis to%%be %a~~res%sc~..~n
~1-,o r~„,~~7«,;,aa pl~,~~;,~n pn~~n~nc+ Durin the le islative roceedin s a number of ~11V VVI,►lll.~' VV1\,LV 1 1(,Llllllll~ 1 V11V1VJ. g g p g
alternatives were discussed, ranging from fiscal ,,,,,analysis of the policies themselves, fiscal
analysis of the comprehensive plans and implementing regulations, uscaluuuanalysis of
governmental decisions affecting jurisdictional responsibilities and/or boundariesn, and fiscal
analysis of significant public and private development projects. From these alternatives, the
County, and each municipality, has determined that atuutheuuuCount~wdeuuuuPlanninguuuPuoluic~uuulevel,
fiscal impact analysis will be required only for governmental decisions affecting
jurisdictional responsibilities and/or boundaries and significant public and private
development projects.
■ Countyywide Planning Policy
1. The purposes of fiscal impact analysis are to assess the relative costs of providing
public facilities and services; with the public revenues that will be derived from~~u,
a) decisions affecting jurisdictional responsibilities and/or boundaries and (2b)
significant public and private development projects.
2. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall use the results of any
reuquireudth~ fiscal impact analysis as one of the factors in determining acceptance,
modification, or rejection of the proposal/project.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 35
[PAGE LEFT BLANK]
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 36
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON
HISTORIC, ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington State Growth Management Act mandates iu~ ntfiv~...a~...u~~l~~ ~~~n g~~goal...to.
gui~~%the.%~~vel~pn~~nt..an~..a~~pti~n..~f %o~n~preh~ns%ive%%p~an~..and%.~~~~~~l~pn~ent..r~g~~la~ion
that counties and cities identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites and structures,
that have historical or archaeological significance. [RCW 36.70A.020(13)]. The term
"significance" is not definedn, However,:....alth~ugh.... it is well-recognized that the federal and
state governments have programs that have been in operation for some time by which land,
sites, structures and districts of national significance ~r~~!~r..may be placed on the National
Register of Historic Places and land, sites;,, and structures of state significance ~~.~e!ol may be
placed on the State Register of Historic Places. Certain cities, including Tacoma, have
adopted local programs to designate land, sites and structures of local significance.
Although the Growth Management Act ,does A n~en~me nts not require a countywide
planning policy on historic, archaeological and cultural preservation, that requirement was
added by the Interlocal Agreement::...... '.'Framework Agreement for the Adoption of the
Countywide Planning Policy (Pierce County Council Resolution No. R91-172, September
24,1991'.'.).
■ VISION 2040 Multicount_y Planning Policies
VISION 2040 romotes the reservation of si nificant visual and cultural resources ..................................p..............................p....................................
~
including public views, landmarks and cultural landscapes, and areas of special interest, in
addition to historic and archeological resources. VISION 2040 also contains policies that
romote urban desi n techni ues to reserve these assets in reco ninon of the economic
value of sense of place.
■ Countywide Planning Policy
1. The County, and each municipality in the County, utilizing applicable federal, state,,,
and local designations, if relevant, (and where appropriate in cooperation with the
Indian tribes) shall identify the presence of federal, stater, and local historic,
archaeological and cultural lands, sites,, and structures; of significance within their
our arses.
2. The County, and each municipality in the County may, utilizing County standards or
locally-developed standards, identify and designate local historic, archaeological and
cultural lands, sites,,, and structures of significance within their boundaries.
2.1 Recommendations for local designations may be made by any person or
entity or by any municipality or governmental body.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 37
2.2 The municipality may designate an individual, commission or committee to
be responsible for review of recommendations and to forward such
recommendations on uto the legislative body.
2.3 Designations shall only be made by the local legislative body if the land, site.,.
or structure has only local significance.
2.4 All such designations shall be reflected in the land use element of the
compre ensive p an.
2.5 Any municipality may request that the County's Landmarks Commission
and/or staff provide assistance in designating land, sites, or structures; if
sought, such assistance may be provided pursuant to an interlocal agreement.
2.6 Preservation of significant lands, sites,... and structures shall be encouraged or
accomplished by the County, and each municipality in the County, through
any one or a combination of the following techniques, as determined to be
appropriate by the local legislative body:
2.6.1 designation;
2.6.2 incentives for preservation;
2.6.3 loans and grants;
2.6.4 public purchase;
2.6.5 `non-development.'. easement;
2.6.6 development rights transfer;
2.6.7 restrictive covenants;
2.6.8 regulations for protection, maintenance, and :approval uof
appropriate development;
2.6.9 plans/policies/standards for preservation as set by the U.S.
Department of the Interior.
2.7 The County, and each municipality in the County, may utilize one or more of
the following criteria.,.. or others as maybe determined,xtoxbexapproprxate, to
make designation decisions for recommended lands, sites or structures:
2.7.1 archaeological, historic=,, or cultural "significance;"
2.7.2 condition;
2.7.3 uniqueness;
2.7.4 accessibility;
2.7.5 cost/benefit;
2.7.6 extent to which land, site..,; or structure is undisturbed;
2.7.7 presence of incompatible land uses or activities;
2.7.8 presence of environmental, health,: or safety hazards;
2.7.9 tourism potential;
2.7.10 educational value;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 38
2.7.11 consent of owner.
2.8 The legislative body of the County, and each municipality in the County,
may utilize one or more of the following criteria,, or others as maybe
determinedntonnbennap~roprate, to make a de-designation decision:
2.8.1 error inhistorical/archaeological/cultural research for the
original designation;
2.8.2 economic hardship for the owner leaving no reasonable use
of the land, site, or structure;
2.8.3 deterioration of lands, site,,,. or structure;
2.8.4 discovery of other (better) examples of lands, sites, or
structures;
2.8.5 presence of land, site,.. or structure on state or federal
registers.
3. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall encourage public education
programs regarding historic, archaeological,, and cultural lands, sites:,, and structures
as a means of raising public awareness of the value of maintaining those resources.
4. Utilize urban desi n strate ies and a roaches to ensure that chan es to the built
environment preserve and enhance the region's unique attributes and each
cyommunuit~'suuuudistuinctuiveuuuuidentuit~uuuuinuuurecognituionuuofutheuuueconomcyuuvalueuuuofuusuenseuuuof
place. see MPP-Ec-161
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 39
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UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 40
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON
NATURAL RESOURCES, OPEN SPACE, A~`;n PROTECTION
OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE LANDS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington State Growth Management Act identifies the following as planning goals:
(.L) maintain and enhance natural resource-based industries, including productive timber,
agricultural and fisheries industriesxxxx~RCVVxxx 3xx6x.7x0A.x02xOx(8x)],; (2) encourage the conservation
of productive forest lands and productive agricultural lands, and discourage incompatible
uses [RCW 36.70A.020(8)]; (3rz~ 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 [RCW 36.70A.020(9)]; and.,. (4 protect the
environment and enhance the state's high quality of life, including air and water quality, and
the availability of water [RCW 3 6.70A.020(10)] . ,1L".~ ugh these goals a~ e stateu
in~%~vi~u~~ly;%%%%%%the degree of interconnectedness between these ~oalsthen~ leads to the
development of a single, comprehensive planning policy. Although the Growth
Management Act does not expressly require a countywide planning policy on natural
resources, open space,, and protection of environmentally sensitive lands, the addition of
such a policy was specifically identified in the Pierce County Interlocal Agreement:
`.`Framework Agreement for the Adoption of the Countywide Planning Policy (Pierce
County Council Resolution No. R-91-172, September 24,1991);".
■ VISIONn204nOnnMulticount~nnPlannnin~ Policiies
VISION 2040 acknowledges that certain development patterns and practices have dammed and
threaten to further disrupt the region's ecosystems. It recognizes that while some impacts are
irreversible the re ion can curb ollution Chan e land use and trans ortation atterns and better ........................~.............~..........................P................~............~.......
................................~.................~....................................
managexxxxwastexxtoxxxprotectxxxkeyxxxexcolo~gicxalxxfunctonsxxxandxxhelpxxrestorexxxthexxxenvxironment.
VISION 2040 stresses the ecological, economic, and health benefits of preserving and restoring
our natural environment. The multicounty planning policies in VISION 2040 have been
developed around the theme of environmental stewardship and sustainability. This is further
ex ressed in VISION 2040's theme of eo le ros exit and lanet. This theme reco nizes the ~Y.......................~.....................................................................................
.............................................................,
imponrtantnrelatonshpnbetween ournncommuntinesnnnourneconom~,n andn onurnnenvronmentn _ _ _
VISION 2040 acknowled es that atmos heric ollution threatens to alter the wa the natural
environment functions and to affect human health and well-being. It recognizes that the
avera e annual tem eratures are alread risin in the Pacific Northwest and that reduced ..........................g................................................................. P..................
..........................................................................~'..........................g................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................,
snowpack and earlier springy runoffs could result in increasing water shortages and drought
conditions. VISION 2040's commitment to sustainable growth, clean transportation, and
environmentally friendly, develo ment ractices will hel reduce reenhouse as emissions .................................~..................~.................p............P.............................
....P...................~........................g............................
and create healthier communities.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 41
VISION 2040 also provides guidance for reducing greenhouse has emissions and planning
x.................................. for various im acts caused b climate chan e. Included is an overarchin oal that calls for
P.................................................................~'..................................................................g................................................................
........................................................................~....g................................................................................ reducing pollutants which
contribute to climate change. Multicounty planning policies
commit the region to comply with recent state directives re~ardin~ the reduction of
reenhouse ases and call on 'urisdictions and a encies to include an anal sis of climate
chan~e_ impacts. when performing environmental review under the State Environmental
Polic Act. Additional rovisions call for reducin the rate of ener use er ca ita and .....................P .....................................................g....................................gy
............P.............................
developing new enemy management technology as part of meeting the region's enemy
needs.
■ Countyywide Planning Policy
1. The following governmental entities shall act in a coordinated manneriP~ to identify,
designateu, and conserve resources; and touuuprotect open space and environmentally
sensitive landsnM~see MPP-En-1 ]
1.1 The State [RCW 36.70A.050(1)];
1.2 The County;
1.3 Municipalities;
1.4 Special Purpose Districts and entities;
1.5 The Puget Sound Regional Council and Regional Authorities (Puget Sound
Clean Air P~l~u~i~ ~C~n~r~~ Agency, Regional Transportation Planning
Organization et a~;
1.6 The Federal government;
1.7 Tribal governments;
1.8 Public utilities.
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!~~at~dr~l~ r~~.~~;'dr~~~~~~~~hal~~~~~~fin~d~ ~~€;r~ ~h~~~~.~~~.~ ~:;~~th~~~~~1~~~~~ t€;~~n~l~,
m~r~Arn~ rAn~iirnAn nr~~ m~v~Ar~~ ~~r~~n v~r~~iin~~~rA +~m~Ar ~nv~~n ~in~Ar~An 111111`+1l.Ll 1`+~JVldltrV~ (.1.111.L 111111V1(.Ll 1(.L11~.Li.J, NlVU~,ttrLlV`+ l.llllVV1 lullu~, ullu
11~J11V11Vi.J
°~ndutr~e°:
[RENUMBER SUBSEQUENT POLICIES]
2. Countywide natural resources identified and designated pursuant to this Policy shall
be maintained and enhanced through one or more of the following means:
2.9 conservation;
2.10 conservation combined with planned use;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 42
2.11 planned use;
2.12 enhancement;
2.13 education;
2.14 preservation;
2.15 purchase/acquisition;
2.16 regulatory approaches; and
2.17 compensable approaches.
3. The governmental entities specified in subpolicy 1 shall work cooperatively and
consistently with each other to achieve this Policy through:
3.1 identifying, designating, maintaining, conserving, enhancing;,,, and/or
protecting, as appropriate, natural resources through theuadoption of specific
elements in the county and municipal comprehensive plans;
3.2 developing appropriate implementation strategies and regulations;
3.3 adopting local capital improvement programs designed to achieve the
obj ectives of this Policy;
3.4 coordinating standards and criteria between the programs of the
governmental entities specified in subpolicy 1, including where necessary
the use ofinter-governmental agreements, so as to be consistent with the
obj ectives of this Policy:u;
3.5 using integrated and interdisciplinary approaches for environmental
planning.xandxxassessment;xxxandxxxx~seexxxMPP En 2~
3.6 using the best information available at all levels of planning, especially
scientific information when establishin~nnnandnnnnimnlementninnnnnenynironmental
standards established by the local, state, or federal any...le~vel...ofu~overnment
see uMPP En u6~
4. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall consider the following
regar ing natura resources:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 43
4.1 placing a primary emphasis on maintaining, enhancing, conserving,, and/or
protecting, as appropriate, designated and identified natural resources
including lands of local, county,,,, and statewide significance; MPP-DP-31 ~
4.2 developing and applying criteria for limitn~d development, if allowed, so
as to maintain, enhance,., and conserve identified and designated important,
productive or economically viable natural resources or natural resource
based industries;
4.3 ensuring the provision of buffers to protect environmentally sensitive lands
where economic use of natural resource lands will cause adverse impacts;
4.4 adopting a "no net loss" approach where applicable;
4.5 utilizing positive incentives to ensure conservation over time;
4.6 utilizing transfer of development rights, purchase of development rights,
conservation easements• or other e~~ble, ~lust~re,~~-or--compensable
raga' ato~y~Napproaches (see CPP for Agricultural Lands);
4.7 educating of all segments of the community concerning the importance of
these Policy objectives;
4.8 emphasizing the prevention of air and water quality degradation:N
4.9 xestablishxbest management practices that protectxthe long-term integrity xof
the natural environment, adj acent land uses, and the long-term productivity
of resource lands see MPP-DP-30~;
4.10 support the sustainability of designated resource lands. Conversion of lands
touuuotheruuusesuuuuisuuustronglyuuuudiscoura~eduuuu~seeuuuMPPu-DPu-3uulu~uu;uuuand
4.11 ensure that resource lands and their related economic activities are not
adversely impacted by deyelopment on adjacent non-resource lands see
MPP-DP-32~.
5. Environmentally sensitive lands, for the purpose of the Policy, shall include all
designated critical areas pursuant to RCVV 36.70A.030(5) including, but not limited
to, wetlands, aquifer recharge areas, fish and wildlife habitat, geologically hazardous
lands and shall include water supply areas, shorelines, creeks, streams, lakes, rivers,
deltas, frequently flooded areas, estuaries, and unique geologic features such as
canyons. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall maintain the
following relationship between environmentally sensitive lands and development:
5.1 give priority to protection of environmentally sensitive lands;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 44
5.2 develop standards and criteria for limitingeu development, if
a owe p~rm~tt~;~ In t e County or In munlclpa compre enslve p ans;
5.3 where development is alloendNe~~i*eu, provide protection for
environmentally-sensitive lands through the provision of appropriate buffers;
5.4 adopt a "no net loss" approach;
5.5 utilize of positive incentives for conservation;
5.6 utilize ofnntransfer of development rights, purchase of development rights or
other flexible, clustered.,, or compensatory regulatory approaches;
5.7 designate environmentally sensitive lands of local, county,, and statewide
significance;
5.8 educate all segments of the community concerning the importance of these
Policy objectives.
6. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall determine the amount of
development permitted on environmentally sensitive lands according toby the nature
of the area sought to be protected;uuuanduutouuudouuuso on a case-by-case basis, in
conjunction with SEPA regulations. Enhancements toof environmentally sensitive
lands, such as parks and observation towers, may be allowed.
The County, and each municipality in the County, as well as the other governmental
entities specified in subpolicy 1 shall be incompliance with and seek to exceed
federal and state environmental quality standards where required to achieve the
obj ectives of this Policy;
8. The County, and each municipality in the County, as well as the other governmental
entities specified in subpolicy 1 shall consider policies on environmentally sensitive
lands in conjunction with other Countywide Planning Policies, including, but not
limited to, policies which address:
8.1 UGAs;
8.2 contiguous orderly development and the provision of urban services to such
development;
8.3 capital facility siting;
8.4 transportation ~on~g~s~~n~n~ana~g~n~~n~effciency
8.5 siting of transportation facilities;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 45
n8n.6nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnoperatnionsnnnandnnmaintenancennnof transportatnionnnfacnilitiesn,
9. X8.7 infill development;
~x.~,8...8 affordable housing;
~:?8.9 state and local Shoreline Master Programs;
°.~8x.x1xx0,goals and mandates of federal and state land jurisdiction agencies including
the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest
Service, the National Park Service and Tribal governments;
~:~8.11 watershed management.
9. Open space, for the purpose of this Policy shall include parks, recreation areas,
greenbelts/natural buffers, scenic and natural amenities or unique geological features
or unique resources.
10. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall develop a plan for the
provision and designation of open space considering the following:
uluu0.l environmentally sensitive lands may also include open space and/or
greenbelt areas;
x1xx0.2 open space areas are located oily within UGAs;
u10.3 open space is defined in conjunction with recreation and facilities.y;
10.4 open space and environmentally sensitive lands that create linkages across
juuruisduictionaluuubuoundariesuuuanduuucuouorduinatuionuuwithuuthesueuuuentitiesu;uuuu~seeuuuMPPu-Enu-
Mgt
10.5 encourage open space cluster design; and
10.6 encourage natural buffering as part of development design.
7 T~A I n11Y1T`T nY1~ Ann miiv»n~~n~~~T 1Y1 ~~A ~niir~+~T n~n~~ /YAC71lTN~]~A nrrrnv~r~n+A nv~Ar~ 1 L./. 1 11V V V l~tll~ Y , lAll\.L V(.~trll llll.tlllVl~.ll.Lll~ Y 111 lllV V V l~Lll~
Y , i.J111.L11 ~.LV ~J1~11(.l.l.`+ (.l.~l~ll V~1111.L1.V V~lVll
uspaceu
7 ~ ~n~~n«rinrv ~n nrrAnrmAYi~ n~~nnn~ NAAlYC+ nYi~ NnnA~ ii1'~nYi C7NA(~1t1l~ nri~Arin• 1L./. 1 1V11V VV111~ (.Lll I.L~J~J\.~.7~J111\rlll. Vl 1VVl.L1 11\rv~.L~J (.L111A VI.L~.7\✓\.l
1.L~1V11 ~.J~JVtrllltr trlll.\.111.L,
1 I ~ ~ ~n AY1l~nllN/](TA nNAY1 CrN~]/~A 1~~11(7+A1^ ~ACr1lYY1' 1L.i.1.1 ~V V11VVl~L1l.L~`+ V~l`+11 ~J~l(A.Lr`+ V14tiJl.\rl ~.1\r~Jl~ll,
~~~~:~~~:2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~urag~~nat'dr~~~b~'~~f~r~ng~.a~~pa~~~~ ~'~1~~~n~~d~~~gn,
7 7 iir►nv~ ~~A rAnnmmAr~~~~~nv~ n~+~a rYn~~Arn~v~rr ~n~~~• 1Lr.Lr l.L1JV11 l.llV 1VLrV111111V11~.L(.L~1V11 Vl ~11V ~V V\dllllll~ VV~.L~',
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 46
.~.2...3 .................~~n~uEhnnar~~s...n~~etnnthe....ab~ve...~rit~rn~a..~f ...~..~....~....end....1..2...~...~ndnnar~....~n.
y?~~~? er~~~~ ~ ~rg~ ~ar~~~
~ 3~:2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ t~oodp~a~in~
7 Z 2 iir►iniiv rac+niirnv nranr• 1 Lr . J . J l.Ll llll l.l~ 1 ~ rJ V l.ll tr ~ (.Ll V (A~.7,
.~..x..3....4 .............................................rare....and...~n~ange~~d...~pecxiexs...(plxant~anx~n~a~)...h~.bx~tat:
10. The County, and each municipality in the County, may make the following uses of
open space:
10.1 recreational areas, including parks (golf courses, picnic areas, bicycle,
equestrian and walking trails) and general recreation;
10.2 uses asconsidered on acase-by-case basis;
10.3 uses derived from community definition (i. e., greenbelts)
11. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall encourage new housing to
locate in a compatible fashion (i.e. clustered design) with open space designations or
outside of designated open spaces.
12. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall regulate open space through
tools such as:
12.1 zoning and subdivision ordinances, including but not limited to cluster and
minimum lot size zoning, overlay zones and adequate off site public facility
regulations;
12.2 development impact fees for park and open space acquisition;
12.3 dedication of land or money in-lieu of land;
12.4 designation of open space corridors;
12.5 soil conservation measures;
12.6 wetlands, shorelines, floodplain or other environmentally sensitive lands
ordinances; and
12.7 development agreements.
13. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall cooperatively inventory
existingN, and potential newly%%%de%s%i%gnated%%%open space by creating
~~.~~~~~~~~~nlocal and regional planning inventoryueus-;
7 rArr~nnn~ ~n~~Ar~~nr~r 1 V.Lr 1`+~1V111.L1 111 V V111.V1 y .
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 47
14. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall authorize the following
methods of retention of open space land or wnilndlnifennncorridors:
14.1 public acquisition of property in fee simple or through development
easement acquisition;
14.2 private acquisition with covenants, conditions and/or restrictions limiting the
use of the property to open space;
14.3 alternatives to public purchase, including,,xxxbutxnotxxxlximxitedxxxto:
~~~~15.3.1 flexible zoning, subdivision and regulatory approaches
designed for protection or preservation;
l 5.3.2 land trust;
i ?ulu5u.3.3 conservation easement;
15.3.4 transfer of development rights~M~urchaseM_of development
rights and other compensable regulatory approaches;
~u~~u~~?xlx5x.3.5 rails-to-trails;
~ 15.3.6 donations;
15.3.7 preferential assessments;
i ? 15n.3.8 planned developments;
~u~uu~ l 5.3.9 dedications;
lu5u.3.10 impact fees;
l 5.3.11 view easements.;
15.3.12 use value assessments.;
~~?~1u5.4 retention of existing open space through:
X15 41 ~~~,.,a;,~,~~;,,,-, «r,~~, the designation of natural resource 1 ! . . ~VV1~.L111(.L~1V11 VV1~11
lands of statewide significance;
i ?ulu5u.4.2 required open space preservation within and without
Urban Growth Boundaries established by pct C;Pierce
County
i ?xlx5x.4.3 coordination with agricultural land owners and right
to farm policies.
y15.4.4 preserving, and enhancing significant regional open space
networks and linkages across jurisdictional boundaries. see
MPP-En-B~
General
.~..Q 16. The County, and each municipality in the County, should protect and enhance the
natural ecosystems through comprehensive plan policies and development
regulations that reflect natural constraints and protect sensitive features.
n~~~l6.1 Preserve and enhance habitat to prevent species from inclusion on the
Endangered speciens List nand nto reaccelerate ntheir removal from the Linst see
MPP-En-10~=~~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 48
nlnn8=16.2 Identify and protect wildlife corridors both inside and outside the UGA.
.wwwwwwwwwwww ...........................................................~............................Y................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................... .w. see MPP-En-11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1816.3 Preserve and
restore native vegetation to protect habitat, especially
where it contributes to the overall ecological function and where invasive
specnesnarenannsni~nficnantnnthreatntonnnatiye enconsystemsnn~see MPPnnEnnnnln2n~.
~n~ 1n6.4 Maintain natural hydrological functions within the region's ecosystems
and watersheds and where feasible restore to a more natural state see
MPP-En-131.
%I%%8~16.5 Restore -where appropriate and possible -the region's freshwater and
marxinexxxshorelxinesx,xxxwatersheds,xxxandxxxxestuariesxxxtoxxxaxxnaturalxxxxcondxitxixonxxxfor
ecological function and value ~sexexxMPP-En-14~.
=16.6 Reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers to the extent
feasbnlennand nndentinf~ n alternatiyensn thatn minnminzen rinsks ton human nhealthn and
the environment see MPP-En-15~ .
uuuQuluu6u.7uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuIdentuif~uuuanduuuaddresusuuutheuuuuimpuactsuuuof ucluimateuuuchangueuuuonuutheuuureguiuonu'us
hydrological systems ~seeMMPP En 16
xI%%~17. The County, and each municipality in the County, should preserve, protect, and
where practicable, restore natural habitat critical for the conservation of salmonid
species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, through the adoption of
comprehensive plan policies that seek to protect, maintain, or restore aquatic
ecosystems.
i ° luu7. l Jurisdictions should consider creation of a Public Benefit Rating System
under the Current Use Assessment Program (RCW 84.34) or other Tax
Incentive Programs that includes a higher priority for fish and wildlife
habitat conservation areas.
n~~~17.2 Consider fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas when designating
land use designations and companion zoning regulations.
i ° luu7.3 Amend existing critical area regulations, as necessary, to protect fish and
wildlife habitat conservation areas from development impacts.
Coordination of Watershed Planning and Land Use Planning
"Watershed" ~Rw~~means a geographic area that drains toward or contributes flow to a stream or
river and the geographic limits of a watershed are defined by the points at which the ground
slope changes to drain surface water into the tributaries that feed the stream or river system.
X419. The County, and each municipality in the County, should protect the natural
habitat critical for the conservation of salmonid species listed under the federal
Endangered Species Act, whenever practicable, through the use of planning
activities or study techniques that are capable of determining changes in stream
hydrology and water quality.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 49
2~wlw9.l The County, and each municipality in the County, should coordinate
watershed planning and land use planning activities and implementation
activities within a watershed boundary including:
2~n19.1.l recognize that watershed planning may be useful in
analyzing changes in stream hydrology, flooding, water quality and
capital facilities under different land use scenarios;
19.1.2 evaluate the use of vegetation retention, tree conservation,
and maximum impervious surface standards;
2~xlxx9,.1.3 whenever possible, utilize watershed boundaries instead of
jurisdictional boundaries for plans and studies;
?19:.1.4 consider the implications of planning and implementation
activities on natural environmental and built systems that are
located outside jurisdictional boundaries but within the shared
watershed;
2~l_9.l .5 when updating land use plans and regulations, consider
information that is contained within watershed plans.
Inter jurisdictional Cooperation
21. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall work together to identify
and protect natural habitat corridors that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
21.1 Establish informational sharing workshops or present information at
established coordinating committees.
21.2 Whenever possible, utilize watershed boundaries instead of jurisdictional
boundaries for plans and studies.
21.x3 Establish a ucommon umethod for assessing the uhabitat needs for usensitive,
species.
22. The County, and each municipality in the County, should coordinate
watershed/aquatic restoration planning and implementation activities within a
watershed.
22.1 Consider the implications of planning and implementation activities not
only within jurisdictional boundaries, but also the implications of
decisions and activities on habitat for critical fish species that is located
outside jurisdictional boundaries but within the shared watershed.
22.2 Encourage involvement with local drainage districts in planning process.
23. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall cooperatively work
together to create and adopt modifications to their Critical Areas Regulations that
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 50
include the best available science for the protection of existing habitat, wetlands,
estuaries, and riparian areas by avoiding negative impacts.
23.1 Encourage the removal of invasive species and the replanting of natural
vegetation.
23.2 Encourage local community groups in critical habitat restoration and
enhancement efforts.
23.3 Utilize incentives to encourage landowners to retain, enhance, or restore
critical habitat.
23.4 Develop complementary, coordinated, integrated, and flexible approaches
for the collection, analysis, and sharing of monitoring information (e.g.,
GIS data, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis.
Development Standards
24. Upon adoption of a state classification system, the County and each municipality
in the County, should work together to establish a single system for stream
typing~~Rw2~.
25. The County, and each municipality in the County, should maintain or enhance
water quality through control of runoff and best management practices to
maintain natural aquatic communities and beneficial uses.
1Vlonitoring, Best Available Science and Adaptive Management
26. The County, and each municipality in the County, should work cooperatively
toward creating and implementing methodologies designed to determine the
effectiveness of enhancement and recovery strategies for listed species. (The term
recovery is applied to species and not to habitat.)
26.1 Monitoring and evaluation strategies should be designed to develop data
and information that can be used to evaluate future policy choices and
management actions.
26.2 Whenever practicable, adoption of local plans, which include
~~nserva~ion%% conservation p%~ans% plans or watershed basin plans, should
include monitoring and evaluation criteria.
26.3 Use the best information available at all levels of planning, especially
scientific information see MPP-En-6 .
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 51
i
27. The County, and each municipality in the County, recognizes that the best
available science to address listed species recovery issues is evolving. Each
jurisdiction should apply an adaptive management strategy to determine how well
the obj ectives of listed species recovery and critical habitat
preservation/restoration are being achieved.
27.1 Consider the results of pilot developments inland use planning.
28.........xEnsure that all residents, ;regardless of social or economic status,, liyc in a healthy,
environment with minimal exposure to pollution MPP-En-4~.
29. Locate development in a manner that minimizes impacts to natural features and
promotcuuthcuuuusucuuuof uunnoyatuiycuuuucnyuironmcntallyuuuusucnsuituiycuuuudcvcluopmcntuuupractuiccsu,,
.including design, materials, construction, and on doing maintenance sec MPP-
En-51.
30. Mitigate noise caused by traffic, industries, and other sources see MPP-En-61.
Air ~ualit MMMMMMMMMM. ~MMMMMMMMMMMx M.
31. The Count and each munici alit in the Count will censure that count wide ............................................................................................y.~...........................
...........................................................P................y.................................................................y.~......................................................
...................................~...............................y.........................~
the overall quality of the air is improved and the overall production of harmful
elements that contribute to climate change is reduced by::
31.1 Maintaining or doing better than existing standards for carbon monoxide,
ozone, and particulates see MPP-En-17~.
31.2 Reducein~ levels for air toxics, fine particulates, and greenhouse uses
~succuuuMPPu-Enu-uluu8~u.u
31.3 Continuein~ efforts to reduce pollutants from transportation activities,
including, throughx the use of cleaner fuels and vehicles and increasing
alternatives to driving alone, as well as design and land use see MPP-En-
191.
31.4 Reducing the rate of enemy use per capita, both in building use and in
transportatuion actuyitcsuu~suce MPPuuEn 21~u
Cl imxatexxxxChxaneK
32. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall comply with state..
initiatives and directives re~ardin~ climate change and the reduction of
greenhouse uses. Jurisdictions and should work to:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 52
3n2n.nnlnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnncludennnnannnnanalynsnisnnnof nclnimatennnchanennnnnimpactsnnnwhennnncnonductin~nnnnan
environmental review process under the State Environmental Policy Act;
see MPP-En-201u
3n2.2 nnnnnncoopnerate wthnnreionalnninitniatyesnandnnenffortsntowardnthe ndenyenlopmentnnonf
ener~~uuu mana~ementuuteuchno luou~yuuuuasuuupartuuuouf uumeetin~uuutheuu reu~uiuonu'usuuuener~y
needs; see MPP-En-22~
3x2x.x3xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxrexducxexxx~reenhousxexxx~xasesxxxb~xxxexpandxin~xxxthexxxusexxxxof xxcxonseryatxionxxxand
alternatiyxexxexner~y sourcesx andxbyxxreducin.xyehclexxmilxexs trayelxexdxxby
increasing alternatives to driving alone; see MPP-En-231
33.4 increase the number of trees in urban portions of the county; see MPP-
En-24~
32.5 anticipate and address the impacts of climate change on regional water
sxourcxesxxxb~xxxcxoxoperatxin~xxxonxxxaxxre~xionalxxxleyel;xxxandx~xsxeexxxMPxPx-xEnx-25~
32.6 coordinate between jurisdictions re~ardin~ sustainability measures and
initiatives in order to provide a consistent approach.
34. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall address enemy
consumption/conservation by:
34.1 desi~nin~ transportation improvements to encourage alternatives to
automobile travel; h~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
34.2 locating and desi~nin~ new development so as to encourage pedestrian or
none-automobile utravel~
34.3 providing regulatory and financial incentives to encourage the public and
private sector to conserve ener~~;
34.4 reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled and number of vehicle trips. ~~~~~~~r
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 53
[PAGE LEFT BLANK]
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 54
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON
SITING OF pLTRLIC ESSENTIAL CAPITAL FACILITIES
OF A COUNTYWIDE OR STATEWIDEuuuNA~'I~uRESIGNIFICANCE
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Growth Management Act requires that the comprehensive plan of the County and of
each municipality in the County include a process for identifying and siting essential public
facilities [RCW 36.70A.200(1)] . "Essential" public facilities include, but are not limited to,
those facilities that are typically difficult to site, such as airports, state education facilities,
state or regional transportation facilities, state and local correctional facilities, solid waste
handling facilities, and in-patient facilities, including substance abuse facilities, mental
health facilities and group homes [RCW 3 6.70A.200(1)] . The State Office of Financial
Management is required to maintain a list of essential state public facilities that are required
or likely to be built within the next six (6) years. Facilities may be added to the list at any
time. The Growth Management Act further mandates that no local comprehensive plan or
development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities [RCW
36.70A.200(2)].
■ Countyywide Planning Policy
1. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall adopt a policy ~anu
1 1~.V1rJV1 ~c same ~n its comprehensive plan, on the siting of essential public capital
facilities of a Countywide or statewide nature.
l .l n ~~~~t~~ n t~°°=Evssential public facilities; ~th~~ u~ap~t~l°°fau~l~t~%°~°u~ nv~~;i~
.~+...~,~.~~r..~..,~,,.~~~.~.,,.~A must have a useful life of 10 years or more and be 1111.L~J~ VV 1V1 (.L ~,J~.{V11V l.L~,7t/, . 1
eit er:
l .l . l a Countywide facility which has the potential for serving the entire
County or more than one jurisdiction in the County; or
1.1.2 a statewide facility which serves or has the potential for serving the
entire state, or which serves less than the entire state, but more than
one county.
2. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall identify lands useful for
public purposes and incorporate such designations in their respective comprehensive
plans.
3. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall incorporate a policy and
process in their respective comprehensive plans to identify and site essential public
~nni~~~~Ar nr~ ~~A ~ir~ m~~n+nir~A~ ~~A C+~~A n~~inA n~~i~r~nr~nin~ ~/~~r»r~AmAn~ ~~cuvu~~~~:~uvu~ ~~ru....~:~~~v ~u~..~~:u~~~~~~~~~~~~uv~uu~~uuu~.~~~u~~;c~~c~u....v-~~~~~uu~~u~uu~,c~~~~~~~,cu-~v~~~~
~v~~~~~~~:. The
process and policy shall include the following components:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 55
3.1 a requirement that the state provide a justifiable need for the public facility
and for its location in Pierce County based upon forecasted needs u ~u a
logical service area, and the distribution of facilities in the region and state
see MPP-PS-231;
3.2 a requirement that the state establish a public process by which the residents
of the County and of affected and "host" municipalities have a reasonable
opportunity to participate in the site selection process.
4. The County and municipal policies shall be based upon the following criteria:
4.1 Specific facility requirements;
4.1.1 minimum acreage;
4.1.2 accessibility;
4.1.3 transportation needs and services;
4.1.4 supporting public facility and public service needs and the
availability thereof;
4.1.5 health and safety;
4.1.6 site design;
4.1.7 zoning of site;
4.1.8 availability of alternative sites;
4.1.9 community-wide distribution of facilities.
4.1.10 zoninguuuof uuareuauuuarounduuusuiteuuutouuuuprotectuuagainstuuuencrouachmentuuu
S,ee,,,MPP,-DP-4,l,,,,,MPP-DP,-S,I,,,,and„MPP,-DP,-,5,2~
4.1.11 natural boundaries that determine routes and connections.
4.2 Impacts of the facility:
4.2.1 land use compatibility;
4.2.2 existing land use and development in adj acent and sur-
roun ing areas;
4.2.3 existing zoning of surrounding areas;
4.2.4 existing Comprehensive Plan designation for surrounding
areas;
4.2.5 present and proposed population density of surrounding area;
4.2.6 environmental impacts and opportunities to mitigate environ-
mental impacts;
4.2.7 effect on agricultural, forest or mineral lands, critical areas
and historic, archaeological and cultural sites;
4.2.8 effect on areas outside of Pierce County;
4.2.9 effect on designated open space corridors;
4.2.10 "spin-off' (secondary and tertiary) impacts;
4.2.11 effect on the likelihood of associated development being
induced by the siting of the facility.
4.3 Impacts of the facility siting on UGA designations and policies:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 56
4.3.1 urban nature of facility;
4.3.2 existing urban growth near facility site;
4.3.3 compatibility of urban growth with the facility;
4.3.4 compatibility of facility siting with respect to UGA
oun arses.
4.u3u..S ....................................................tuimuin~...and...location...of ufacuiluituiuesuuuthatuuuguuideuuu~growthuuuand
development. see MPP-PS-2~
5. The County and municipal policies shall ensure that the facility siting is consistent
with the adopted County and municipal comprehensive plans, including;
5.1 the future land use map and other required and optional plan elements not
otherwise listed below;
5.2 the identification of lands for public purposes in the land use element;
5.3 the capital facilities plan element and budget;
5.4 the utilities element;
5.5 the rural element;
5.6 the transportation element;
5.7 the housing element;
5.8 the comprehensive plans of adjacent jurisdictions that maybe affected by the
facility siting;
5.9 regional general welfare considerations.
6. The County and municipal policies may include standards and criteria related to:
6.1 the time required for construction;
6.2 property acquisition;
6.3 control of on- and off site impacts during construction;
6.4 expediting and streamlining necessary government approvals and permits if
all other elements of the County or municipal policies have been met;
6.5 the quasi-public or public nature of the facility, balancing the need for the
facility against the external impacts generated by its siting and the
availability of alternative sites with lesser impacts.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 57
The County and municipal policies may include standards and criteria related to:
7.1 facility operations;
7.2 health and safety;
7.3 nuisance effects;
7.4 maintenance of standards congruent with applicable governmental
regulations, particularly as they may change and become more stringent over
time.
7.5 sustainable development practices see MPP-En-S, MPP-PS-71
8. The County and municipal policies on facility siting shall be coordinated with and
advance other planning goals including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:
8.1 reduction of sprawl development;
8.2 promotion of economic development and employment opportunities;
8.3 protection of the environment;
8.4 positive fiscal impact and on-going benefit to the host jurisdiction;
8.5 serving population groups needing affordable housing;
8.6 receipt of financial or other incentives from the state and/or the County or
other municipalities;
8.7 fair distribution of such public facilities throughout the County and state;
8.8 requiring state and federal proj ects to be consistent with this policy.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 58
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND STRATEGIES
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington ,Staten„Growth Management Act identifies transportation facilities planning
and, specifically, encouraging efficient multi-modal transportation systems based on
regional priorities and coordinated with local comprehensive plans, as a planning goal to
guide the development and adoption of comprehensive plans and development regulations
[RCW 36.70A.020(3)]. In addition, it identifies a transportation element as a mandatory
element of a county or city comprehensive plan [RCW 36.70A.070(6)]. The transportation
element must include: (a) land use assumptions used in estimating travel; (b) facilities and
services needs; (c) finance; (d) intergovernmental coordination efforts, including an
assessment of the impacts of the transportation plan and land use assumptions on the
transportation systems of adjacent jurisdictions; and (e) demand management strategies
[RCW 36.70A.070(6)(a)- (c)]. The Growth Management Act expressly requires a
Countywide Planning Policy on transportation facilities and strategies [RCW
36.70A.210(3)(d)].
The Commute Reduction Eff ciency Act of 2006 RCW 70.94.521-531 ~ goal is to reduce
congestion on the roadway network and help address the air pollution issues within the
urban areas. This act re uires local overnments to work with their lar er em to ers to ................................................................................................................
.........q.........................................................~...................................................................................................................................
..........................................g.............................p..........y............................,
develop and implement strategies for reducing their single occupant auto trips. Jurisdictions
affected by the CTR law are required to develop local CTR plans that include the
documentin of local trans ortation settin of the affected work sites and the strate ies b g..................................................................... p.....................................
...............................~.......................................................................................................................................................................
...................................g.......................
which the rate of single occupant vehicle use may be reduced.
■ VISION 2040 and the Multicounty Planning Policies
VISION 2040 offers an integrated approach to addressing land use and transportation, along
with the environment and economic development. It calls for a clean, sustainable
trans ortation future that su orts the re Tonal rowth strate .Sustainable trans ortation .......................p......................................................................................
......................Pp...................................................g............................g...........................................................gY.................................
