July 24, 2012 Introduction to Rural Area What is considered Rural by - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

July 24, 2012

Introduction to Rural Area

What is considered “Rural” by the Growth Management Act? RCW 36.70A.030 Definitions , defines “Rural” in this way. “(15) "Rural character" refers to the patterns of land use and development established by a county in the rural element of its comprehensive plan: (a) In which open space, the natural landscape, and vegetation predominate over the built environment; (b) That foster traditional rural lifestyles , rural-based economies , and opportunities to both live and work in rural areas ; (c) That provide visual landscapes that are traditionally found in rural areas and communities ; (d) That are compatible with the use of the land by wildlife and for fish and wildlife habitat; (e) That reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development; (f) That generally do not require the extension of urban governmental services; and (g) That are consistent with the protection of natural surface water flows and groundwater and surface water recharge and discharge areas. (16) "Rural development" refers to development outside the urban growth area and outside agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands designated pursuant to RCW 36.70A.170. Rural development can consist of a variety of uses and residential densities, including clustered residential development, at levels that are consistent with the preservation of rural character and the requirements of the rural element. Rural development does not refer to agriculture or forestry activities that may be conducted in rural areas.”

What is Included in a Rural Element? RCW 36.70A. 070 “(5) Rural element. Counties shall include a rural element including lands that are not designated for urban growth, agriculture, forest, or mineral resources . The following provisions shall apply to the rural element: (a) Growth management act goals and local circumstances. Because circumstances vary from county to county, in establishing patterns of rural densities and uses, a county may consider local circumstances, but shall develop a written record explaining how the rural element harmonizes the planning goals in RCW 36.70A.020 and meets the requirements of this chapter. (b) Rural development. The rural element shall permit rural development, forestry, and agriculture in rural areas. The rural element shall provide for a variety of rural densities, uses, essential public facilities, and rural governmental services needed to serve the permitted densities and uses. To achieve a variety of rural densities and uses, counties may provide for clustering, density transfer, design guidelines, conservation easements, and other innovative techniques that will accommodate appropriate rural densities and uses that are not characterized by urban growth and that are consistent with rural character. (c) Measures governing rural development. The rural element shall include measures that apply to rural development and protect the rural character of the area , as established by the county, by: (i) Containing or otherwise controlling rural development ; (ii) Assuring visual compatibility of rural development with the surrounding rural area ; (iii) Reducing the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development in the rural area; (iv) Protecting critical areas , as provided in RCW 36.70A.060, and surface water and groundwater resources; and (v) Protecting against conflicts with the use of agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands designated under RCW 36.70A.170.

Legal Issues to be Addressed • The expansion of City of Kittitas Urban Growth Area • Use of 3-acre densities in the County and how they impact the “rural” character • Having variety of rural densities not impacting rural character • Impacts of urban uses in rural areas and agriculture lands of long- term significance • Use of “one-time splits,” “performance-based cluster platting” and “Planned Unit Development” (PUD) zoning and impact upon rural use • Protection of water quality and quantity during subdivision of lands held in common ownership

What’s been done so far? • Stakeholder Report • General Questionnaire • Open House Events • Preliminary Analysis

Remaining Tasks and Schedule • Review Draft Proposals - Obtain Feedback BOCC & Planning Commission Joint Meeting August 28 • Comments from Public Potential Open Houses – September and/or October • Public Hearings with Planning Commission November • Public Hearings with Board of County Commissioners December

City of Kittitas UGA Expansion • Presentation by City – Next Steps…. • Reversion Clause Map Last Unchallenged

Existing Lot Pattern

Potential Lot Creation in All Rural Areas Table 3.3-1 Potential Lot Creation Under Current Kittitas County Zoning Potential Platted Potential Total Potential Existing Zoning Parcels 1 One-Time Splits 2 Additional Lots Agriculture 20 1,372 3,631 5,003 Forest and Range 2,030 N/A 2,030 Rural 5, Ag 5 379 N/A 379 Rural 3, Ag 3 4,873 N/A 4,873 Total 8,654 3,631 12,285 1 Does not include parcels in public ownership, floodways, or wind farm overlay zones. 2 The County code does not allow for lots that have been created by the “ one-time ” split process to be re-subdivided, unless such division is through a long plat or short plat subdivision process.

