What is a Comprehensive Plan?
| What is Zoning?
|
FAQ
WHAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?
The Comprehensive Plan will be the 20-year blueprint for local policy, planning, and capital facility investment through the year 2044. This plan is used as a guide for local governments through the establishment of vision statements, goals, objectives, policies, and implementing actions. This framework is intended to guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and local government staff.
The State's Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that Counties and Cities update their Comprehensive Plan every 10 years. The Comprehensive Plan is also revised on an annual basis.
WHY DO WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?
Every community needs a vision. Historically, growth in Washington State has led to issues of urban sprawl, loss of farmland, natural resource degradation, and uncoordinated capital facilities. In 1990, the Growth Management Act was passed, which required us to plan for the future. The Plan will guide where housing and business growth should occur, how that growth is served by transportation and other infrastructure, and how we can enhance the natural environment and community character.
WHO DECIDES WHAT THE PLAN SAYS?
County Staff will engage with the community to develop a vision based on community goals and state and regional requirements. A draft plan will be developed, and public meetings will be held to collect public comments. The Planning Commission will recommend to staff, who will forward a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, who approve the final plan.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?
A Comprehensive Plan has mandatory and optional elements. Each element has its own goals and policies. Mandatory elements are:
- Land Use
- Housing
- Capital Facilities Plan
- Utilities
- Economic Development
- Parks and Recreation
- Rural Lands
- Transportation
In addition, Kitsap County will have various Subarea Plans within the Comprehensive Plan, which focus in more detail on the specific areas of Kingston, Silverdale, Suquamish, and Manchester.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT LAND USE?
The Kitsap Comprehensive Plan assigns land use and zoning designations for every parcel within unincorporated Kitsap County. Land use designations provide sideboards on the use of land, whether for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, or institutional purposes.
The County must maintain a certain amount of residential and commercial growth capacity in certain areas of the County. The County-Wide Planning Policies (CPPs) provide growth targets for different areas of the County, and the Comprehensive Plan must be consistent with these goals.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF I WANT TO CHANGE THESE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS?
Starting in June 2022, anyone may initiate a request for a land use reclassification. See more information on the process here. All requests will be reviewed holistically by the Board of County Commissioners and evaluated on their consistency with the final Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. Those requests that move forward will be included in the preliminary alternatives in 2023 for Environmental Review.
WHAT CHANGES WILL BE IN THE FINAL UPDATE?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will evaluate three different growth alternatives. The EIS will include an analysis of potential impacts associated with amendments, and the public is given an opportunity to comment on the EIS. Ultimately, a "preferred alternative" will be selected to move forward through the public process.
IS THIS THE SAME AS A ZONING CODE?
No, the Comprehensive Plan is a framework for what land uses are allowed where. A zoning code regulates development, such as rules about height, density, and setbacks. Per State Law, a zoning code must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, and the zoning code and other development regulations will be updated as part of this process in order to implement the Comprehensive Plan. Other development codes need to stay consistent as well, such as the Critical Areas Ordinance (Title 19), Shoreline Master Program (Title 22), and Subdivision Regulations (Title 16).