..............................................................P.....................................~
involves the efficient and environmentally sensitive movement of people, information,
.goods and seryices -with attention to safety and health. Sustainable transportation
minimizes the impacts of transportation activities on our air,m water and climate. It includes
the design of walkable cities and bikable neighborhoods, as well as using alternatives to
druiyuin~guuualuoneuuuuuuuuItuureluieusuuuonuucleuaner,uuurenewableuuuresuourcesuuuforuuuenergyu.
The transportation-related multicounty planning policies in VISION 2040 are presented in
threxexxxgroupxsx.xxxxxxThexxxfrstxxroupxxxof xPolxicesxxxcallsxxxxforxxxmantainxingx,xxxPreseryxin~g,xxxxandxxxoperatxinxxthe
existing transportation system in a safer and more efficient way. They advance
transportation that is less ~ollutin. The second group of policies call for developing the
system to support the regional growth center, particularly travel within and between centers.,
Investments are to be prioritized to serve centers and to support pedestrian-oriented, mixed
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 59
usew development. wwwThe wpolicieswwaddresswwcompletewwstreetswwto w servewwallw users, w~greenwwstreetsw that
are better for the environment and context-sensitive desi n that uides the develo ment of
...................................................................................................................................................~...................................................
...............................................................................g.......~.........................~...............................................................................P.....
................................. transportation facilities to better fit within the context of the communities in which they are
located. There are policies addressing nonmotorized transportation as well as freight. The
final groin of policies address greater transportation moptions~ including alternatives to
drivin alone mobili choices for eo le with s ecial needs and avoidin new roads or ...........................~.................ty............................P.....P....................p
.........................~............................ng
capuacuityuuuexPansuionuuuinuururaluuuuareasux
■ Countyywide Planning Policy
l . Promote a sustainable transportation system that assures the abili of future
generations to Provide transportation infrastructure and services in an effective,
efficient, clean, and cost effective manner.
2. ImproveMMsafetyMMinMtheMMtransPortationMaystem by workingM toward the state's "zero MMMMh MMMMMMM MM
death and disabling injury" target.
~In3. For the purpose of this Policy, the following transportation services shall be deemed
Countywide in nature:
.I...31 state and federal highways;
~~aM3.2 major arterials;
uIu3.3 Nubli transit facilities and services;
n~x3.4 waterborne transportation (ferries, shipping);
~ u~u3K.s airports (passenger or freight);
i 3.6 rail facilities (passenger or freight).
Iu3.7 non-motorized facilities
41. The following facilities and system components shall be included in the multi-modal
network:
24,.1 roads, including major highways, arterials and collectors;
24,.2 public transit, including bus, rail, vanpool, paratransit and park and ride
lotsxxxandxxxotherxxxemergxingxxxconcxepts;
24.3 non-motorized facilities;
24,.4 ferries;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 60
24.5 airports;
X4.6 parking facilities;
24.7 facilities related to transportation demand management.
? 5. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall consider the impacts of their
respective planning activities on nei~hborin~ jurisdictional (inclusive of ~VSDOT)
roadway facilities when developing and administering their level of service
standards. c~~ruin~te ser ~~ic° le eels ~etvYreen j urisuicti~ns incluuing f°uerul u ~u state
~AYIr]r+mAr~+n n~tr~r~nr~nr4~+inr~ r]Yl~'1 n4~Ar+r~r~nr~nr~~tinr~ nAr~rinA r~rn~ri~Arn ~~T~ \,LV~J(,Ll~lllull~i.J V1 ~l(,111~.J~IVlI(.L1,1V11 (.L11~.L VlllVl l,l(,611~J~IVlI.(,1~1V11
~.JUl V1VV ~J1V Y1l.LVli.J V~' .
~~5.1 designating or adopting r~adv~~~ay~;~~~i~ntors~~ct~~~n~and~~trans~it~L~v~ls ~~~f
~S~rvuiE~multimodal ~LOS~ per RCW 36.70A.108 such as:
5.1.1 for roadways and intersections;MMand MM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMx MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM MMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Sx.xlxx.2xxxxxxxxxtransxitxxlevelsxxxof xxsxervxicxexxx(xxxex.gx.xxxhoursxxxof xservice,xxxheadwa~sx,xxx~edestrian
environment, accessibility, safety, rider comfort, reliability, transfer
necessity, cost and travel time.
[RW3]~~.~2 .....................................un~~rst~nd~ng...~l~at...~h~...ad~p~t~d...L.~S...w~ull...~ff~etuun~t...~..th~...~~alu~ty
Vl ~114M Ll(~d.11~N 11~M(~l.L1V11M~~'~i~7~V1~11~M VII.M(~~I~VMt~~M(~L111V4L11LM1~M1~~141~11VM111V~VJ~111V11t
raniiiro~ nt~~ +~v v~ormic+ri~~v nr~TZr}~ ~o~ro~c+ Tzr~in~ +~o ~rnr►c+v~~r+n~i~r► r~~r+om 1V~1.L11Vl.1 (Alll.l l,lltr ~!<r11111~J~.71Ultr ~1V YY 111 1V V V1~J YY111V11 1,11V l.1 U.11~J~IVlI,(.L1.1V11
~J~' ~.7~tr111
~~n...~pp~.
~Su.2 entering into interlocal agreements, where necessary, to establish uniform,
coordinated service levels between jurisdictions for countywide facilities.
4~6. In the County, and in each municipality in the County, the adopted LOS maybe:
~ 6.1 set below existing levels (thereby allowing reserve capacity for growth and
minimizing the need for new capital investment,...but;xxp~rhaps...all~~ving
nnr~rYAr~~nr~ n~n~~A ~x~~n+ ~r ~n~Arn~~A ~n +~A ~ii~~~n~• ~Vll~\r~Jl.1V11 I.LVV Y\r YV11l.L1. liJ l.Vl`+11AV1\r ~V l.ll~ ~,JI~LVlltr f,
~u6.2 set above existing levels (thereby increasing comfort and convenience of
travel, enhancing economic development and minimizing some
environmental impacts=,uuubut...pe~l~ap~;uur~~uu~r~nguuua~ditui~naluuup~~hlui
Avnar~ irAr nr~ nr ~rAn~ n~~n~~ n rY A~ IA nr~m Ar~+ m nrn~nr~ n~ VL1~,J\r11~.111,4L1V~_7 lAll\.L/ Vl ~,l1Vtr1~,J1l,lAL111~ \.LV V V1V~J111V11~ 111V11A~V11l.LJ,
46.3 set at existing levels (thereby allowing new development to mitigate full
marginal impacts, b ~t, th., \dL11~ ~1N ~ 1° vTVI m ~,T iiv ~ m iii ~i v v~liu►. 1~J ~.cceNt~.ble to
t~~~ p~b~~~~~
X6.4 set at different levels of service indifferent zones;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 61
46.5 set at different levels of service based on facility classifications;
4.6;.6 set for multi-modal facilities;
7 +n~~ovi ~iran+~~~ ~rnw► r+nr►~nr~r ~a~~a~nv~a~ ~r~r +~^►o `~~nr~inrt+nr► C+n+a ! l.(.Ll\trll l,lll~tr~l~' 11V111 ~.7~(.Llll.l(All.l~.7 ll~ V~1V~J\✓l.l U~' lllt. YY (.L~.711111~1.V11
I.J~(.61.V
~~pan~~nt...~f xTr~.nxsportatxi~n...f~r...~4igh~vays...~f x~S~at~~v~~~...~ig~~fiE~nce....and
~~ron+~~r ~rnm r+nr~~nr~r ~o~~o~nv~v~ ~~r +~o piirYa+ Cnim~ T?an~nr~n~ (~nii,~,n~~ ~nr \.L11VtrL1~' 11V111 ~JL(.Lllll(.L1l.LJ lAV V V1V~J4lA U~' 1.11V 1 4L~\r~ I.lVldlll.l 1\\r~1V11(,Ll
VV4llltrll 1V1
An;~,-,~11~r r;n~;~;n~~+ r+~+o 1-,;~1-,«r~~rr
The County, and each municipality in the County, shall determine the adequacy of
transportation facilities includingx;approprxiatextransxit infrastructure taking into
account existing development, approved but unbuilt developmenth~~~lr~~g~ ~r~ f
current and future roadway nconditonsn~ and multiple modes of transportation
pr~p~s~~duu~~v~l~pm~ntuuthrough utilization of:
1 nnpnn, ~~_+n ~omnr~~ +n nnv~nni+~~ levels of service ...(LOS); V(A (Atrll. l,V l.lVlll(.Llll.l l.V V(.L~.1(.LV1Ly
7.2 availability of capacity bxasedxxxonxxcurrentxxxandxxxfuturexxxdemandxx,including phased
capacity;
X7.3 ooruin ion of appropriate standards of design across jurisdictional lines.
~u8u. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall address substandard LOS for
existing facilities or 11~JL1 1~ ~.L~fi l~ ~~1~~~, ~by:
x8.1 designating funding mechanisms VVrll, 11 1 ~(.L~ 1 I1~L11~Jl.L1Vl.1V 1;
~u8.2 prioritizing fac~~i~~~facilityNPl~~~~d~yneeds in capital improvement and
transportation improvement programs to correct existing deficiencies%%in
~a~it~l...~n~pr~v~n~~nts~~ranp~ati~n....~n~pr~v~n~~nt~uupr~gr~n~~;
~8.3 using transportation demand management uema~ u siu° regal ~1V11~J J to
minimize demand%%%~r~ated%%%by%%%~x%i%s~~ng%%%us~r~%%~f %transp~rta~i~n%%%fa~il%~t%ie%s;
~8.4 using transportation systems management supply ~id° u~~ u~tm°nt~ t~
+r~r~cr~nr+~+inr~ n~TC+Am~ to rA~irAn+ +r~~~in +n »r~nnr~r~An+A~ ~rA~c ~r~~ +n mn~i~~ ~1u11.~Nv1~u~1V11 ~wlll~ lvullvv~ ~lullly w u1lvVll~v.~wu ulvu~ c.~llu w lllvull~
try ~~el'~°'~~ ~~ier promote cost effective methods of moving people and foods.
u8u.5uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuupromotuinguunon-motorizeduutravel.
~ ..............................The...f~~~hw~ng..~uridicti~ns...~v~i~l...he...r~p~ns~~hle....f~r~~the...~~rrecti~n~~~f ~~x~i~st~ng
+rnr~nv~nr+n+~nr~ ~A~;niAr~niAn i,-, +~A T T(T A n~ ~l(A11i,7~JV1 LI.Ll.1V11 ~.I~11V1\rll\r1Vi.7 111 l.ll\r U \JL 1~.7.
~ the ~vv~i~i~y, ~inm~uii~iiv~;rpir~tvd~ ai v~~
.......................a...n~unicu~pa~i~y.~uuuuinuuuinc~rp~rateduuuareua~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 62
~n~v~+ ~nim~~r miiv»n~r~n ~z~ ar► nnr~ n nr~ nnraamar~~ nr n ~n~r~~ n nv~r►~v~n / .J JVllll, tiVl~llll.~'-1111.1111V1~J(.Ll, VV11~11 ~1(.Ll~ Vl (.Lll (.L~1~~111~11~ 1V1 (.L JVllll. rJl(.Llllllll~
~~~~u[RW4]:
%~9. The County, and each municipality in the County, in cooperation with the transit and
transportationsnagencnes,..shallxxxa~~ptxxxpa~l~~ngxxxregulat~~xx~~dexsxxxf~~:
X9.1 establish policies and/or regulations for parks and ride facilities;
X9.2 develop strategies for encoura~in~ public transportation use in support of
rl(,L1111 lg l~lll.lll~ 11Vnts foi public facilitiesx;xxxand so ua to enco~i~.ge p~bli
tr~ns~t...use:
a ~vv +n nnnonc+ ~n rv ~nr~n nn~ ~~~on j~i~ct~o~s-~~t~ t~ .
~ulu0. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall address concurrency through
the following methods:
x1xx0.1 providing transportation facilities needed to accommodate new development
within six years of development approval;
n10.2 limiting new development to a level that can be accommodated by existing
facilities and facilities planned for completion over the next six years;
~~10.3 encouraging new and existing development to implement measures to
decrease congestion and enhance mobility through transportation demand
an congestion management.
11. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall address compatibility
between land use and transportation facilities by:
uluulu. l requiring new transportation facilities and services in areas in which new
growth is appropriate or desirable to be phased within atwenty-year time
frame consistent with six year capital improvement programs;
X11.2 r~~t~i~~ingdiscoura~in~ the extension of new transportation facilities into
areas not planned for growth (e. g. , outside UGAs);y and uavouiuding
~V11~J1.1l.tv~1V11 _ a11111n onnnnnnnma ornnronannnnnnsnnnannnnnnnnca act_ nnnnex_ ansonnnnlnnnnrurannnnnnan
resource areas;
11.3 using development regulations to ensure that development does not create
demands exceeding the capacity of the transportation system, including
transit alternatives.
~:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~d~P~s~t~~~~i~~t~~in~ar~a~~~;~~ts~d~~~f ~~A~;
n ~ 7 nnr~niirrAr►n~r mnr►nrrAmAr►~ nv~~ n~ar7iin~A r~ii~-►~~n ~nn~~~+~~ 1V.J.L.+ ~,rVlltrl~Lll`+lltr~ 1111.L111.L~`+111`+11~ l.Llll.l l.Ll.lV\.1ldl.Ll.V {`Jl.LV11tr 1(.ltr111~Y
r~gu~°a~~~n
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 63
.~..a: ..............................................int~grat~d...mul~~~m~~al...and...n~n~m~t~r%i~~d...net~v~rl~~:
~l 1.4 using land use regulations to increase the modal split between automobiles
and other forms of travel by:
X1_.1....4.1 desi~natingnhigh densities in transit and transportation
corridors uuuanduuudeusui~nateduuuTransituu0ruienteuduuuDueyelopment
(TOD) sites,;
~~1 l .4.2 dedications and ,impact fees to provide public transit
facilities;
~lxlx.4.3 requu~reuurequirngx„pedestrian-oriented design;
11.4.4 enc€~~r~:g~% uencoura~in~ or requireing mixed use development
and TOD;
~uluulu.4.5 facilitateuing ease of access for physically challenged
individuals.
uNNi ~ ~riNg t~ unsp~rtati~n. facui~itieus..in. con~uunct~on..wi~l~ u~andu.use
~v~r~rnirn~nfR1RiF1 ~u~~lv v ul~~~
n ~ ~o~ro~nv~iNn nN~ r1V1V1~~riN(T ~o~ro~nv~moN+ rvlTii~n+inNr ~nr riirn~ nranr ~~n+ lzrnii~~ 1V.V IA~.VL.1V~1111~ U111A (A `J~I1y111~ IAA.YL.1V~I111L.111,11~~Ll1LLl,1V11~J 1V1 1LL1LL1
U1VLLV 1,11LL1, VVVLLIL,L
mit~~~.~e the im; u~t of ro~.dvYrayr Nlv;eves th~.t muyr le~.u tv u~i~l~.Nl~ieu ~ivvv~l'i
N + v riirn nron ~11%L11V 1%ul%ul ul.,u[RW6].
%~%%a12. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall address environmental
impacts of the transportation policies through:
n~~l2.1 programming capital improvements and transportation facilities designed to
alleviate and mitigate impacts on land use, air quality and energy
consumption such ashigh-occupancy vehicle lanes, public transit,
vanpool/carpool facilities, or bicycle/pedestrian facilities designed for home-
to-work travel;
i ~x1x2.2 locating and constructing transportation improvements so as to discourage
adverse impacts on water quality and other environmental ~fe~atur~sresources.
1 I I ~A 1 n11N+~T ~]N~ A~]/~~ m11N1/~1N~]~1~[T 1N ~~A 1 n11N~[T (7~~]1~ ~]/Y~NA(7(7 ANAN/T~7 1 L./ . 1 11V V V Ltll L Y , (.Ll ll.l V (.~v 11 111 Lt111 V 1 ~.l l.Lll ~ Y 111 1.11V V
V l~Lll ~ Y , i.Jl l(.Ll l (.L~.L~.Ll V ~J i.J `+11`+1 ~ y
E~numpt~~n~~~ns~rvati~~uub~yu~
~ 7 ~ ~'iAC~1(7N1NfT ~r~NC+Nnr+~+1nN imv~rn~rAmAN+n +n ANr~niirnrvA ~~~ArN~~i~rAr ~n 1L./. 1 ~.L~rJl~lllll~ 1.11.L11rJ~JV1 LLLL1V11 1111{,J1V V \.111\.11L~.7 LV \r11trVLl1(.L~\r LL11.v111LLL1
Y \r~J LV
aut~m~b%i%le%%%trave%l 1
~~~~~~~~l~a~~~~ ~a~~~d~~~g~~~~~ ~V~~~p~i~~ ~~~Na~~t~~~~~~u~'ag~~ p~~°~tr~a~~~~r
~~a~LPt€;~b~l~~ tr~v~~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 64
.~.2...~ ................pr€~vnid~ng...reg~lat~ry...and...f~nancni~~...inc~ntn~v~~..t~...~n~€~urag~...~h~nnpubini~...~nd
nr~~m+n c+nn~nr ~n nnnc+ar~~a anarn~r• rJll V (.LI.V JVV ~Vl ~V trV11~J~1 V ~ ~11~1~~' ,
2:~~~~~~~~~r~uucing ~em~m~rm~f ~~ehi~~~ ~~~l~s~ t~ a~~~l~~ ~a~~~nu~b~~~~f ~~i~l~
~r;,-,n~RW7] 111~J~7 .
1 1 luau. The County, and each municipality in the County,uuuanduuuinuuucoopueratonuuuwuithuutransuit
agencies, shall pr~~~~i promote the f~l~~~ing~afacilities and services to encourage
alternatives to automobile travel and/or to reduce the number of vehicle miles
traveled (modal split, trip generation and trip length),xxxincludxin~g:
13.1 structural alternatives (public transit [fixed guideway/rail systems, buses,
paratransit services]; construction of new high-occupant vehicle lanes;
limitations on highway/roadway construction; carpool/vanpool facilities;
non-recreational bicycle/pedestrian facilities);
%~%%~%13.2 non-structuraUregulatory alternatives (growth management [concurrency;
UGAs]; road/congestion pricing; auto-restricted zones; parking
management; site design; ridesharing incentives, and transportation systems
and demand managment).
.~.~4 :......................The...C~~nty...~nduu~a~h...n~~niEu~pal.~~....~nuuthe...County...Thall...utuiul~z~...~he....f~ll~~~ng
t1M(~1.11i~7N 1LM(~1t1V11M~~'~~~7LV111~M111M(~L11(~.LMg~111~11~M1~11V(~.~~LL1V~M`4 L.~M111V~~lL1VJM~VMM1111~J1VV~~M~h4
a~~;nior►n~~ n~+~o ovic+~it~rr ~rnv~rr~nv~n+inv~ v~v~~irnr~r ~~r ii~i~irn~n ~ntzror nnc+~ nr►~ mnrv V111tr1Vlltr 1' Vl 1,11V ~L11~J1.111~ ll(.611~.7rJVll.(.L~1V11 11Lrl.VV V111 U~' 1.1L111L~111~
1V YY~1 VV~JL (.Lll\.L 111V1tr
~~i~k~y....~n~p~l~n~~nt~d....~n~pr~v~n~~nt~~..t~...n~ake...the...n~~st...e~fi~%i~nt...u~e...~%f %th~...~xi~t%~ng
rnn~~z~n~r rim+nm• 1 V (.Lll V V (.L~' ~J~' J l.Vlll.
n~~: ~ ~~~~~~~~~ti~u~tiiianl~~iiiipi~ii~~v~niit~ ;~~s~up~i~~ti v~~ ~a~~ria~s~ ~~ign~~i~~tivi
~mr~rnvAmAr~~r nnmr►ii~Ar~~a~ rirYnn~ r~rr~Amr nr~a ~x~n~r r~rAa~r rnmr~ 1111~J1V V Vlll`+111.~J, vVlll{,Jl.ll.V11L~V~.L ~J1~111.L1 ~J~' ~Jl.`+111~J, V11V VVI.L~' ~Jl.l`+VI.~J, 1(.Llll~.J
n~ete~ing;...deusuignat~~nuu~f ..~Q~...lensue;uuur~ver~ibleuuu~rafficuuu~aneus)
7 r~nr~ r~riin~iirn~ ~mrrn~rAmAr~~r ~n it ~r~n~~AN~ ~A+An~1nN nr~~ mnr»~nr~r~r~ 1~.L./ 11V11 ~.Jlll.ttrl.l.tl(.Ll 1111{.I1V V~7V111V111.~J llltrlu~lll. uV~\rVl.1V11 ullu 111V1111.V1111~
y%t~n~.;...n~~~'~~k...ur V ~%~1~%anE~...end...~~ntr~~.;....n~~t~r%~%~...~nf~rn~~t%~~~...y%t~.n~.~.~ . . .