Potential Lot Creation in Three Acre Zones Table 3.3-5 Potential Lot Creation - Three Acre Zones Possible Additional Parcels Existing No. of Parcels 1 Parcel Acreage, Attributes, and through Subdivision (KCC 16) Potential Division Parameters Upper Lower Total Upper Lower Total County County County County County County 499 31 530 Unknown Unknown Unknown Parcels with no Acreage or Owner Data 4155 773 4928 0 0 0 Greater than 0 and Less than 6 Acres 283 53 336 283 53 336 Divide into 2: >= 6 and < 9 Acres 227 40 267 454 80 534 Divide into 3: >= 9 and < 12 Acres 79 15 94 237 45 282 Divide into 4: >= 12 and < 15 Acres 51 9 60 204 36 240 Divide into 5: >= 15 and < 18 Acres 94 13 107 470 65 535 Divide into 6: >= 18 and < 21 Acres 57 6 63 342 36 378 Divide into 7: >= 21 and < 24 Acres 22 8 30 154 56 210 Divide into 8: >= 24 and < 27 Acres 22 4 26 176 32 208 Divide into 9: >= 27 and < 30 Acres 18 4 22 162 36 198 Divide into 10: >= 30 and < 33 Acres 22 1 23 220 10 230 Divide into 11: >= 33 and < 36 Acres 13 5 18 143 55 198 Divide into 12: >= 36 and < 39 Acres 19 4 23 228 48 276 Divide into 13: >= 39 and < 42 Acres 81 15 96 1053 195 1248 Divide into 14: 42 Acres and Up Totals 5642 981 6623 4126 747 4873 1 Does not include parcels in public ownership, floodways, or wind farm overlay zones.

Upper County Three Acre Zone – Potential Residential Development

Upper County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences

Upper County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences and Buildout of Existing Lots

Upper County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences and Potential Buildout All Lots

Upper County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences and Buildout at Five Acre Zoning

Lower County Three Acre Zone Potential Residential Development

Upper County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences

Upper County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences

Lower County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences and Potential Build out All Lots

Lower County Three Acre Zone Existing Residences Buildout at Five Acre Zoning

Three Acre Zone Buildout Table Potential Subdivision of Current Three Acre Zoning Potential Number of Potential Number of Current Number of Current Number of Additional Lots @ 3 Additional Lots @ 5 Region Developed Lots Undeveloped Lots Acre Zoning Acre Zoning Upper County 2896 2761 7454 3900 Lower County 612 370 967 468 3508 3131 8421 Total 4368 4053 Reduction of Potential New Lots by 5 Acre Zoning

Proposed Land Use Designations, Zone Classifications, and Mapping Criteria Type of Land Use Land Use Designation Zone Classification Resource Commercial Agriculture Commercial Agriculture Commercial Forest Commercial Forest Mineral Zone Classification Varies Rural Transition Rural Rural 3 Agriculture 3 Limited Commercial Light Industrial General Industrial Planned Unit Development Rural Residential Rural 5 Agriculture 5 Planned Unit Development Rural Working Agriculture 20 Forest and Range Rural Recreation Master Planned Resort General Commercial Highway Commercial Rural Recreation Rural 10 Planned Unit Development LAMIRDS Residential Residential 2 Rural 5 Agriculture 3 Agriculture 20 Limited Commercial General Commercial Highway Commercial Light Industrial General Industrial Planned Unit Development Urban Urban Residential Urban Residential Light Industrial General Industrial Limited Commercial General Commercial Highway Commercial Rural 3 Agriculture 3 Forest and Range Planned Unit Development

Reecer Creek Sub ‐ Area Proposed Zoning June 2012

Reecer Creek Sub ‐ Area Proposed Zoning July 2012

Reecer Creek Sub ‐ Area Proposed Land Use July 2012

Proposed Nelson Siding Land Use Plan

Proposed Nelson Siding Zoning