Guemes Island Subarea Plan Work Program

4/23/04

Task 1 – Current Activity

1. Complete and distribute community survey, covering planning issues listed in Attachment 1.

A. Compute survey responses and prepare report on findings.

B. Prepare vision statement based on survey results.

2. Continue to identify sources of funds sufficient to support the planning process.

A. Apply for CZM grant

B. Upon approval of CZM grant or other funding, prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Professional Planning Service, as outlined in Attachment 2.

3. Identify other methods of public involvement

A. Post GIPAC meeting minutes

B. Provide access to GIPAC meetings

C. Inform stakeholders (See list of stakeholders, Attachment 3)

4. Submit work program for approval by the Board of County Commissioners.

5. Arrange for a project for Guemes Island including a visual survey by Huxley College of Western Washington University.

6. Hold public meetings for visual survey, and on community survey results, vision statement, and visual survey results.

Task 2 – Information Collection (Inventory)

1. Acquire and analyze literature, existing studies and reports, and pertinent planning information on:

A. items critical to Guemes Island, and

B. GMA mandatory elements

(Note: GMA mandatory elements are land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, rural and transportation.

Describe the following elements of the natural and built environment:

Land Use, map and statistical data

Lot sizes and ownership patterns (for consolidation needs)

Housing and Demographics

Capital Facilities and Services, Utilities, Solid Waste, need and locational requirements

Rural Uses, Agriculture

Transportation systems

Critical Areas, including wetlands, steep slopes, shorelines, geologically hazardous areas, geologically sensitive areas, aquifer recharge areas.

Soils and geology; suitability for development

Drainage

Noise & light pollution control

Commercial Activity

Rural commercial uses

Home-based businesses

Parks & recreation, open space

Marine and upland water quality

Fish and wildlife habitat

Aesthetics, Outdoor storage

3. Summarize

A. Analyze and synthesize inventory information

B. Develop Community Profile

C. Identify land use opportunities and constraints

 

Task 3 - Draft Subarea Plan

Develop preliminary goals, objectives and supporting statements for each mandatory plan element and other issues important to Guemes Island, to reflect community values, inventory analysis, and the County Comprehensive Plan (CCP 14A-3.1)

Public Meeting on preliminary draft of goals and objectives.

Prepare policies on finalized goals and objectives, and recommendations on the following (CCP 14A-2.3):

A. Land Use

Identify locations for residential, capital facilities, recreation, and other uses that maintain rural character and lifestyles

Identify features and characteristics to be retained, developed, preserved, enhanced, or corrected (CPP 14A-2.1 & 14A-3.1)

Identify the desired community development and design characteristics compatible with the community vision, rural character and lifestyles.

B. Zoning

Determine zoning holding capacity

Relate existing lots to zoning

Impact of existing lots and current aggregation policies on holding capacity

Evaluate lot sizes for consolidation needs

Relate holding capacity of zoning to goals and objectives

Housing

Noise & light pollution control

Commercial Activity

Rural commercial uses

Home-based businesses

Capital Facilities and Services

Consult with appropriate agencies to determine need, location requirements, availability and cost

List/prioritize capital improvement needs

Financing Capital Facilities and Services

Relate to GMA Concurrency Requirements

Transportation

Speed limits

Road widths

Roadside maintenance

Corridor protection/enhancements

Impacts to private roads by construction

Trails

Ferry, in cooperation with ferry committee

Other, as indicated by community survey

H. Parks & recreation, open spaces (vistas)

Protection/restoration of open spaces,

Identify approaches to preserving open spaces in the development process

Review County Agriculture plan as it relates to open spaces

Aquifer

Describe the condition of the aquifer from available information.

Evaluate impacts of extended drought (2 or more consecutive years, needed for GMA concurrency and SEPA).

Analyze the potential impacts of pollutants, including wastewater, on groundwater quality.
Identify ways to conserve water supplies.

Identify approaches to protecting the quality and quantity of groundwater.

Provide recommendations on continuance of Seawater Intrusion Policy.

Critical Areas

Develop any additional policies needed to protect wetlands, steep slopes, shorelines, woodlands, other critical areas.

Address signing public shoreline access.

Prepare Land use alternatives (including no-action alternative)

A. Include environmental impacts

B. Address the County Comprehensive Plan update per RCW 36.70A.130.

C. Address subarea plan GMA amendments to Rural Element per RCW 36.70A.070(5).

D. Address Comprehensive Rural Land Use Element [Chapter 4, Rural Area Policy 4A-7.15(c)].

Hold community meeting(s) on alternative land use plans

Identify preferred land use

5. Develop policies for other issues:

A. Determine role of GIPAC in review of future development proposals.

B. Identify year of next update (at least once every seven years)

6. Prepare SEPA documents

Task 4 – Community Involvement

Initiate community involvement in the plan process according to
CCP14A-2.4

A. Take the following steps when issuing the draft plan and SEPA checklist:

Publish notice that the preliminary subarea plan and SEPA checklist are available for public review and comment.

Circulate the plan to stakeholders.

Conduct a community meeting on all documents.

Revise draft plan and checklist.

County issues SEPA Determination on whether plan creates significant environmental impacts.

Task 5 – County Review of Proposed Subarea Plan

1. Planning Commission

A. Conducts public hearing, consider public comment

Forwards recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

B. County Commissioners

Reviews Planning Commission recommendation

Adopts, rejects, or remands to the Planning Commission for further consideration.

 

Task 6-- Implementation

1. Draft implementing regulations based on policies.

* * *
Attachments
Attachment 1: Community Survey
Prepare a survey to gather public views on range of planning
issues including the following topics:
attitudes toward growth
density issues
desirable neighborhood characteristics
transportation preferences
capital facility/service improvements
protection of critical areas
financing facility and service needs
general demographics & land ownership characteristics
other?
Distribute survey by mail
Attachment 2: Request for Proposals (RFP)
A Request for Proposals (RFP) for Professional Planning Services
would include the following tasks, unless already completed by GIPAC:
Prepare a community survey or other mechanisms to involve the community in the update process and gather public opinion
Compile survey results and report findings to GIPAC, the community, and the County
Assemble and analyze planning data and physical features, including items in Task 2
Develop & analyze alternative growth scenarios that protect natural resources, rural character, and critical areas (CCP14A-4.1)
Draft supporting information for the goals, objectives and policies of all elements
Provide GIPAC with policy guidance in preparing the plan update
Prepare programmatic SEPA compliance documents (checklist or SEIS to the County Comprehensive Plan EIS).

Attachment 3: Stakeholders

The following is a preliminary list of key stakeholders who have been informed that the subarea plan is being prepared, and were asked for input regarding their area of interest:
Guemes Island Property Owners Association
Guemes Island Community Center Association
Guemes Island Ferry Committee
Evergreen Islands
Anacortes School District
Skagit County Fire District No.17
Skagit County Parks and Recreation
Skagit County Public Works
Skagit County Health
Skagit County Emergency Management
Skagit County Housing Authority
Skagit County Public Utility District
Skagit County Sheriff
Other agencies with jurisdiction
Washington State Department of Ecology
Washington State Office of Community Development
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Water/utility purveyors
Interested individuals
Affected Tribes