~irr~ ern ~ ~~~nr~r• n ~Arr~n~~~~A «rnr r n>>rnrRW$]1 ~l~tlll ~.11V111U1~1V11i,7, 1A1~V1111A1.1V`+ VVV11111V1.Ll~.J`` J.
~~~214. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall consider a number of
financing measures, including but not limited to:
i21u4. l general revenues;
%x%214.2 fuel taxes;
X21,4.3 toll roads and other user fees;
i 214..4 bonding;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 65
n~n~wl4.5 congestion pricing;
Sul 4.6 public/private partnerships; and public/public partnerships,
12fi14.7 assessment and improvement districts, facility benefit assessments, impact
fees, dedication ofright-of way and voluntary funding agreements;
14.8 grants;
xlx4x.x9xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,others, as maybe appropriate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ce~~ ~~~~~and~~~ntr~~~f~r~~~~n;~~and~~~~uni~~p~~~~f~nde~~tra~~p;~a~~n
fac%i~~tie%s %~~i~~ %~e % c~~rd%in~ted%%t~o~dg
. . ~ ~ ~ ar~rYr~n~~r~n ~m~fa nnnorc+ nn~ ~+~ar ~r~ + o ron~nr~n ~ nr~• 1 U. 1 \.L\r~Jl~ll(dLlll~ lllllll,\r~.l (,Ltr`rVi.7~J 1(,LLr1111,1tr~,7 111 1.11V 14~1V11(dl ~11(dll,
~ ................~det~nin~ng...a~E~ss...re%gu~ati~ns...~~r~~g~...n~~tua~....agre~n~~nt...by...t~e...~ff~Et~d
~u~ri~~diction.and~~ru~y..an.agency..deusiugnat~d.~y..~~~..~:ffectedu~urui~duictuions
~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~d~v~~;~ping~ ac~~~~~~~gu~atns~ ~y ~ t~~ ~ag~n ~~~;~i~ ~ri~~~~~~~~i ~s~~~t~~n~ ~r
iir► ir►n roc+v~nnrn i i~T 1l.Lll~.llll~ 1trJ~lV11J1Ullll.~'
ul 5. uProtect the transportation investments and upreuseryation of uassets uthrough tithe,
proper operations and maintenance. ~MPP-T-1 ~
xl 6. xProtect the transportation xs~stem against xdisaster, develop prevention and
recovery strategies, and plan for coordinated responses. ~MPP-T-B~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 66
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON UGAS,
PROMOTION OF CONTIGUOUS AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT
AND PROVISION OF URBAN SERVICES TO SUCH DEVELOPMENT
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington State Growth Management Act has as planning ~oals~u~ nt~~~s the
encouragement of development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services
exist or can be provided in an efficient manner [RCW 3 6.70A.020(1)],the reduction of
sprawl (i. e. ,the inappropriate or premature conversion of undeveloped land into low-density
development) [RCW 36.70A.020(2)], and the provision of adequate public facilities and
services necessary to support urban development at the time the development is available for
occupancy and use (without decreasing current service levels below locally established
minimum standards) [RCW 3 6.70A.020(12)],., ~.s Nlulllling goals to g ~~u° the u~ YT°lopm °nt
nr►~ n~nv~~inr~ n~nnmv~rv~ov~rn~rv t~~nr~c+ nt~~ ~a~~a~nv~mov~~ rarrii~n+inv~c+ (.L111.L (.LI.LV~lL1V11 Vl VVlll~l1Lr11~11J1 V tr ~11(,L11J (Alll.l l.l\✓ V V1V~J111Lr11L 1V~1.L1(A~1V11J.
The Growth Management Act further requires (1) that the County designate an "urban
growth area" (UGA) or areas within which urban growth shall be encouraged and outside of
which growth shall occur only if it is not "urban" in character; (2) that each municipality in
the County be included within an UGA; (3) that an UGA include territory outside of existing
municipal boundaries only if such territory is characterized by urban growth or is adjacent to
territory that is already characterized by urban growth. [RCW 3 6.70A.110(1); for definition
of "urban growth" see RCW 36.70A.030(17).]
The designated UGAS shall be of adequate size and appropriate permissible densities so as
to accommodate the urban growth that is projected by the State Office of Financial
Management to occur in the County for the succeeding 20-year period. While each UGA
shall permit urban densities, it shall also include greenbelt and open space areas [RCW
36.70A.110(2)].
As to the timing and sequencing of urban growth and development over the 20-year
planning period, urban growth shall occur first in areas already characterized by urban
growth that have existing public facility and service capacities to service such development,
second in areas already characterized by urban growth that will be served by a combination
of both existing public facilities and services and any additional needed public facilities and
services that are provided by either public or private sources [RCW 36.70A.110(3)]. Urban
government services shall be provided primarily by cities, and ush~ul~uuuun~tuuuub~uuuupr~vi~e~.....in
1 LL1(.Ll ar°~ . it is not a ro riate that urban overnmental services be extended to or .........................pp.....p...........................................
expanded in rural areas except in those limited circumstances shown to be necessary to
protect basic public health and safety and the environment and when such services are
financially supportablex..xatxxxruralxxxxdensities xandxxxdo xnot xxpermxit..urbanxxxdeyelopmentxxx~RC
36.70A.110(4)].
The Growth Management Act Amendments expressly require that countywide planning
policies address the implementation of UGA designations [RCW 36.70A.210(3)(a)], the
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 67
promotion of contiguous and orderly development, the provision of urban services to such
development [RCW 36.70A.210(3)(b)], and the coordination of joint county and municipal
planning within UGAs [RCVV 36.70A.210(3)(~].
■ VISION 2040 Multicount_y Planning Policies
VISION 2040 calls for a more efficient sustainable and strate is use of the re ion's land. It
identifies urban lands as a critical component to accommodate population and employment
growth in a sustainable way. VISION 2040 calls for directing development to the region's
existin urban lands es eciall in centers and com act communities and limitin rowth on ................................g............................................................~.............p.....
.....................~..............................................................................................p................................................................................~.
.......................................................g...g...........................................~
rural lands. The Regional Growth Strategy found in VISION 2040 allocates 93 percent of
the region's future population growth and 97 percent of its employment growth into the
existin urban rowth area. Cities are divided into four distinct rou s: Metro olitan Cities
Core Cities, Lame Cities, and Small Cities. An additional ~eo~raphy is Unincorporated
Urban Growth Areas. VISION 2040 reco nizes that unincor orated urban lands are often
similar in character to cities the are ad' acent to callin for them to be affiliated with .............................................................................................................
.......................................................Y.....................................1......................................... ~
adjacent cities for joint planning purposes and future annexation.
VISION 2040 recognizes that compact development creates vibrant, livable, and healthy
urban communities that offer economic opportunities for all, provide housing and
trans ortation choices and use our resources wisel . The multicoun lannin olicies
support the effective use of urban land and include provisions that address Brownfield and
contaminated site clean-u the develo ment of com act communities and centers with .....................................................................................................................
............p.~...........................................................p...................................................................p........................................................
.....................................................................................................................,
pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented locations and a mix of residences, jobs, retail, and other
amenities, and the siting of facilities and major public amenities in compact urban
communities and centers.
VISION 2040 reco nizes that centers rovide eas access to 'obs services sho in ...................................................................................................~.....................
..........................................................................~.....................................................Y.........................................................~............
......~..............................................~.......................~~..........~.~.
and entertainment. With their mix of uses and pedestrian-friendly design, they can rely
less on forms of trans ortation that contribute to air ollution and reenhouse as ~.....................................................................................................................
...............................................p......................................................................~..........................................................g..........,
emissions. VISION 2040 identifies 27 regional growth centers. These places play an
important role as locations of the region's most significant business, governmental, and
culturalxxxfacixlxtxes.xxxThexx lx8x..xcitxesxxxthatxxxhayexx~ne, ..or.. morexxxre~ionalxxx~rowthxxxcenter are
expected to accommodate a significant portion of the region's residential growth (53
percent) and employment growth (71 percent).
VISION 2040 calls for local jurisdictions with regional growth centers to adopt housing
and em to ment tar ets for each center. Ei ht re Tonal manu acturin /industrial centers ................p.....Y..................g................................................g...........~........
.................~
have also been designated. These are locations for more intensive commercial and
industrial activity. Both regional growth centers and regional manufacturing/industrial
centers are focal Dints for economic develo ment and trans ortation infrastructure ..........................................p.............................................................p
...................................p
investments. Subre~ional centers, including downtowns in suburban cities and other
neighborhood centers, also play an important role in VISION 2040's Regional Growth
Strate .These too are strate is locations for concentratin 'obs housin sho in
and recreational opportunities. VISION 2040 calls for each of the region's cities to
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 68
develop one or more central places as compact mixed-use hubs for concentrating
..................................~................................................................................................................................~.......................www.........
.....................................Y.................................................................................................................................................................
......................................~. resnidnencesn,nn~nobsn,nnnnshops,nnnandnnncommunnitynnnfacnilnitensn.
Urban services addressed in VISION 2040 include wastewater and stormwater systems,
solid waste ener~y,nnnntelecommunications emergency nnseryicesn~nnnandnnnwaternnnsupplyn.......An
overarching foal of VISION 2040 is to provide sufficient and efficient public services and
facilities in a manner that is health safe and economicall viable. Conservation is a ma' or . . . . . . . . .
theme throughout VISION 2040. The multicounty planning policies address increasing
recycling and reducing waste and encoura~in~ more efficient use of water, low-impact
develo ment techni ues and renewable and alternative ener .The multicoun lannin ................................p..........................................................~................~..........
.......................................................................................................................................................................gy..............................
.....................................................~y....p...............................g
policies also address siting of public facilities and the appropriateness and scale of particular
public services.
VISION 2040 calls for jurisdictions to invest in facilities and amenities that serve centers
and restrict urban facilities in rural and resource areas. The multicount lannin olicies ~....p.............................. g....p...............................,
also discoura e schools and other institutions servin urban residents from locatin outside
the urban growth area.
■ Principles of Understanding Between Pierce County and the Municipalities in Pierce
Coun
while following the goals and regulations of the Growth Management Act, Pierce County
and the municipalities in Pierce County will strive to protect the individual identities and
spirit of each of our cities and of the rural areas and unincorporated communities.
Further agreements will be necessary to carry out the framework of j oint planning adopted
herein. These agreements will be between the County and each city and between the
various cities.
The services provided within our communities by special purpose districts are of vital
importance to our citizens. Consistent with the adopted regional strategy, these districts will
be part of future individual and group negotiations under the framework adopted by the
County and municipal governments.
while the Growth Management Act defines sewer service as an urban service, Pierce
County currently is a major provider of both sewer transmission and treatment services. The
County and municipalities recognize that it is appropriate for the County and municipalities
to continue to provide sewer transmission and treatment services.
The County recognizes that unincorporated lands within UGAs are often potential
annexation areas for cities. These are also areas where incorporation of new cities can
occur. The County will work with existing municipalities and emerging communities to
make such transitions efficiently.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 69
At the same time, annexations and incorporations have direct and significant impacts on the
revenue of county government, and therefore, may affect the ability of the County to fulfill
its role as a provider of certain regional services. The municipalities will work closely with
the County to develop appropriate revenue sharing and contractual services arrangements
that facilitate the goals of GMA.
The Countywide Planning Policies are intended to be the consistent "theme" of growth
management planning among the County and municipalities. The policies also spell out
processes and mechanisms designed to foster open communication and feedback among the
jurisdictions. The County and the cities and towns will adhere to the processes and
mechanisms provided in the policies.
■ Centers
Centers are to be areas of concentrated employment and/or housing within UGAs which
serve as the hubs of transit and transportation systems. Centers and connecting corridors are
integral to creating compact urban development that conserves resources and creates
additional transportation, housing, and shopping choices. Centers are an important part of
the regional strategy (VISION 204=20) for urban growth and are required to be addressed in
the Countywide Planning Policies. Centers will become focal points for growth within the
county's UGA and will be areas where public investment is directed.
Centers are to:
• be priority locations for accommodating growth;
• strengthen existing development patterns;
• promote housing opportunities close to employment;
• support development of an extensive multimodal transportation system which
reduces dependency on automobiles;
• reduces congestion and improves air quality; and
%%%%%%%%%maximizetbe benefit of public investment in infrastructure and services
VISION 2040, the adopted regional growth strategy, identifies several different types of
centers and cities as aP~~~nintegral features, including~~~thre~ ~~~~p~s~~~o~~~T~~r~a ~~Cent~r~: (1)
Regional Growth Center, (2) Metropolitan City Center), (3) Urb~n%%CoP~t~r; %%v~~hi~h f~ature%%a
m~x...~.... ~n .....u~~;...~s...we......as...a..~ateg~ry..... ~r...T~w~..Center:uuuuuu~~t~.....ul~uu2~.~....PuS~R~...repu u~.ce . e
~Arw, «T Tr~nr~ ~ar~~Arc+~~ «~i~~, GGT~arY~nr»~ (Trn~xr~~, (~a,~,~Arr~~ T~arYinr~n~ (Trn~xrf~, (~aN~Ar(7 it ~~A l.Vllll U1 VlAll \i\r11~V1~,7 VV1~11 1\\r~1V11(.Ll \J1V YY Lll \.r\r11L\✓1~J
. 1\\r~1V111A1 \J1V YY l,ll \.r\r11LV1~J 1~J (L~11V
Arm „rA~ i,~, ACT?(~'~r TIAr,~,-,~~inr~ (~1^1~A1^1r] 1 ~ITCT(11~T ~n~~n n~rn i~AN+1t1AC 1.\.1111 UrJ\r~.L 111 1 IJl\\i rJ L~~J1~111.L~1V11 \illl.~ll(.L. J Y 11.J1V1 ~ LrV~LrV 1.L1~JV
1~.LV111.111V~J
Manufacturing/Industrial Centers, which consist primarily of manufacturing and industrial
uses. See Iaas «IcIn~I 220 Update, pages Qc un d :::::::::Pierce County has five =Urban
Regional Growth ,.Centers and two Manufacturing/Industrial Centers that have been adopted
into the regional growth strate~g~ y;~i~~on. Pierce County Regional Growth Centers are
designated as either Metropolitan Centers, Regional Growth Centers, or Countywide
Centers as follows:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 70
Metropolitan Center
Tacoma Central Business District
Regional Growth Centers
Tacoma Mall
Lakewood
Puyallup Downtown
Puyallup South Hill
Currently there are no designated Countywide Centers.
Manufacturing/Industrial Centers are areas where employee- or land-intensive uses will
be located. These centers differ from Regional Growth Centers in that they consist of an
extensive land base and the exclusion of non-manufacturing or manufacturing-supportive
uses is an essential feature of their character. These areas are characterized by a
significant amount of manufacturing, industrial, and advanced technology employment
uses. Large retail and non-related office uses are discouraged. Other than caretakers'
residences, housing is prohibited within Manufacturing/Industrial Centers. However,
these centers should be linked to high density housing areas by an efficient multimodal
transportation system. The efficiency of rail and overland freight to markets is the critical
element for manufacturers and industries located in these centers.
The designated Manufacturing/Industrial Centers, within Pierce County are as follows:
Manufacturing/Industrial Centers
Frederickson
Port of Tacoma
Within Pierce County, a limited number of additional centers may be designated through
amendment of the Countywide Planning Policies consistent with the process below.
Designated centers may vary substantially in the number of households and jobs they
contain today. The intent of the Countywide Planning Policies is that Regional Growth
Centers become attractive places to live and work, while supporting efficient public
services such as transit and being responsive to the local market for jobs and housing.
The Countywide Planning Policies establish target levels for housing and employment
needed to achieve the benefit of an Urban Center. Some Centers will reach these levels
over the next twenty years, while for others the criteria set a path for growth over a longer
term, providing capacity to accommodate growth beyond the twenty year horizon.
County-Level Centers Designation Process
The County and any municipality in the County that is planning to include a Metropolitan
Center, Regional Growth Center, Countywide Center or Manufacturing /Industrial Center
within its boundaries shall specifically define the area of such center within its
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 71
comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan shall include policies aimed at focusing
growth within the center and along corridors consistent with the applicable criteria
contained within the Countywide Planning Policies. The County or municipality shall
adopt regulations that reinforce the center's designation.
No more often than once every two years, the Pierce County Regional Council (PCRC)
shall invite jurisdictions with centers already adopted in their comprehensive plan that
seek to be designated as centers in the Countywide Planning Policies to submit a request
for such designation. Said request shall be processed in accordance with established
procedures for amending the Countywide Planning Policies.
Each jurisdiction seeking to have a center designated in the Countywide Planning Policies
shall provide the PCRC with a report demonstrating that the proposed center meets the
minimum criteria for designation together with a statement and map describing the center,
its consistency with the applicable Countywide Planning Policies, and how adopted
regulations will serve the center.
Transit services shall be defined in the broadest sense and shall include local and regional
bus service, rail where appropriate, vanpool, carpool, and other transportation demand
measures designed to reduce vehicle trips.
The minimum designation criteria to establish a candidate center by type are as follows:
Metropolitan Center
Area: up to 1-1 /2 square miles in size;
Capital Facilities: served by sanitary sewers;
Employment: a minimum of 25 employees per gross acre of non-residential lands with a
minimum of 15,000 employees;
Population: a minimum of ten households per gross acre; and
Transit: serve as a focal point for regional and local transit services.
Regional Growth Center
Area: up to 1-1 /2 square miles in size;
Capital Facilities: served by sanitary sewers;
Employment: a minimum of 2,000 employees;
Population: a minimum of seven households per gross acre; and
Transit: serve as a focal point for regional and local transit services.
Countywide Center
Area: up to one square mile in size;
Capital Facilities: served by sanitary sewers;
Employment: a minimum of 1,000 employees;
Population: a minimum of 6 households per gross acre; and
Transit: serve as a focal point for local transit services.
Manufacturing /Industrial Center
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 72
Capital Facilities: served by sanitary sewers;
Employment: a minimum of 7,500 jobs and/or 2,000 truck trips per day; and
Transportation: within one mile of a state or federal highway or national rail line.
The minimum criteria report and statement shall be reviewed by the Growth Management
Coordinating Committee for consistency with Countywide Planning Policies, the Transportation
Coordination Committee for consistency with transportation improvements plans of WSDOT,
and with Pierce Transit's comprehensive plan. The coordinating committees shall provide joint
recommendation to the PCRC.
Once included in the Countywide Planning Policies, the jurisdiction where a center is located may
go on to seek regional designation of the center from the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)
in accordance with its established criteria and process.
In order to be designated a Regional Growth Center the center should meet the regional criteria
and requirements including those in VISION 2020 2040, the regional growth, economic and
transportation strategy as maybe amended and designated by the Puget Sound Regional Council.
After county-level designation occurs within the Countywide Planning Policies and until
regional-level designation by the PSRC occurs the center shall be considered a "candidate"
Regional Growth Center.
Each jurisdiction which designates a Regional Growth Center shall establish 20-year household
and employment growth targets for that Center. The expected range of targets will reflect the
diversity of the various centers and allow communities to effectively plan for needed services.
The target ranges not only set a policy for the level of growth envisioned for each center, but also
for the timing and funding of infrastructure improvements. Reaching the target ranges will
require careful planning of public investment and providing incentives for private investments.
SEE TABLE PLACED IN APPENDIX A THAT COMPARES REGIONAL AND COUNTY-WIDE CHRITERIA~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 73
Urban Growth Outside of Centers
A variety of urban land uses and areas of growth will occur outside of designated centers but
within the UGA. Local land use plans will guide the location, scale, timing and design of
development within UGAs. The UGA will be where the majority of future growth and
development will be targeted. Development should be encouraged which complements the
desired focus of growth into centers and supports a multimodal transportation system. For
example, policies which encourage infill and revitalization of communities would help to achieve
the regional and statewide objectives of a compact and concentrated development pattern within
urban areas. The Countywide Planning Policies provide guidance for development and the
provision of urban services to support development within the UGA.
Satellite Cities and Towns
The cities and towns in the rural areas are a significant part of Pierce County's diversity and;
heritage. They have an important role as local trade and community centers. These cities and
towns are the appropriate providers of local rural services for the community. They also
contribute to the variety of development patterns and housing choices within the county. As
municipalities, these cities and towns provide urban services and are located within the County's
designated UGA. The urban services, residential densities and mix of land uses may differ from
those of the large, contiguous portion of the UGA in Pierce County.
■ Countyywide Planning Policy
1. The County shall designate a countywide UGA, and identify where appropriate
municipal UGAs within the countywide UGA, based on consultations between the
County and each municipality end Nursuunt to t'~° fo11V VY~l lg Nro °ss:
pra~iminnr~~ (~nii,~~~~ ~arirYnn~inr~ n~Nrnr~nra~ nnim~~~~x»~A TT(TA 1.1 1 1\rllllllll(Al VVl.L11L'' ~.N.r~J1~111A~1V11 Vl ~,J1V~lV~J\r~.L \rV4Lll~y YY1\.LV IJVL 1,
~ .......................1%ni~ia~...pr~p~s%al.s...f~r...n~unic%ipal%%UA.s...made...b~y...n~u~n%i~%ip~l%itie%s
1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~un~~'~r~~'i~°~~~~f ~~i~~t~ua~ ~'~un~~~a~~~T~~~~pr~p~~~~~~~'~~~~°r~ng
~rn~xrf~ ~/<<]N~]lTAW1AN~ ~ n~ nr~~Ar~n n~~ n+~~~~r~c+• 1.1.1 ~J 1 V V V l.ll 1 Y 1(.Lll(.L~ V 111V 111. L >tr L trl l l.`+11(.L (.L11~.L ~J l.(.L11~.L(.Ll ~.L~J'
..................................................~~~r~~nati~n...with..~the~..coun~y~i~de...p~~icuie~; uupa~rtiEU~ar~y
~~nra nr~ ~rYr~nii~~iirn~ ~nr~~ r~rArAr~~n~~nr~• r»~iirn~ rarniirnar 1,11 V \r V l l (.L~11 V 4L1 ~ 4t1(Al 1(Al l\.L ~J1 V V 1 V lA ~1 V 11, 11(.L 1.4L1 lA1 1 \r V 4ll tr \r ~J, . .
.
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lan~s%%%tr~r~sp~rtati~n%%%an~%%%aff~rdable%%%h~us%~ng
'Z n~TAr~nNNir~rr v.rnr►nnA~ miir»n~Nnl TT(TA l,niir~~nriAC+• 1.1.J V Y\r11lA~1~1111~ ~,I1V~lV~J\r~.L 1114tllltrl{JIAl IJVL 1 VVI~Lll\.L1.L11~iJ,
:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~guap~~be~~~;~ ~r~p~~~d~ U.G ~~~~'~~~ar~ .
1.2fi1N County referral of proposed UGA designations to the Pierce County
Regional Council.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 74
1.2n1. l The Pierce County Regional Council may refer the proposed
designations to the Growth Management Coordinating
Committee (GMCC), or its successor entity for technical
advice and for a report.
l .~an.2 The Pierce County Regional Council may conduct public
meetings to review the proposed designation and, at such
meetings, may accept oral or written comments and
communications from the public.
1.2x1%.3 At the conclusion of its review and analysis, the Pierce
County Regional Council shall make a recommendation to
the County and to the municipalities in the County.
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~~mm»r~ih~ Trn~A ~r~~~-rnnr~~min ~AirA~nr~mAr~+ ~r ~irAn+i~~A ~~A ~Ar~~rn~ ~,Vllllllulll~~, i lu.uv~ c.~llu LvV1lVlllly Lv ~ vlv~lllvll~ Vl ullw~l v v v~ ~llv ~vll~lul
p>>nA+ Cn>>r~~ ~rn«rf~ ~/~nr~nrrAmAr~+ I--IAr]N1Yl(TCr Rnnr~ ~~A ~A~in~~~i~rA ~n~~~ n~ 1 u~v~ ~VUllu vlv vv ill Lviullu~vlllvll~ ilvullll~.~ l~vulu, ~llv lv~l,~lu~l v v vvu~ Vl
~~A ~n>>r~hr n~n~~ nnr~ni~Ar n~nr~~inr~ n~~1~A T T(t ~ACr1(TNr]~1llYl nr~ir~nr~nA ~ll~ .~V~ll~y ,~11~11 ~Vll,~l.,~~l ~~VN~1V11 Vl ~ll~ .~~,L ~ ~~,~1~11~~1~11 V~ Vl.,~lll~ll~~.
T~A n~nr~~A~ T T~ ~ACr1l7Ylrl~1l~Y1(7 n~n~~ ~A 4rnY~nmi~~A~ ~n ~~A ~Amn~n+i~~A ~n~iAn 1.~ 111 ~..~VN~~..~ ~.~L 1 u~,~1~11~~1V11,~ ,~11~.11 V~ ~l~ll,~llll~~~u ~V ~ll~ 1~~1,~1~~1 V ~ VVUI~,~
n~Ann~ m>>r~inir~~~i~~r ire +~A ~n>>r~~~r nr~~ nni~ m>>r~inir~n~i~~~ c~n~~ nnr~ni~Ar Vl ~u.,11111u111.,1N~11~ y 111 ~ll~ ~,V ull~ y ullu ,~~1..~ 111u111~1Nu11~~ ,~11~11 .,~ll,~lu~l
rn+i~nn~inr~ ~~r rAnn~>>~inr~ nr nr~ir»r~nA 1u~111vu~1V11 Vy 1vuv1u~1V11 Vl Vlulllullvv.
1.~~2 Once adopted by the County, the UGA designations shall not be changed
except in accordance with the Countywide Policy on "Amendments and
Transition."
1 ~nco~r~.~e efficient use of u~h~.rl land h r' ma ,~~l~~~n~ the de ~'eloN~lent
v~~~Ar~~~r~~ ~~AV~c+~~r~r~ iir~nr~ ~nr~~c+ rnin~ nn n~~mr~n~r~rr ~A~rA~~rmAr~~ ~~r~~ ~.JVL`+11~1(.Ll Vl ~L11iJ1.111~ 4t1 VlAll 11.L11~.LiJ~ i,74LV11 l.L~,7 l.L\.l V (.Lll~.rlll~ \.l\d
V \.+1V~.l111V11~ lll(.L~
a~~~c;V~°~~~~~e~d~~~~~i~~'~~~Pp DP
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 75
1.3 Accommodate the region's growth first and foremost in the urban area.
.........www Ensurennnthatnnndeyelopmentnnninnnruralnnnnareasnnnnisnnnconsistentnnwithnnthennnruralnnnynisninonnnn~sene
MPP-DP-4~ .
nln.4 ......nDnirectnncommercnal, nretanil,.nandnncommunnt~ nserynices nthatnnseryennruralnnresdents
into nei~hborn~ cities and existin~_actiyity areas to prevent the conversion
of rural land into commercial uses see MPP DP 16 .
2. The following specific factors and criteria shall dictate the size and boundaries of
UGAs:
2.1 Size
2.1.4 UGAs must be of sufficient size to accommodate only the
urban growth proj ected to occur over the succeeding 20-year
planning period taking into account the following:
a. land with natural constraints, such as critical areas
(environmentally- sensitive land);
b. agricultural land to be preserved;
c. greenbelts and open space;
d. New Fully Contained Communities pursuant to RCW
§ 36.70A.350 c~nsist°nt ~~~th...~heuuclu~susuiuficatuion of
no,~,+arr nr rnani~iarl ir, +1~,v ~ITCT(ll~T ~M(1 l~l~,-, ~TvizT
~„11~~ ~n~~~;,-,off ~nY,-„-,,,,~;~;vr Irv ~h~r~~~or;~o,~ 1~,~~ lu~~y ~~l~~~l~l~~ ~~~~u~~~l~~~l~.~ ~1~ ~~~~~~~~~~l~~u ~y
Y,-,;~a~ „nvr ; ~ ror;~o~~;~l n~~~~r;n„r +~~,-,on ~~ll~~~u u~~~, 1~.~~u~l~~l~~ ~l ~ ~~~~u.~ ~y N~,~ ~l~u
n~rlon ~n,~,Y,-,ar~;~l n~f;~o n~hor ~rono~~a n~
A,~,-,~ln~„~,-,A~~ ~A~tAr~ ~~~nr~~>11A 11n„~;~~ viilNlv~iilvii~ vviiwi~, c.~llviuuviv iivu.~lli~ uilu
~rnr~nr~nr~n+inr~ mnrlnli+iAn 1~]NlTA nnn1A rAni~'IAY1+inl ~luil.~Nvl~u~lvil ilivuuli~lvu. ~ ~ iul~v wuly iv.~luvli~iui
nr~l~r r1A~~A1nr~mAr~~ r1nAn r~n+ r7>>nli~~ nn n r~A«~ ~i,ll~r y u~ ~.,~~N~~l.,~~~ u~.,,~ ,.luu~l~ y ~ ~l~ ~u~~ y
nnr~~ni~Arl nnmm>>r~i~~~ ~nr rn~rr~nnAn n~~11ic+ pnlin~~ ~~~~~l~~u~ll~y ~~l Nu~N~,~~,~ ~l ~1~~.~ 1 ~~~.,y
;Deleted reference to VISION 2040 and fully
contained communities. See policy 4 in Rural
Element. ~
e. maintaining a supply of developable land sufficient to
allow market forces to operate and precluding the
possibility of a land monopoly but no more than is
absolutely essential to achieve the above purpose;
f. existing projects with development potential at
various stages of the approval or permitting process
(i. e., the "pipeline");
g. land use patterns created by subdivisions, short plats
or large lot divisions;
h. build-out of existing development and areas which
are currently only partially built out;
i. follow existing parcel boundary lines (if a parcel is
split and more than 50% is within the urban growth
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 76
boundary, the entire parcel shall be considered part of
the UGA as long as the increase does not exceed 2%
of the municipality's total UGA).
2.1.5 The County, and each municipality in the County, shall
develop and propose objective standards and criteria to
disaggregate the State Office of Financial Management's
Countywide growth forecasts and VISION 2040 Regional
Growth Strate~Y forecasts for the allocation of proj ected
population to the County and municipalities, utilising us t'~°
Nrim~ crit°riu the availability and concurrency of public
facilities and services with the impact of development,.
2.1.3 The County shall use a consistent countywide targeting
process for allocating population and employment growth
consuistentuuwuithuutheuuureguionaluuuvuiusuiuon includin~uuuestablishinguuuuu~a)
localM emplo~mentMtar~ets,M ~b~MlocalMhousinMtar~etsM_basedMon
population projections, and (c) local housing and
employmentxxtargetsxxforxxxeachxxxdesxi~gnatedxxregxionalxxx~growth
center. ~MPP-DP-3 ~
2.2 Boundaries
2.2.1 Any of the following shall be considered in determining the
location of UGA boundaries:
a. geographic, topographic, and manmade features;
b. public facility and service availability, limits and
extensions;
c. jurisdictional boundaries including special
improvement districts;
d. location of designated natural resource lands and
critical areas;
e. avoidance of unserviceable islands of County land
surrounded by other jurisdictional entities;
f. Destination 2030 urban/rural line and PSCAA burn
an me.
Phasin of Development within the UGA e
2.3 The County and each municipality in the County shall seek to direct growth
as follows:
a. first to cities, centers and urbanized areas with existing infrastructure
capacity;
b. second to areas that are already urbanized such that infrastructure
improvements can be easily extended; and
c. last to areas requiring major infrastructure improvements.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4
2.3.1 Capital facilities plans shall identify existing, planned, and future
infrastructure needs within UGAs.
2.3.2 The County and each municipality in the County should identify
appropriate levels of service and concurrency standards that address
schools, sewer, water, and parks.
2.3.3 The County and each municipality in the County shall identify
appropriate levels of service and multimodal concurrency standards
that address roads.
2.4 Municipal UGA boundaries shall be determined as set forth above and with
consideration for the following additional factors:
2.4.1 the VISION 2Q24uuu2040 document, including Multi-county
Planning Policies;
2.4.2 the carrying capacity of the land considering natural
resources, agricultural land and environmentally-sensitive
lands;
2.4.3 population, housing and employment projections;
2.4.4 financial capabilities and urban services capacities;
2.4.5 consistency and compatibility with neighborhood, local and
regional plans;
2.4.6 the existing land use and subdivision pattern.
2.5 The UGA in unincorporated portions of the County shall be limited to the
following:
2.5.1 build-out of existing partially developed areas with urban
services;
2.5.2 new fully contained communities;
2.5.3 redevelopment corridors;
2.6 The County's UGA maybe extended to allow for build-out of newly
developed areas only if development capacity within municipal urban
growth boundaries and growth in the areas identified in Policy 2.5 is
determined to be inadequate to meet total population and employment
projections consistent with the other policies set forth herein.
2.7 Encourage efficient use of urban land by maximizing the development.
potential of existing urban lands, such as advancing development that
achieves zoned density see MPP-DP-2~.
Urban Public ►5ervices
3. Within the delineated UGAs, the County, and each municipality in the County, shall
adopt measures to ensure that growth and development are timed and phased
consistent with the provision of adequate public facilities and services.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 78
3.1 "Adequacy" shall be defined by locally established service level standards
for local facilities and services both on the site and off site. For facilities and
services provided by other agencies, adequacy shall be defined by level of
service standards mutually agreed upon by the service provider and the
jurisdiction served. The definition of levels of service standards may allow
for the phasing-in of such standards as may be provided in the capital
facilities element of County or municipal comprehensive plans.
3.2 "Public facilities" include:
3.2.1 streets, roads, highways, sidewalks, street and road lighting
systems, and traffic signals
3.2.2 domestic water systems
3.2.3 sanitary sewer systems
3.2.4 storm sewer systems
3.2.5 park and recreational facilities
3.2.6 schools
3.3 "Public services" include:
3.3.1 fire protection and suppression
3.3.2 law enforcement
3.3.3 public health
3.3.4 education
3.3.5 recreation
3.3.6 environmental protection
3.3.7 other governmental services, including power, transit and
libraries
3.4 Public Sanitary Sewer Service. The following policies shall be applicable to
the provision of public sanitary sewer service in the County and its
municipalities:
3.4.1 Relationship of Sewer Interceptors to Comprehensive Plans.
The timing, phasing and location of sewer interceptor
expansions shall be included in the capital facilities element
of the applicable municipal or County comprehensive plans
and shall be consistent with Countywide Planning Policies,
the UGA boundaries and the local comprehensive land use
plan. The phased expansions shall be coordinated among the
County and the municipalities therein and shall give priority
to existing unserved urbanized areas within the UGA except
as provided in 3.4.2 a. and b. below.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 79
3.4.2 Public Sewer Interceptor and Service Extensions/Expansions
a. Public sewer interceptors shall only extend or expand
outside of UGAs where:
(i) sewer service will remedy ground water
contamination and other health problems by
replacing septic systems, or
(11) a formal binding agreement to service an
approved planned development was made
prior to the establishment of the UGA, or
(111) an interceptor will convey wastewater
originating within a designated UGA to
sewerage facilities in another designated
UGA, or
b. New sanitary sewer service inside UGAs must follow
phasing of capital facilities as provided in the
municipality's adopted comprehensive plan or any
adopted Sewer Master Plan unless:
(i) sewer service will remedy ground water
contamination and other health problems by
replacing septic systems and community on-
site sewage systems, or
(ii) anew municipality incorporates, or
(iii) a formal binding agreement to service an
approved planned development was made
prior to the establishment of the UGA;
(iv) an interceptor will convey wastewater
originating within a designated UGA to
sewerage facilities in another designated
UGA.
c. New sanitary sewer service connections from
interceptors shall not be made available to properties
outside the UGA except as provided in (a) above.
d. Sanitary Sewer service shall not be provided in areas
designated "rural," except as provided in
3.4.2(a)(i)(ii)
e. A sewer interceptor or trunk line constructed or
planned for construction through a rural area to
convey wastewater from a designated UGA to
sewerage facilities in a designated UGA shall not
constitute a change of conditions that can be used as
the basis for a change inland use designation or
urban/rural designation, either for adj acent or nearby
properties.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 80
3.4.3 On-Site and Community Sewage Systems
a. In order to protect the public health and safety of the
citizens of Pierce County and of the municipalities in
the County, to preserve and protect environmental
quality including, but not limited to, Water quality and
to protect aquifer recharge areas, to work toward the
goal of eliminating the development of new
residential and commercial uses on on-site and
community sewage systems within the urban areas in
the unincorporated County or within municipal
boundaries consistent with the Countywide Planning
Policies, the County and each municipality shall
adopt policies on the use of on-site and community
sewage including:
(i) the most current Tacoma-Pierce County
Board of Health Land Use Regulations for
On-Site and Community Sewerage Systems
(11) pollcleS Whlch requlre Connectl0n t0 Sanltary
sewers when they are available in the
following circumstances:
(a) if a septic system fails,
(b) for all new development except
existing single-family lots,
(c) for development with dry sewer
systems.
(iii) if sewer service is not available, dry sewer
facilities shall be required.
b. New industrial development on community or on-site
sewage systems shall not be allowed in urban areas in
the unincorporated County or within municipal
boundaries. Sanitary facilities necessary for
recreation sites may be exempt from this policy.
c. It is not the intent of these policies to require any
individual property owner on an existing, properly
permitted and functioning septic system to connect to
a public sewer unless:
(i) the septic system fails;
(ii) or the system is not in compliance with the
most current version of the Tacoma-Pierce
County Board of Health Land Use
Regulations or the current use of the property
changes;
(111) or the density of development on the property
Increases;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 81
(iv) or the existing septic system was originally
permitted as an interim system to be
abandoned when sewers became available;
(v) or a municipality had a mandatory policy.
3.4.4 Achieving an adopted Level of Sewer Service
a. The County, each municipality, and sewer providers
shall work together to achieve adopted levels of
service for sewers. All sewer service providers shall
work with municipalities to process sewer permits in
a manner that allows municipalities to comply with
timelines imposed under RCw 36.70B.080(1).
b. The County, each municipality, and their sewer
providers shall work to secure funding sources to
achieve the adopted levels of sewer service such as:
(i) Grants
(ii) Public Works Trust Fund
(iii) State Revolving Fund
(iv) Centennial Clean Water Fund
(v) Municipally imposed surcharges to fund
sewer improvements in the jurisdictions
where the surcharges are collected.
3.4.5 The availability or potential for availability of sewer
treatment plant capacity shall not be used to justify expansion
of the sewer system or development in a manner inconsistent
with the Countywide Planning Policy, UGA boundaries and
the applicable municipal or County comprehensive land use
plans.
3.5 Non-Municipal Service-Provision Entities
3.5.1 Special purpose districts shall conform their capital facility
and service plans so as to be consistent with the capital
facility element of the County or municipal comprehensive
plans.
3.5.2 where facilities and services will be provided by special
purpose, improvement or facility service provision entities,
such entities shall coordinate the provision of facilities and
services with the County, and each affected municipality in
the County, so that new growth and development is, in fact,
served by adequate public facilities and services at the time
of development.
3.6 The County, and each municipality in the County, shall adopt plans and
implementation measures to ensure that sprawl and leapfrog development
are discouraged in accordance with the following:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 82
3.6.1 urban growth within UGA boundaries is located first in areas
already characterized by urban growth that have existing
public facility and service capacities to serve such
development;
3.6.2 urban growth is located next in areas already characterized by
urban growth that will be served by a combination of both
existing public facilities and services and any additional
needed public facilities and services that are provided by
either public or private sources;
3.6.3 "urban growth" refers to a predominance of areas or uses
within the UGA which exhibit one or a combination of the
following:
a. intensive use of land for buildings and structures;
b. high percentage of impermeable surfaces;
c. incompatibility with the primary use of land for the
production of food, other agricultural products or
fiber, or the extraction of mineral resources;
d. need for urban governmental services.
3.6.4 "Characterized by urban growth" refers to:
a. land having urban growth on it;
b. land located in relationship to an area with urban
growth on it as to be appropriate for urban growth.
3.6.5 Urban government services shall be provided primarily by
cities and urban government services shall not be provided in
rural areas.
3.7 Public facilities and services will be considered available "at the time of
development" as follows:
3.7.1 as to all public facilities and services other than
transportation, if the facility or service is in place at the time
demand is created, or if the County or municipality has made
appropriate provision to meet the demand for the public
facility or service through one or more of the following
tec lques:
a. inclusion of the public facility or service in the
applicable County or municipal capital facilities plan
element and specification of the full source of the
funding for such project;
b. impact fees;
c. required land dedication;
d. assessment districts;
e. users fees and charges;
f. utility fees;
g. other.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 83
3.7.2 as to transportation facilities, if needed transportation
improvements are within the then existing 6-year capital
facilities plan element and program, but only if a specific
financial commitment to the transportation improvement
proj ect has been made.
3.7.3 public facilities and services will not be considered available
at the time of development unless they are provided
consistently with the applicable level of service standards
adopted in the capital facilities element of the Comprehensive
Plan.
3.8 Public facility and service adequacy shall be determined by the County, and
each municipality in the County, based upon:
3.8.1 the specific public facility or service;
3.8.2 the adopted or established level of service standard
a. established by each municipality for local facilities
an services;
b. by mutual agreement between provider and
municipality served for other facilities and services;
c. established through interlocal agreements for cross-
jurisdictional facilities and services.
3.8.3 the current usage of the existing public facilities and services,
existing development commitments and obligations, the
vested ornon-vested status of pipeline approvals or existing
lots of record, and new development applications.
3.8.4 where development proj ects partially meet adequacy of
public facilities and services standards, development
approval may be authorized for that portion of the project that
meets the adequacy standards or the project may be phased to
coincide with the phasing of future availability of adequate
public facilities and services.
3.9 Facility and service provision/extension to new development areas shall be
subject to the following:
3.9.1 imposition of requirement for payment of the full, but fair,
share of costs of needed facilities and services on the new
development through:
a. impact ees;
b. assessment districts;
c. user fees and charges;
d. surcharges;
e. dedication;
f. utility fees;
g. other, as appropriate.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 84
3.9.2 consideration of the total impact of the facility or service
extension on the achievement of other policies, goals and
objectives, in addition to the impact on the area being served.
3.9.3 if necessary to minimize off site impacts, specify that such
service extensions (e. g. ,sewer, water) are not subj ect to
connection by intervening landowners.
Joint Planning
4. Joint planning. Joint planning between local governments can provide numerous
possible benefits, including but not limited to:
• More efficient delivery of services
• Shared use of public facilities
• Coordinated permitting processes
• Cost-sharing for planning and construction of public facilities (e.g., water, sewer infrastructure, parks, etc.)
• Consistent development standards
• Shared regional data, including GIS data
• Proactive identification of potential issues
4.1 Joint planning maybe municipal-municipal as well as municipal-County.
The County and each municipality shall j ointly plan for the designated UGA
of that municipality (outside of municipal corporate limits) and may include
municipal utility service areas. Joint municipal-municipal planning may
occur in those other areas where the respective jurisdictions agree such
planning would be beneficial.
4.2 Any jurisdiction initiating joint planning with one or more other jurisdictions
shall do so by submitting a written proposal from its legislative authority to
the legislative authority of the other jurisdiction(s). Informing its proposal,
the initiating jurisdiction should consider the Joint Planning Framework
recommended by the Pierce County Regional Council, April 15,1993, and
adopted by Resolution No. R93-127 of the Pierce County Council, July 13,
1993. The proposal shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
4.2.1 size of the proposed joint planning study area;
4.2.2 location of the proposed study area in relation to urban growth
boundaries;
4.2.3 description of the issues proposed to be addressed in the joint
planning process;
4.2.4 proposed end-product of the joint planning process (e.g.,
amendments to comprehensive plans or implementing ordinances of
each jurisdiction, interlocal agreement, etc.);
4.2.5 proposed resources (e.g., staff, funding, technology, etc.) to be
provided by the initiating jurisdiction toward completing the joint
planning process;
4.2.6 evidence that notification of the joint planning process will be
provided to residents, property owners, businesses, service providers,
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 85
special districts, or other parties affected by the proposed joint
planning process.
4.3 A jurisdiction receiving a proposal under policy 4.2 (above) for joint
municipal-County planning required by these policies (see 4.1 above) shall
respond by either:
4.3.1 issuing a resolution of its legislative authority indicating an intent
to enter into a joint planning process as proposed; or
4.3.2 entering into discussions with the proposing jurisdiction regarding
alternatives to joint planning proposal; or
4.3.3 proposing to Pierce County that the proposal be included as part of
an appropriate community planning process, if mutually agreeable
to all jurisdictions involved.
If at any time Pierce County receives more proposals for participation in
joint planning than its resources will provide, the County shall forward the
proposals to the Pierce County Regional Council for consideration and a
recommendation on prioritization based on planning needs. The Pierce
County Regional Council shall consider proposals for j Dint planning that
have been forwarded to them, and prioritize the proposals according to the
probable benefit to the County as a whole. Prioritization shall be based on
the information included in the proposal, plus other criteria agreed upon
by the Pierce County Regional Council. These criteria could include, but
are not limited to:
4.3.4 rate of growth in the proposed study area;
4.3.5 scope of existing municipal utility provision in the proposed study
area;
4.3.6 existence of special districts serving both the proposed study area
and the municipality;
4.3.7 degree to which development standards or comprehensive plan
policies may differ between jurisdictions within the proposed study
area;
4.3.8 criteria 4.5.1 through 4.5.3 below.
4.4 when j Dint planning is required, the j Dint planning effort shall determine and
resolve issues including, but not limited to, the following:
4.4.1 how zoning, subdivision and other land use approvals in
designated UGAs of municipalities will be coordinated;
4.4.2 how appropriate service level standards for determining
adequacy and availability of public facilities and services will
be coordinated;
4.4.3 how the rate, timing, and sequencing of boundary changes
will be coordinated;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 86
4.4.4 how the provision of capital improvements to an area will be
coordinated;
4.4.5 to what extent a jurisdiction(s) may exercise extra
jurisdictional responsibility.
4.5 Joint planning maybe based upon factors including, but not limited to, the
following:
4.5.1 contemplated changes in municipal and special purpose
district boundaries;
4.5.2 the likelihood that development, capital improvements, or
regulations will have significant impacts across a
jurisdictional boundary;
4.5.3 the consideration of how public facilities and services are and
should be provided and by which jurisdiction(s).
5. Urban Development Standards.
5.1 The provisions of this section shall apply to all municipalities and UGAs
located in the County.
5.2 The following development standards shall be the minimum required for
urban developments and shall apply to all new development in UGAs,
except as provided in Section 5.6 below.
5.2.1 Streets, Roads and Arterials. All public streets, roads, and
arterials shall be constructed to the minimum requirements
outlined in the City and County Design Standards adopted
pursuant to RCW 35.78.030 and RCW 43.32.020. Curbs,
gutters, and sidewalks will be required on both sides. Private
streets and roads may be approved, but shall be required to
meet these requirements.
5.2.2 Street Lighting. Street lighting shall be required at signalized
intersections. Street lighting in new subdivisions shall be
provided at all intersections controlled by a traffic signal or
sign, and at certain road corners, elbows, and cul-de-sacs.
Installation and maintenance of street lighting in subdivisions
shall be the responsibility of the developer or homeowner's
association unless the local jurisdiction assumes
responsibility. When ownership of the street lighting has not
been assumed by the local jurisdiction, the light standards
shall be located on private property.
5.2.3 Domestic Water. A domestic water system must meet
requirements under RCW 70.119 and WAC 246-290 for
group "A" systems, or the functional equivalent.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 87
5.2.4 Storm Water Facilities. A storm water drainage system shall
be designed and constructed in accordance with the
Department of Ecology Storm Drainage Technical Manual or
a locally adopted storm water manual approved by DOE.
5.2.5 Sanitary Sewer. (Refer to policy 3.4)
5.2.6 The County and each municipality shall develop policies that
require developers to extend sewers to their developments to
design the facilities to allow further extension to adjacent
unsewered areas.
5.2.7 Fire Protection. Fire protection and flow requirements shall
be in accordance with Pierce County Code Chapter 15.12.
5.2.8 Solid Waste and Recycling. Garbage pick-up shall be
provided weekly, and recycling and yard waste pick-up
biweekly, consistent with federal and state laws and
regu ations.
5.3 It is desired by the signatories to these policies that the following Urban
Development Standards be the minimum goals for urban developments in
UGAs.
5.3.1 Street Cleaning. Standards for street cleaning shall be
discussed and should be developed, consistent with
requirements of federal and state water quality standards.
5.3.2 Transit. Urban transit service plans adopted by the Pierce
County Public Transit Benefit Authority.
5.3.3 Library. Appropriate jurisdictions should provide 450 square
feet of library space per 1,000 persons.
5.3.4 Parks and Recreation. Provisions for parks at a level of 3.0
acres ofneighborhood/community parks per 1,000
population should be made for all plats and short plats as
required by RCW 58.17. Such provision can be made either
through dedication to the public of land, or through provision
of funds, as mitigation, for park land purposes.
5.4 All development within an UGA shall be provided services pursuant to the
provision of this agreement and the joint planning agreements adopted
pursuant to it. It is recognized that the County may provide certain urban
services within an UGA, and that cities may provide certain urban services
within the same area, but outside their current municipal boundaries.
5.5 The County and each municipality shall enter into an interlocal cooperation
agreement providing for the approval and delivery of public facilities and
services in the UGA. Such further agreements shall include, where
appropriate, provisions relating to services such as law enforcement and
schools and the services of special purpose districts and other service
prove ers.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 88
5.6 Ordinances allowing low impact development standards and create
environmentally-sensitive development shall be allowed as alternative
development standards. Any other ordinances allowing variances and
deviations to the urban development standards maybe adopted by each
responsible jurisdiction for those limited circumstances necessary to allow
for recognition of community plans and goals, recognized historic character,
or special physical or engineering circumstances, as long as such variances
and deviations are otherwise consistent with these policies. A legislative
authority adopting a variance or deviation to the minimum urban
development standards under this section must inform the Pierce County
Regional Council (PCRC) of such adoption.
6. The County and each municipality shall adopt within their respective comprehensive
plans, policies to ensure that development within the UGA uses land efficiently,
provides for a wide variety of uses, conserves natural resources, and allows for the
connection of communities to an efficient, transit-oriented, multimodal
transportation system. Policies shall:
6.1 provide for more choices in housing types and moderate increases in density
to achieve at least an average net density of four units per acre;
6.2 support infill and compact development; and
6.3 provide for land uses that encourage travel by foot, bike and transit.
The County and each municipality shall provide for conveniently located,
appropriately scaled commercial development to serve the immediate local needs of
the surrounding community by encouraging revitalization of underused commercial
areas before establishing new areas.
8. The County and each municipality shall adopt plans to encourage concentrated
development within the UGA which will accommodate the twenty year proj ected
population and employment growth.
9. Satellite Cities and Towns are local focal points where people come together for a
variety of activities, including business, shopping, living and recreation. These cities
and towns may include the core of small to medium sized cities and towns and may
also be located in unincorporated areas. Often Satellite Cities and Towns include a
strong public presence because they are the location of city hall, main street and
other public spaces.
10. Satellite Cities and Towns will be characterized by a compact urban form that
includes a moderately dense mix oflocally-oriented retail, jobs and housing that
promotes walking, transit usage and community activity.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 89
10.1 Satellite Cities and Towns will be developed at a higher density than
surrounding ldl U(All ulll.l rural areas;
10.2 small scale forms of intensification such as accessory housing units and
development of vacant lots and parking lots help achieve the qualities of
centers while preserving the neighborhood character;.
10.3 provide shopping and business services that serve surrounding rural areas.
11. At a minimum, Satellite Cities and Towns will be served by State Routes which
connect them to other centers and to the regional high capacity transit system. In
some instances, Satellite Cities and Towns may have direct connections to the local
public transportation system.
OVERALL POLICIES FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL CENTERS
T~~~~~~~Concepts and Pj~inciples r c~~cvic
12. Centers shall be designated based upon the following:
12.1 consistency with specific criteria for centers adopted in the Countywide
Planning Policies;
12.2 the center's location in the County and its potential for fostering a logical and
desirable countywide transportation system and distribution of centers;
12.3 the total number of centers in the County that can be reasonably developed
based on projected growth over the next twenty years;
12.4 environmental analysis which shall include demonstration that urban
services including an adequate supply of drinking water are available to
serve projected growth within the center and that the jurisdiction is capable
of ensuring concurrent urban services to new development;
12.5 if a jurisdiction designates a center, it must also adopt the center's
designation and provisions in its comprehensive plans and development
regulations to ensure that growth targeted to centers is achieved and urban
services will be provided;
12.6 Centers shall be characterized by all of the following:
12.6.1 clearly defined geographic boundaries;
12.6.2 intensity/density of land uses sufficient to support high
capacity transit;
12.6.3 pedestrian-oriented land uses and amenities;
12.6.4 pedestrian connections shall be provided throughout;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 90
12.6.5 urban design standards which reflect the local community;
12.6.6 provisions to reduce single-occupancy vehicle use especially
during peak hours and commute times;
12.6.7 provisions for bicycle use;
12.6.8 sufficient public open spaces and recreational opportunities;
12.6.9 uses which provide both daytime and nighttime activities;
and
12.6.10 centers shall be located in urban growth areas
13. Each jurisdiction which designates a center within its comprehensive plan shall
define the type of center and specify the exact geographic boundaries of the center.
Centers shall not exceed one and one-half square miles of land and Countywide
centers shall not exceed one square mile of land.
_13:1MMMMMMMMyInfrastructure and services shall be either present and available or planned
and financed consistent with the expected rate of growth.
13.2 Priority for transportation and infrastructure funds shall be liven to
designated centers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~n
Design Features of Centers
14. The County and each jurisdiction that designates a center within its comprehensive
plan shall encourage density and development to achieve targeted growth.
14.1 Any of the following approaches could be used to implement center
development:
14.1.1 encouraging higher residential densities within centers;
14.1.2 avoiding creation of large blocks ofsingle-use zones;
14.1.3 allowing for greater intensity of use within centers;
14.1.4 increasing building heights, greater floor/area ratios within
centers;
14.1.5 minimizing setbacks within centers;
14.1.6 allowing buildings to locate close to street to enhance
pedestrian accessibility; and
14.1.7 encouraging placement of parking to rear of structures.
14.2 Designated centers are expected to receive a higher~%pr~portl~nsi~nificant
share, of projected growth in conjunction with periodic disaggregation of
countywide population allocations
15. Centers shall provide necessary capital facilities needed to accommodate the
projected growth in population and employment. Facilities include, but are not
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 91
limited to, roads, sewers and other utilities, schools, parks, and open space. In order
to provide balance between higher intensity of use within centers, public and/or
private open space shall be provided.
16. Streetscape amenities (landscaping, furniture, etc.) shall be provided within centers
to create a pedestrian friendly environment.
17. The following regulatory mechanisms shall be used within centers:
17.1 Adopt development standards that encourage pedestrian-scaled development
such as those that address:
17.1.1 interconnections between buildings and sidewalks;
17.1.2 pedestrian links between residential and non-residential
areas;
17.1.3 street trees/furniture; minimize separations between uses; and
17.1.4 minimizing separations between uses.
Transportation, Parking and Circulation
18. To encourage transit use within centers, jurisdictions shall establish mechanisms to
limit the use of single occupancy vehicles. Such mechanisms should include:
18.1 charges for parking;
18.2 limiting the number of off street parking spaces;
18.3 establishing minimum and maximum parking requirements;
18.4 commute trip reduction (CTR) measures and other transportation demand
management measures; and
18.5 development of commuter programs for multiple employers not otherwise
affected by the CTR lawx;xxxand~x
ul 8.6 providing nonmotorized transportation facilities.
19. Centers should receive a high priority for the location ofhigh-capacity transit
stations and/or transit centers.
20. Locate higher densities/intensities of use close to transit stops within centers and
seek opportunities to:
20.1 create a core area to support transit and high occupancy vehicle use.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 92
20.2 allow/encourage all types of transit facilities (transit centers, bus pullouts,
etc.) within centers; and
20.3 establish incentives for developers to provide transit and transportation
demand management supportive amenities.
21. Allow on-street parking within centers in order to narrow the streetscape, provide a
buffer between moving traffic and pedestrians, and provide common parking areas.
22. Provisions for non-motorized transportation shall be provided, including but not
limited to:
22.1 bicycle-friendly roadway design;
22.2 wider outside lane or shared parking/bike lanes;
22.3 bike-activated signals;
22.4 covered, secure bicycle parking at all places of employment;
22.5 bicycle racks; and
22.6 pedestrian pathways.
Implementation Strategies
23. Jurisdictions should consider incentives for development within Centers such as:
23.1 streamlined permitting;
23.2 financial incentives;
23.3 density bonuses or transfer of development rights;
23.4 using SEPA Planned Action provisions to streamline environmental review
by conducting environmental analysis during planning and providing permit
applicants and public with more certainty of how impacts will be addressed;
and
23.5 shared mitigation such as stormwater detention and j Dint parking.
24. The hierarchy of centers shall be one criteria used to prioritize that portion of
countywide and regional funding distribution oriented toward urban transportation
improvements. see MPP-DP-11 to 131
25. Su ort more efficient transit services throw h the develo ment of trans ortation .................................................PP...............................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................................P......
............................................................P.......................................
infrastructure within and between countywide and regional centers. Recognize
that both the roadway and nonmotorized network have a role in promoting more
utilized transit services
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 93
METROPOLITAN CENTER
T~~~~~~~Concepts and Principles r c,~ a vY c
25. Metropolitan Centers function as anchors within the region for a high density mix of
business, residential, public, cultural and recreational uses, and day and night
activity. They are characterized by their historic role as the central business districts
and regional center of commerce. Metropolitan Centers may also serve national or
international roles.
Design
26. Metropolitan Centers shall plan for a development pattern that will provide a
successful mix of uses and densities that will efficiently support high capacity transit
and shall plan to meet the following criteria:
26.1 a minimum of 50 employees per gross acre ofnon-residential lands;
26.2 a minimum of 15 households per gross acre;
26.3 a minimum of 30,000 employees; and
26.4 not exceed a maximum of 1-1/2 square miles in size.
Transportation, Parking and Circulation
27. Metropolitan Centers shall be planned to have fast and frequent high capacity transit
and other forms of transit.
REGIONAL GROWTH CENTER
T~~~~~~~Concepts and Principles Y G~)LVIG
28. Regional Growth Centers are locations that include a dense mix of business,
commercial, residential and cultural activity within a compact area. Regional
Growth Centers are targeted for employment and residential growth, and provide
excellent transportation service, including fast, convenient high capacity transit
service, as well as investment in major public amenities.
Design Features o f Centers
29. Regional Growth Centers shall plan to meet the following criteria:
29.1 a minimum of 25 employees per gross acre ofnon-residential lands; and
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 94
29.2 a minimum of 10 households per gross acre; and/or
29.3 a minimum of 15,000 employees;
29.4 not to exceed a maximum of 1-1 /2 square miles in size: • and
29.5 planning policies reco~nizin~ the need to receive a significant share of the
regional growth.
Transportation, Parking and Circulation
30. Regional Growth Centers shall plan to have fast and frequent high capacity transit,
as well as other forms of transit.
COUNTYWIDE CENTER
T~~~~~~~Concepts and Principles r c~~cvic
31. Countywide Centers are local focal points where people come together for a variety
of activities, including business, shopping, living and recreation. These centers may
include the core of small to medium sized cities and may also be located in
unincorporated areas. Often Countywide Centers include a strong public presence
because they are the location of city hall, main street and other public spaces.
Design Features o f Centers
32. Countywide Centers shall be characterized by a compact urban form that includes a
moderately dense mix oflocally-oriented retail, jobs and housing that promotes
walking, transit usage and community activity.
32.1 Countywide Centers shall be developed at a higher density than surrounding
urban areas to take advantage of connecting centers.
32.2 Small-scale forms of intensification such as accessory housing units and
development of vacant lots and parking lots help achieve the qualities of
centers while preserving neighborhood character.
3 3 . Countywide Centers shall plan for a development pattern that will provide a
successful mix of uses and densities that will efficiently support transit. Each
Countywide Center shall plan to meet the following criteria:
33.1 a minimum of 15 employees per gross acre ofnon-residential lands;
33.2 a minimum of 7 households per gross acre;
33.3 a minimum of 2,000 employees; and
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 95
33.4 not to exceed a maximum of 1 square mile in size.
Transportation, Parking and Circulation
34. At a minimum, Countywide Centers shall plan to be served by public transit and/or
ferries which connect them to other centers, to surrounding residential communities,
and to the regional high capacity transit system. Countywide Centers should have
direct connections to high capacity local and regional transit hubs.
MANUFACTURING/INDUSTRIAL CENTER
Vision
35. Manufacturing/Industrial Centers shall be locally determined and designated based
on the following steps:
3 5.1 consistency with specific criteria for Manufacturing/Industrial Centers
adopted within the Countywide Planning Policies;
3 5.2 consideration of the Center's location in the county and region, especially
relative to existing and proposed transportation facilities;
3 5.3 consideration of the total number ofManufacturing/Industrial Centers in the
County that are needed over the next twenty years based on proj ected need
for manufacturing/industrial land to satisfy regional proj ections of demand
for manufacturing/industrial land uses;
3 5.4 environmental analysis which shall include demonstration that the
jurisdiction is capable of concurrent service to new development;
35.5 adoption within the jurisdiction's comprehensive plan of the center's
designation and provisions to ensure that job growth targeted to the
Manufacturing/Industrial Center is achieved.
Design
36. Manufacturing/Industrial Centers shall be characterized by the following:
36.1 clearly defined geographic boundaries;
36.2 intensity of land uses sufficient to support alternatives to single-occupancy
vehicle use;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 96
36.3 direct access to regional highway, rail, air and/or waterway systems for the
movement of goods;
36.4 provisions to prohibit housing; and
36.5 identified transportation linkages to high density housing areas.
37. Provisions to achieve targeted employment growth should include:
37.1 preservation and encouragement of the aggregation of vacant land parcels
sized for manufacturing/industrial uses;
37.2 prohibition of land uses which are not compatible with
manufacturing/industrial, manufacturing/industrial supportive, and advanced
technology uses;
37.3 limiting the size and number of offices and retail uses and allowing only as
an accessory use to serve the needs of employees within centers; and
37.4 reuse and intensification ofthe land.
Transportation, Parking and Circulation
3 8. Transportation network within ManufacturinglIndustrial Centers should provide for
the needs of freight movement and employees by ensuring a variety of transportation
modes such as transit, rail, and trucking facilities.
39. The transportation system within ManufacturinglIndustrial Centers shall be built to
accommodate truck traffic and acceleration. Review of projects should consider the
infrastructure enhancements such as:
39.1 turn lanes and turn pockets to allow turning vehicles to move out of through
traffic lanes;
39.2 designing turn lanes with a width to allow freight vehicles to turn without
interrupting the flow of traffic in other lanes;
39.3 designing the far side of intersections with acceleration lanes for trucking
vehicles and heavy loads to facilitate traffic flow;
39.4 constructing climbing lanes where necessary to allow for slow moving
vehicles;
39.5 providing off street truck loading facilities to separate goods loading and
unloading; and
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 97
39.6 arterial grade separations with rail freight and designation of Heavy Haul
corridors or truck only lanes.
Implementation Strategies
40. All jurisdictions will support transportation capital improvement projects which
support access and movement of goods to Manufacturing/Industrial Centers.
41. Jurisdictions having a designated Manufacturing/Industrial Center shall:
41.1 plan for and fund capital facility improvement projects which support the
movement of goods;
41.2 coordinate with utility providers to ensure that utility facilities are available
to serve such centers;
41.3 provide buffers around the Center to reduce conflicts with adj acent land
uses;
41.4 facilitate land assembly;
41.5 assist in recruiting appropriate businesses; and
41.6 encourage employers to participate in a commute trip reduction program.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 98
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON
BUILDABLE LANDS
■ Background Requirements of RCW 36.70A.215
RCVV 36.70A.215 requires six counties, including Pierce County, to evaluate whether a
county and its municipalities are achieving urban densities within urban growth areas. To
do this, the counties and municipalities are to compare growth and development
assumptions, targets, and objectives contained in the Countywide Planning Policies and
the County and city and town comprehensive plans with actual growth and development
that has occurred. At a minimum, the evaluation is to determine if there is sufficient
suitable land to accommodate the countywide population projection and determine the
density of housing that has been constructed and amount of land developed for
commercial and industrial uses within the urban growth area_ Detailed procedures,
standards, and definitions for implementing this policy and complying with RCW
36.70A.215 are found in the current report titled Pierce County Buildable Lands,
Procedures for Collecting and Monitoring Data, hereinafter referred to as the Procedures
Report.
■ Countywide Planning Policy
1. Pierce Count in coo eration with Pierce Count cities and towns shall establish a ......................................................................................................y............
...................... p................................................................................................................................
Pierce County Buildable Lands Program to provide a countywide monitoring and
analysis mechanism to meet the requirements of 36.70.A.215 -Buildable Lands.
xlxx.xlxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxThexxxPrxoxgramxxxshallxxxbxexxxcxoordinatedxxxthroughxxxPxixercexxxxCountyxxxxPlannxingxxxand
Land Services.
ul .3 The focus of the Buildable Lands Program shall be an analysis of annual
deyeloPment data as related to locally adopted comprehensiye Plan goals.
and policies, the calculation of residential and employment land capacity
asuuucuomPareduuutouuutheuuuu20u-yuearuuneeud,uuuuanduuuuiudentuificatuiuonuuuof uuactuiuonsuutouuurectfy
inconsistencies.
1.4 The primary product of the Buildable Lands Program shall be the
Publxicatxixonxxxof xxaxxxBuxildablxexxxLxandsxxxxRePortxxxeyeryxxxfyexxxyxearsx,xxxthexxxfrstxxbexing
by September 1, 2002.
~2. Each municipality within Pierce County shall provide information on land
development activities to the County and assist in an inventory of buildable lands.
T~A ~A~~a~nnman~ nn+~~»~~~ ~n~nrmn+~nr~ r~~~~ ~A ~nnnr~nr~~a~ ~r~~n ~ 111V ~11.LV V \r1V~1111\r1111L (A\r~l V 1L'' 1111V11111A~1V11 ~,711(.Lll VV 111\rVl ~,lVl(.LL\r~.L 111~V ~.L
Yl(~Yllllr]+1llY1/AYNNIl1~7YNAY1+ r]N~] I~TC71C~ !lt +~A 1711^1C7~1(~+111N~C1 1^AC71~AN~1r]~ Il~I~YNYNAI^l~1rl~ I {~JVrJl.tll.L~1V1U Vlll{.I1V~' lll~lll. (.L111.L1~' ~.J1rJ Vl l.ll\r
I1.L11~.J~.L1tr~1V11 rJ 1\r~.J1~.L\rlll.l(.Ll/ VVllllll\rltrll.Ll/
~1~~n~ustr~~~al....~on~11~....~~n~~...t~...dete%rn~ine....~f ~thJ~re....~s..su~fic~~e~nt...u~ta~b~le....lan~..ao
nnn~mm~~n+A ~~A n~iir~~~T~x7~~A ~~~ii~n~~nr~ v~rn~An~~~r~ n~~~nr~+A~ ~n Ann ~iir~n~~n+~nr~ l.L~\rV111111V~.L~.II.V L11V vVl~Llll.Y YV1~.L~ ~1V~14t11A~1V11 ~,I1VJ\r\r1.1V11 (A.11V~~.LL\r~.L
~V VIA~ll ILL11i,7~.L1V~1V11.
The County and municipalities shall follow the guidelines specified in the
Procedures Report for the collection, monitoring, and analysis of development
activity and potential residential/employment capacity.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 99
2.lwwwwwwwwMunicipalitieswarewencoura~gedwtowsubmit thewannualwdevelopmentwdatawby
June 1 of each ear.
2.2 Pierce County shall summarize the submitted annual development data by
zoning classifcation for each jurisdiction.
2.3 Prior to the publication of submitted annual deyelopment data
reprensentatiyes nfromneachnmuneipalitynnshalln Kaye.annnopportunnityntonnreyinew
anduuusu~geustuuumoduif catuiuonsuutouuuusummaruizeuduuudueyeulopmentuuudata.
3. Each municipality within Pierce County shall assist the County in conducting an
xinyentoryxxxof xbuxildablxexxxlxandsx.xxxxxxxThexxxCxounty and municxipxalxitiesxxxshallxxxfollxowxxthe
guidelinesxxspecixfedxxin thexProcxeduresxxRxe~xortxforxthexxcollexctxon,xxmonxitorng,xxand
analysis of development activity and Potential residential/employment capacity. n~~~~~~~~~~~
3.1 Pierce County shall confer with each municipality to identify the.
appropriate criteria for each of its zoning classifications to identify
buuildableuuuluandsuuuuuyacantuuuu-uuuusubudyuidable,uuuuyacuantuuuu-uu notuuusubuduiyidablueu,
underdevelopedMresidentialMandMredeyelopableMlands.
3.2 Pierce County shall forward the preliminary results of the buildable lands
inventory to representatxiyesxxxofxxexachxxmunxicxipalxityxxxforxxxlocalxxxreyxixewxxxand
modification.
4. Pierce County in consultation with its municipalities shall conduct an analysis of
inventoried buildable lands to evaluate the County's ability to accommodate it's
20u-yearuuupuopuluatonuuuanduuuemploymentuuulanduuneeudsu.,
teen ~ rr v~ar~n~ Tn ~a~r~nfa~r{~a nnni v~~~nr~~n~ ~or~~ro~ ~rnm
^~~,Qy.~ X11 X11 ~'~.~LTP'GCrCtG ~
n+ ~ r~ n ~ i i ~ o n ~ > > ~t~ZGTtCI'l7rrftTrC17~ m n ZGTtC1~7tr
25. Pierce County, in cooperation with the municipalities, shall prepare a Buildable
Lands Capacity Report every five years, with the first report completed by
September 2002. The report will detail growth, development, and the ability to
accommodate future population and employment land needs.
5.1 The Buildable Lands Report shall include a summary of development
actiyit~ by zoning classification and detail assum~Ptions incorporated in the
residential and employment capacity analysis for each~urisdiction.
5.2 Prior to the publication of a draft report, representatives from each
munieuipaluityuuushalluuuhayeuuuanuuuopportunuiutyuuutouuureyuiuewuuuanduuuusu~ggeustuuumoduif catuiuons
to information associated with their jurisdiction.
~6. Pierce County, in cooperation with the municipalities, shall conduct a consistency
evaluation between the Pierce County Countywide Planning Policies,
comprehensive plan goals and actual densities ofbuilt-out projects within the fve
year observation periodNfor Pierce County and the municipalities within it. T'~e
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 100
env~lu~tn~€~n...n~a~...be.....~n~~~p€~~at~d....innt~...~h~...B~i~dabl~...En~n~s....Rip€art...€~r....~nt~...~...s~p~rate
rar~nr~ 1~~JV1
6.1 The results of the consistency evaluation shall be reported in a separate
report.:
6.2 The consistency evaluation should be completed within one dear of the
pubincaton not nthen latestnnBuilndabnlen Lnandsn Repnort
6u.3u.uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuPuercueuuuCuount~uuushalluuuubeuuutheuuuresponsuiblueuuuagencyuuuforuuuconductuinguuthe
eva uatlon.
6.4 The consistency evaluation shall address if the observed density resulted
nxxxaxxjurxixsxdictxixonxxxachievxin~gxxxatxxxlxeastxxxthexxxxavxeragexxx netxxxxdensxityxxxxofxt~4
• • ~ON[r1~~T n~70rn D we....ingxunitxperxx,acre. asxxstpuxxatexxxxxnxxUr xxanxGrowtxx.
Areas, Promotion of Contiguous and Orderly Development and Provision
Of Urban Services to Such Development - ~olic~ 6.1 of these Countywide.
Planning Policies.
G~.crTt G17ZLtG11~rv ~zmn c+ii~~in~ov~+ ~v~~v~nv~mov~~ n~LTPIC~CQ
r eN~ZC ~TGUC~Jt~cZL11 ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~rov~
6...5 Thexxxcxonsxixstencyxxxxevaluatxionxxxshal lxxxxadxdre s sxxxxif . thexxxxoxb seryedxxxdensxit~xx wxithxinxxxa
jurisdiction was consistent with the density assumption incorporated
within the residential capacity analysis..
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r eN~ZC ~TGUC~Jt~cZL11 ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~rov~
6.6 The consistency evaluation shall compare the housing needs associated
with the allocated population with the housing unit capacity calculated
throughxxthexxxresxdxentalxxxcapxacxxityxxxanalysxixsx.
6.7 The consistency evaluation shall compare the land needs associated with
the employment targets with the employment capacity calculated through
the em~lo~ment capacity analysis.
6.8 The consistency evaluation report shall be forwarded to the respective
juurisduictonsuuuforuuurevuiewuuuanduucommentux
47. The County and municipalities shall use the results of the consistency evaluation
to determine th° most upplopriut° means to addi°ss i!°ntifi°? inconsistencies
between observed and planned densities and ensure suitable land to accommodate
future population and employment needs. In addressing the inconsistencies, the
County and municipalities shall identify reasonable measures, other than adjusting
urban growth areas, that may be taken to comply with the requirements of RCw
36.70A.215. Each respective jurisdiction shall be responsible for taking action as
necessary to rectify the inconsitency.
+ar~ ~nv~ n nnr~n~~ ar~n~T nr ~r~nnr~n~.nTtLZI~~ItTr
iir~n ~n~~nr~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 101
~~n ~yv~ mn.r nr rnn:r v~n+ v r~~7,],]~ onc+nv~n v m~~TIII ~ µl l ~ ull
~ Ti' n n~ ~ i ~ cr v~ n~~ +GGL11T~iZnLCGIl7I~GL~G17L~--llln7n G~ILIl~
v . • . nn rv~n~ir a na 1~cr nnv~cr~~nTt ~ti~tZCCCIT
-
i i vv~+ ~ ~ ra ~ reZTfT . tri~~~~~l,tt~G
~8. The County and each municipality shall resolve disputes between and among
jurisdictions regarding inconsistencies inthe collection and analysis of land
development activities andxxxresxixdentxixalxxxxandxxxemploymentxxxcapxacxxit~xxxanalysxixsxxxfindingxs
by first attempting to reach an agreement through negotiation or through a
designated mediation process agreeable to all parties. In case of an impasse, the
matter shall be referred to the Pierce County Regional Council for review and
reso ution.
9. The County should establish an opportunity for stakeholders to be informed and
provide feedback on the various aspects of the Buildable Lands Program.
9.1 An ad hoc committee should be re-established every five years to review
appropriate development information, assumptions, and methodology
applied to calculate the residential and employment capacity analysis.,
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 102
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY ON AMENDMENTS
AND TRANSITION
■ Background -Requirements of Growth Management Act
The Washington Growth Management Act contemplates that the Countywide Planning
Policies will remain effective throughout the comprehensive plan preparation, adoption and
implementation processes to ensure that municipal and county comprehensive plans are
consistent, as required by the Act [RCW 36.70A.210(1)]. Because the factors, data and
analysis upon which the Countywide Planning Policies have been formulated are subject to
change, it is important that a process be established to effectuate such changes, when
appropriate and needed.
The Washington Growth Management Act requires that each County which adopts a
comprehensive plan designate an UGA or areas within which urban growth shall be
encouraged and outside of which growth can occur only if it is not urban in nature [RCw
36.70A.110(1)]. As discussed above, the factors, data and analysis upon which the UGA
designations are initially made are similarly subj ect to change.
■ Countyywide Planning Policy
1. Countywide Planning Policies adopted pursuant to the Growth Management Act
may be amended by Pierce County and ratified by the municipalities in the County
using the same process by which the Countywide Planning Policies are originally
adopted as set forth in the Interlocal Agreement: Framework Agreement for the
Adoption of the Countywide Planning Policy (Pierce County Council Resolution
No. R91-172, September 24,1991).
l .l Ratification of the Countywide Planning Policies requires the affirmative
vote of 60% of the affected governments in the County representing a
minimum of 75% of the total Pierce County population as designated by the
State Office of Financial Management at the time of the proposed
ratification.
1.2 Demonstration of ratification shall be by execution of an Interlocal
agreement or by adoption of an amendment to the initial Interlocal
Agreement.
1.3 An amendment to the Countywide Planning Policies or to any individual
policy (all hereinafter referred to as proposed amendments) maybe initiated
by the County or any municipality in the County or by the Pierce County
Regional Council. The proposed amendment shall include the following:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 103
1.3.1 the exact language of the proposed amendment (shown in
"strike out" for deletions and 1\.L~111 1V ~ionunderlnine" for
additions);
1.3.2 a brief explanation of the need for the proposed amendment,
including the factors, data or analyses that have changed
since the original adoption of the Countywide Planning
Policies and/or the experiences with the existing Countywide
Planning Policies that have prompted the proposed
amendment.
1.4 A proposed amendment to the Countywide Planning Policies shall be
initially referred to the Pierce County Regional Council for analysis and
recommen atlon.
2. UGA boundaries designated by the County pursuant to the Growth Management Act
may be amended by Pierce County and accepted by the municipalities in the County
pursuant to the same process by which the UGAs were originally adopted and
pursuant to subpolicies 1 and 2 of the "Countywide Planning Policy on UGAs,
Promotion of Contiguous and Orderly Development and Provision of Urban
Services to Such Development."
2.1 An amendment to UGA boundaries may be initiated by the County or any
municipality in the County.
2.2 A proposed amendment to UGA boundaries shall include:
2.2.1 a map indicating the existing UGA boundary and the
proposed boundary modification;
2.2.2 a statement indicating how, and the extent to which, the
proposed boundary modification complies with each of the
factors listed in subpolicies 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 of the
Countywide Planning Policy on UGAs, Promotion of
Contiguous and Orderly Development and Provision of
Urban Services to Such Development.
2.2.3 a statement indicating the factors, data or analyses that have
changed since the designation of the initial UGA boundaries
and/or the experience with the existing UGA boundaries that
have prompted the proposed amendment.
2.3 The UGA of a jurisdiction mad, should be expanded only if the
jurisdiction's observed development densities are consistent with the
planned density assumptions and there is a countywide need for additional
e~ employment lands or a demonstrated need for additional
residential land capacity within all or any individual urban growth area as
documented in the most recently published Buildable Lands Report as
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 104
required by RCW 36.70A.215 or demonstrated by an individual
jurisdiction.
2.3.1 If the consistency evaluation, as required through the
Countywide Planning Policies on Buildable Lands, policies
3. and 4., identifies an inconsistency between the observed
and planned densities, the jurisdiction shall either:
1) demonstrate reasonable measures were adopted to
rectify the inconsistencies. Documentation shall also
be submitted that summarizes the monitoring results
of the effectiveness of the measures in rectifying
density inconsistencies, or
2) document updated development data that indicates
consistency.
2.4 A proposed amendment to the UGA boundaries shall be referred to the
Pierce County Regional Council for its review and recommendation.
3. The Pierce County Regional Council shall have the following responsibilities in
addition to those already specified in the Interlocal Agreement: Framework
Agreement for the Adoption of the Countywide Planning Policy (Pierce County
Council Resolution No. R91-172, dated September 24,1991):
3.3 development of model, uniform implementation methodologies for the
County, and all cities in the County, to be used at their discretion;
3.4 assistance in resolution of interjurisdictional disputes;
3.5 input to joint planning issues in UGAs;
3.6 input with respect to Countywide facilities;
3.7 advice and consultation on phased development, short plats, vested rights
and related issues;
3.8 coordination of these responsibilities with the Puget Sound Regional
Council;
3.9 making a recommendation on the respective location of municipal and the
County UGA boundaries consistent with these policies;
3.10 making a recommendation with regard to dissolution of the Boundary
Review Board;
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 105
3.11 monitoring development in the County, including population and
employment growth and its effect on the development capacity within
UGAs;
3.12 advice and consultation on population disaggregation.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 106
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY
ON COMMUNITY AND URBAN DESIGN
■ Background -Growth Management Act
The Washington Growth Management Act identifies as a planning foal to encourage
development in urban areas and to reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land
into s rawlin low-densit develo ment. To encoura e this e of urban develo ment that P.............................. ~.......................................................y..........................
..........P...................................................................................... ~..............................~yp...................................................................
...................P.............................................~
has increased densit and is com act and serviced b multi le trans ortation alternatives it .............................................ya ...........................P................................
........y..............P.................P...........................................~.....
rewires close attention to the urban design, community context and character, in order to
function effectiyel~ and consistent with the vision of an individual community. The Growth
Management Act does not expressly require that the County adopt a planning policy on
urban desi n however VISION 2040 and the multi-count lannin olicies rovide oals ..................................................~......~..............................................~..............
..............................................................................................................................................................~...P...............................~...p
...................................P......................................................,
and policies related to re~ionalMdesi~nMandMurban design.
■ VISION 2040 Multicount_y Planning Policies
VISION 2040 called for identifying and protecting sinifcant visual and cultural resources
that ~reserye community character. It calls for desi~nin~ facilitiesmthrouhout the region that
advance community development, and for creating parks and civic spaces. VISION 2040
also advances redevelo ment and infill as o ortunities for revitalizin communities P.............................................................................................................
PP.......................................................................................................................... ~
including along linear corridors (such as low-scale retail strips along the thoroughfares).
Open space and parks at a variety of scales create public amenities, contribute to the
character of communities and rovide o ortunities for recreation and h sical activit . .................................................................................................................
..........~.......................P........................................PP..........................................................................................................................
...............p......~......................................................~...
■ Countywide Planning Policy
1. The County, and each municipality in the County, will develop high quality,
cuomPactuucommunuitesuuuthat,
l .l impart a sense of place;
lx.2xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPreseryexxlocxalxxxcharacter~x
1.3 provide for mixed uses and choices in housing types; and
1u.4 encourage walking, bicycling, and transit use. see MPP-DP-35~
2. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall design public buildings and
PubluicuuuusPuacesuuuthatuuucuontruibuteuuutouuutheuuuuniclueuuuusuensueuuuof ucommunity and a sense of Pluaceu.
see MPP-DP-3 81
3..xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxThexxxxxxxCount~~xxxxxxxxandxxxxxxxexachxxxxxxmunxicxiPalxit~xxxxxxxinxxxxxxthexxxxxxxCxountyx,xxxxxxxshallxxxxxxxdesxi~nxxxxxxtransPortation
projects and other infrastructure to achieve community development objectives and
uimProye the community. see MPP-DP-40~:
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 107
4.wwwwwwwwwwwwwPromotewcontextw-sensitivewwdesi~nwof trans~ortationwfacilitiesww-wbothwforwfacilities
to refit in the context of the ncommunities in which nthey Hare located as well as
applying urban design principles for projects in centers and transit station areas.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 108
COUNTYWIDE. PLANNING. POLICY
ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
■ Background -Growth Management Act
TheuuuuuuuWashuin~tonuuuuuuGrowthuuuuuuMana~ementuuuuuuActuuuuuuuidentiuf esuuuuuuuasuuuuuuuauuuuuu~lannin~uuuuuuu~oaluuuuuutouuuuuuuencuoura~e
development in urban areas and to reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land
into sprawling, low-density development. The GMA also encourages multimodal
trans ortation s stems to encoura e walkin and other alternatives to the automobile. These .......................p..............................................y.....................................
.............................................
transportatxonxxo~tions.x~royidex.for.reaterxxopportunxityx. foxr.Walkn~x.andxxexercxise.xthatxxfurther
promotes health and well-being. Compact communities can also encourage more efficient
use of resources reduced airmpollution~ and thereby reduce impacts on climate change. The
GMA also sets forth a foal to protect the environment and enhance the state's high quality
of life includin air and water ualit .These are also related to health livin as well as
climate chan~e.MM VISION MM2040MMcontainsMMspecif cMM~oals and M ~olicie_s Maddressin~MMhealth M and
well-being, climate, change and air and water quality.
■ VISIGN 2040 Multicount_y Planning Policies
nnVISInONnnnn2040..nacknowled~esnnnnthatnnnthennnhealthnnnandnnnwellnnbein not nnthennnnre~non'snn npeopnlennns
fundamental to maintaining and improving the region's sustainability and quality of life. It
reco nizes that human health is affected b the health of the natural environment the
strength of our region's communities and social networks, and the way we build our cities
and transportation systems. VISION 2040 addresses numerous ways that human health can
be im acted in the central Pu et Sound re ion, such as ex osure to air and water ollution p............................................... p...............................................~
automobile-related injuries and deaths, chronic diseases related to physical inactivity, and
lack of fresh and healthy foods. It further recognizes that attention to health as a
conse uence of lannin and infrastructure decisions can im rove uali of life reduce
health care costs, and lessen impacts from lost productivity.
VISION 2040 addresses many of the region's health concerns by providing strategies that
will significantly reduce air and water pollution from transportation activities and other
sources. A core conceit xxof xVISIxON x2040 is improvin~xxxthexxxsafetyxxxof xthe transportation
system for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and others. Multicounty planning
policies call for desi~nin~ transportation facilities to serve all users safely and efficiently.
This includes buildin and im rovin sidewalks bike lanes trails and aths and ado tin
land use strategies to brim homes closer to jobs, shopping, services, and recreation
activities. VISION 2040 also states that health considerations should be addressed in
regional and local planning and decision-making processes. It encourages design guidelines
in the construction of buildings and facilities and regional farming and food production as a
way to produce fresh and minimally processed foods.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 109
■ Countywide_Plannn~ Policy
1. The County, and each municipality in the County, will be designed to promote
physical, social and mental well-being so that all people can live healthier and more
active Byes b~:
lu.l uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudesui~nin~uuucuommunuitiesuutouuuprovdeuuuuanuuuuimproveduuuenvironmentuuforuuwalkin~uuuand
bicycling and see MPP-DP-431
1.2 developing and implementing design guidelines to encourage construction of
healthvxxxbuildxin~sxxxxandxxxfacilxitxiesxxxtoxxxpromotexxxhealthyxxxpexoplex.xxxx~sexexxxMPxPx-DPx-4x6
2. The County, and each municiPalit~ in the County, shall Incorporate provisions h~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
addressing health and well-being into a~~roPriate re~ional~ countywide and local
planning and decision-making processes. see MPP-DP-44~
3 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMTheMMCounty~MMMandMMeachMMmunicipalityMMMin MtheMMCounty~MMshallMMpromoteMM cooperation M and
coordination among transportation providers, local government, and developers to
ensurexxthatxxxoint-xxxxandxxxmxixedx-usxexxxdeyelxopmentsxxxarexxxxdesxi~nedxxtoxxxPromotexxxxandxxxximproye
physical, mental, and social health and reduce the impacts of climate change on the
natural and built environments. see MPP-DP-451
4. The County, and each municipality in the County, shall promote develop and
promoteuuuuuutransportatuiuonuuuuuusystemsuuuuuuuanduuuuuuuoptionsuuuuuuthatuuuuuuminuimuizeuuuuuune~atveuuuuuuuuimpactsuuuuuuuto
human health by:
4x.xlxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxximProyxin~xxxxxthexxxxxxsafet~xxxxxxof xxxxthexxxxxtransPortatxionxxxxxsystemxxxxxandxxxxxx~xxxxxxxinxxxxthexxxxxlonxxxxxterm,,
achieve the state's foal of zero deaths and disabling injuries; and see MPP-
T-7~
4.2 improve local street patterns-including their design and how they are used-
for walking, bicycling, and transit use to enhance communities, connectivity,
anduuuphyusuicaluuuactiyuit~uuuuu~sueeuuuMPPu-Tu-ulu5~
5. The Coun and each munici alit in the Coun shall rotect and enhance the ..........................................................................................~.~................................
.........................................................P...............~'....................................................................~.~.................................P...................
................................................................................................~
environment and public health and safety when providing public services and
facilities by: see MPP-PS-I~:
5.1 coordinating, desi~nin~, and planning for public safety services and
~ro~ramsu~uuuuanduuu~seueuuuMPPu-PSu-ulu5~
5.2 encoura~in~ health and human service facilities to locate near centers and
transxitxxxforxxxefficxientxxxaccessxibxilxit~xxtoxxxservicexxxxdelxiveryx.xxxx~seexxxMPPx-PSxx-xlxx6~%
6. The Count~~ and each municipality in the County, shall protect and enhance the
environment and public health and safety when providing public services and
facilities by: see MPP-PS-I~
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 110
6...1 coordinatin,nnnnnnnnnde sni~nin,nnnnnnnnnandnnnnnnnnnPlnannin~nnnnnnnnnfornnnnnnnn~ubinicnnnnnnnnn safetynnnnnnnnn servicensnnnnnnnnnand programs; and see MPP-PS-151
6.2 encoura~in~ health and human service facilities to locate near centers and
transit for efficient accessbnilty tonnservice.delivery.nn~see.MPPnnPSnnnl6]
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 111
[PAGE LEFT BLANK]
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 112
COUNTYWIDE PLANNING POLICY
ON RURAL AREAS~~Rw9~
■ Background -Growth Management Act
The Growth Management Act requires that county comprehensive plans include a rural
element that includes lands that are not designated for urban growth, agriculture, forest,
or mineral resources. This element is uided b multi le sections in the GMA related to .................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................y...............................~.................................................
.........................................................................................................................~
ruralxxxareasxx xxincludxn~xxx,RCWxxx3x6.7x0Axx03Oxxx(Defnitxionsx~x,xxxRCxWxxx3x6.7xOxA.x0,1xx1xxxx~Findn~sxxxx-
Rural lands~~ RCW 36.70A.070 (5) (Comprehensive plans -Mandatory elements - h~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~
RuralmElement~~ and others.
Rural elements are intended to reco nize the im ortance of rural lands and rural character
toMMMVVashin~ton'sMMMeconomy~MMMitsMMMpeople~MMMand MMMitsMMMenvironment~MMMwhileMMMres~ectin~MMMre~ional
differences. In the rural element, counties are to foster land use patterns and develop a
local vision of rural character that will: hel reserve rural-based economies and
traditional rural lifestyles; encourage the economic prosperity of rural residents; foster
o~p~ortunities for small-scale, rural-based employment and self-em~lo~ment permit the
operation of rural-based a~ricultural~ mcommercial~ recreational and tourist businesses that
are consistent with existing and planned land use patterns; be compatible with the use of
the land b wildlife and for fish and wildlife habitat• foster the rivate stewardshi of the ~ p......................................................................................~
land and preservation of open space; and enhance the rural sense of community and
quality of life.
While the GMA assigns responsibility for adopting a rural element to counties, all
jurisdictions in a county particularly those surrounded b~ or adjacent to rural lands Kaye
an interest in what occurs on rural lands. Hence rural lands are included in the
countywide planning policies in order to achieve consistency between and among the
~luansuuuof ucuituiuesuuuanduuutheuuuucount~.u
■ VISION 2040 Multi-county Planning Policies
VISION 2040 identifies rural lands as permanent and vital parts of the region. It
reco nizes that rural lands accommodate man activities associated with natural
resources, as well as small-scale farming and cottage industries. VISION 2040
em hasizes the reservation of these lands and acknowled es that mana in rural rowth
by directing urban-type development into designated urban lands helps to preserve vital
ecosystems and economically productive lands.
VISION 2040 also acknowledges recent successes in directing growth away from rural
lands. However, it acknowledges that conversion pressures from urban development
continue toda articularl throu h vestin and calls for continued use of rural lands for
farming, forestry, recreation, and low-density development supported by rural services.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 113
The multicounty planning policies reinforce this and call for minimizing environmental
x................................... im acts to rural lands while rovidin lon -term solutions for the environmental and
.............P...............................................................................................~......................................p....................................~.............
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
............................ economic sustainability of rural-based industries.
■ Counyywide Planning Policies
1. Overarching Goal: The cCounty will °rmuii°iitl rr sustain the ecological
functions, resource value, lifestyle, and character of rural lands for future
generations by limiting the types and intensities of development in rural areas.
Development Patterns
2. ~n vvvi iiiiv~uty tl~iv vvulit y~f~ Div vv ~l~i ~ii~t uii~ ~vivi iv~t iii tl~iv ui~vuii Div vv ~l~i uivu.
Ensure that development in rural areas is consistent with the countywide and
regional vision. [see MPP-DP-4]
3. n~ ii~t ~~~Prohibit urban net densities in rural un a res~~irc° areas. [see MPP-
DP-22]
4x ......................Avoid new fully contained communities outside of the designated urban... growth
areuauuubuecuauseuuuuof utheuiruuupuotentaluuutouuucreuateuuusprawluuuuanduuundermuineuuulocualu,uuuucuount~wuiudeu~
state, and regional growth management foals. [see MPP-DP-23 ]
5. In thexxexyentxxthatxxaxproposalxxsx madexxforxxcreatn~xxa newxxfully contaixnexd
communit the count shall make the ro osal available to the Growth Y~ Y p
Management Coordinating C~un~i~Committee, Pierce County Regional Council,
othernnncnountniesn,nnnnandnntonnnthennnRe~nionalnnnCouncnilnnnfornnnadyancnennnrenyninewnnnandnnncommentnnnon
countywide and regional impacts. [see MPP-DP-24]
6. Use existing and new tools and strategies to address vested development to ensure
that future growth meets existing permitting and development standards and
encourage consolidation where appropriate r° ~~eiits further ~ru~m°iit~ti~ii ~f rural
luiius. [see MPP-DP-25]
Ensurennthatnnndenyelopmentnnnonccurrin~nnnninnnnruralnnnarenasnnnnisnnnruralnnnninnnncharacternnnandnnnnins
focused into communities and activity areas. [see MPP-DP-26]
Economic Development
8. Su ort economic activit in rural and natural resource areas at a size and scale .................................................pP.................................................................
.................................y.....................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................~
that is compatible with the long-term integrity and productivity of these lands.
u~see MuPuPu-Ecu-22u~
9. Direct commercial, retail, and community services that serve rural residents into
nei hborin cities and existin activit areas to revent the conversion of rural ................~.................y.....................................................................................
land into commercial uses. [see MPP-DP-16]
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 114
lo. I-lA/~/1(TN1~7A ~~A ~AA~ ~nr Am1~~n~rmAY1~ 1Y1 ni~iAn i~ ~~A r»r~~ ~rA~n ~r~~'i r~rmm~+A i~~vv~iiic~~ ~ii~ ii~~u lvi ~iiiNiv y iii~ii~ iii vi~i~~ iii ~ii~ i uiui ui~u~ uiiu ~iviiivw
nnmv~r~4i~~o ~r•n~rn~+inr~n ~rn~n~ nn ~,,,4 r►~+ ~imi4v~ ~~~irinm nn++~nv ~r►~ ~~mv vvlii~u~lvi~ vvvu~u~lvii~ ~,~uvli cA,~, vu~ ilv~ iilliiwu w, wuii.~lli, vv~u,~~~ uilu liviil~-
~nc+v~ ~^►»nir~onnoc+ nr~~ ~~nn~ nor~rinon~ 4~n~ ~n r~n4 nnr~~in~ izn~~ r>>rn~ n~nrnn+or nr~~ vu.~~u vu,~lii~.~,~~~, uliu ivvui .~~1 v iv~,~ ~ ~llu~ uv llv~ vvliillv~ vv 111 1 ului vlluiuvwl
ullu
ro~,,,,,.,,v ~,~n°,a'~,~,a „n°~ ~~pp See this in the Economic Development ~~.~~~~,,,,-~~~~u ~~l~u l~l~ ~ -~,~-~,1
~~~~~~~~~~~n element.
Environment
11. Contribute to improved ecological functions and more appropriate use of rural
lands by minimizin~xxxximpxactsxxthrouhxxxxinnovatyxexxxandxxxenyxironmentally sensitive
land use„ management and deyelopment practices., see xMPP-DP-21
12. NSupnportnlon~ ntermnnsolutons. fornthennenyironmentalnnandnnenconomcnnsustannabintynnof
agriculture and forestry within rural areas. see MPP-DP-281
..............rapsportatton
lxx3xx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAyxoxdxxxconstructionxxxoxf xxmaxorxxxroxadsxxxxandxxxcxapacxityxxxxexpxansxixonxxxonxxxexistin~xxxroadsxxxxxin
rural and resource areas. Where increased roadway capacity is warranted to
support safe and efficient travel through rural areas, appropriate rural
deyenlo~mentnnreulnatonsnnand.nstron~nncommitmentns tonnaccess management nshould
be in place prior to authorizing such capacity expansion in order to prevent
unpluanneduuu~rowthuuuuinuururualuuuuareasu. ;~usueeuuuMPuPuu-Tu-28~
14. Maintain the long-term viability of permanent rural land by avoiding the
construction of new hi~hwayxs xandxmajoxrxroxads inxxruralxareas. see MPPxxxDP 27~K
15. Promoteuu transuituuuseryuiceuuutouuuuanduufromuuuexuistn~uuuucuitiesuuuuinuuururaluuuareasu. see uMPPu-DPu-
.1..~~.
Public Services : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16. Do not provide urban services in rural areas. Design services for limited access
whenxxtheyxxarexneeded xtoxxsolye xisolated xhealthxxand.santationxProxblxemsx~xxsoxxasxnotxto
increase the development potential of the surrounding rural area. see MPP-PS-4~
17. Encoura e the desi n of ublic facilities and utilities in rural areas to be at a size
and scale appropriate to rural locations, so as not to increase development
Pressure., u~seue MPP-PS-S~u
18. T ocut°Work with schools, institutions, and other community facilities serving
rural residents in nei~hborin~ cities and towns un~ ?°s~~n these fuc~l~t~°s ~n
'ieeNiii~ vvrit'i th° sizeuiid scul° of th° local vviiii iuilit yr. see MPP-PS-22~
19. Apply development regulations in rural areas that would mitigate the impact of
roadway proj ects that may lead to unplanned growth in the rural area.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 115
APPENDIXw A
TABLE 1 Comparison of Criteria -Pierce County CPPs and PSRC Designation Criteria
Pierce CPPs PSRC Designation Criteria
Metropolitan Regionh I Countywide Center M/l Regional Growth Mll
Go t Up to 1.5 sq. Up to 1.5 sq. Up to 1 or 1.5 sq.
Geographic Size miles miles miles - 1 Sq. Mile -
Households -Existing 10 hhld/gross 7 hhld/gross 6 hhldlgross acre - - -
density acre acre
Employment -Existing 25 emp/gross density - - - - -
(on non-residential land) acre
Total Employment - 15,000 emp 2,000 emp 1,000 emp 7,500 - 10,000 Existin
Households -Planned 15 hhldlgross 10 hhldlgross 7 hhldlgross acre - - -
densit acre acre Employment -Planned 50 emp/gross 25 emp/gross
density acre acre 15 emplgross acre - - -
(on non-residential land) Total Employment - 30,000 emp 15,000 emp 2,000 emp - - 20,000
Planned
Translation of Pierce figures to activity units to match PSRC designation criteria
■ Activity Units -Existing 35 AUlgross 7 AU/gross acre -
density acre (does not - - 13 AU/Gross Acre include emp)
■ Activity Units -Planned 65 AUlgross 35 AUlgross 22AU/gross acre _ 45 AU/Gross Acre
density acre acre ■ Total Activity Units - - - 20,000 - 25,000
* For Metropolitan Centers, household and emplo~rment are added. For Regional Growth and Countywide Centers, there is no existing density for employment so there is no AU for existing
density.
UPDATE for VISION 2040 Consistency-DRAFT 4 116