Comments regarding VISION review,  Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan

Ten Year Update 2006

1. The vision statements under review are those also included in the County Wide Planning Policies (CPP) and the Vision Statements upon which those policies were based. A revision of the Vision statements for the Comprehensive Plan will by regulation require a review and probable revision to the CPP. In that, by regulation, approval of the CPP Precede the development or revision of the Comprehensive Plan, the process current underway is one of circular logic. Please refer to Kitsap County Ordinance 327-2004, Introduction Paragraph 2 which states

“The Growth Management Act (RCW36.70A.210) states that “A COUNTY-WIDE PLANNING POLICY IS A WRITTEN POLICY STATEMENT OR STATEMENTS USED SOLELY FOR ESTABLISHING A COUNTY-WIDEFRAMEWORK FROM WHICH COUNTY AND CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLANS ARE DEVELOPED AND ADOPTED…TO ENSURE THAT CITY AND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLANSARE CONCISTENT….”

It is clear that any revision to the Vision statements now under review will have impact on the CPP and will then make invalid any policy based on such Vision statement.

Recommendation: All efforts to review and revise the Vision statements associated with the Comprehensive Plan 10 year update be terminated as inappropriate for the purpose of update and be deferred until review of the CPOP is undertaken. Alternately, proceed with the Vision update, then review and revise the CPP as appropriate and finally update the Comprehensive Plan to be consistent with the revised CPP.

2. To be appropriate for long range planning, a vision statement must recognize current conditions and recognize a methodology or logical process that with would permit the vision to become reality. Visioning in planning is not the same as dreaming in life. Without some basis for realistic achievement, a vision has no vale for planning purposes.  In the case of Kitsap County, the realities of past development and the current conditions do, of realistic necessity, condition any vision we might have of our future.  Similarly, a review of visions of the past compared to the realities of today will reveal that “thinking out of the box” may be interesting but first the limit of the box must be fully defined. In our current process, visioning a county with the majority of employment opportunities located within cities or urban areas is not only unrealistic but contrary to existing conditions and the overall “culture” of the county. Similarly visioning a continued “rural” character for the county and, at the same time visioning an effective “multi-modal transportation system” (read not automobile reliant) is not consistent or realistic.

Recommendation: To assist in creating realistic “vision” statements that will assist in the development of a meaningful Comprehensive Plan, Vision statements should be developed to reflect each of the goals of the GMA. That way each section of the Comprehensive Plan will be directly linked to a GMA goal and a CPP element. In addition, the ability of citizens to understand how the Comprehensive plan executes the CPP and remains in compliance with the GMA will be greatly improved. Finally, the Vision statements will be limited in scope, more easily understandable, easier to assess for achievement, and more effective for inner coordination of Plan elements.

3. The following Vision statements are offered:

A. Urban Growth – Kitsap County will have several urban centers that reflect the historical nature of our rural communities. Each of the urban centers will strive to maintain its unique historical identity and culture.

B. Sprawl Reduction – Kitsap County will reflect development outside urban centers that is thoughtful and appropriate to our historical rural county culture.

C. Transportation – Kitsap County will have a transportation infrastructure that properly supports transportation within urban centers and throughout the rural areas of the county. Effective movement of people, goods, and services, shall be achieved.

D. Housing – The citizens of Kitsap County have historically demonstrated a desire for a wide variety of housing choices from large lot, single family dwellings to high density neighborhoods. Our housing profile will meet the market demands of the choice profile of our citizens. Existing communities and neighborhoods will be encouraged to remain viable living choices for our citizens. Every reasonable effort will be exercised to make housing affordable to all income levels in the community.

E. Economic Development – Kitsap County will continue to diversify its economic base by properly recruiting new wealth generation businesses to the county and encouraging existing business to develop and grow. While supporting a viable work force for areas outside the County, Kitsap County will be economically independent of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties and will not become a primary “bedroom” community for business outside the county.

F. Property Rights – The citizens of Kitsap County recognize that private ownership of real property is the basis for individual liberty and freedom and is the absolute core of the free market system. Kitsap County will observe the Constitutional protections afforded real property as a paramount requirement of all comprehensive planning.

G. Permits – The use of permits for approval of development shall be limited to only those situations absolutely necessary to assure real public health and safety. The permit process will be simple, clear and prompt.

H. Natural Resource Industries – Consistent with the understanding of private property as the core of  a free market economy, the Citizens of Kitsap County recognize the prudent use of natural resources to be in the best interest of all citizens. Property owners will be encouraged to use resources responsibly and additional consideration will be given to development of industries using renewable resources.

I. Open Space and Recreation – Kitsap County, by virtue of location, is surrounded by and in close communication with some of the most pristine and varied recreational opportunities in the nation. Those opportunities need be augmented by an appropriate number of facilities of a wide variety of functionalities to allow our citizens to recreate, on a more casual basis. Full development of all public lands for recreational opportunities is essential to providing opportunity.

J. Environment – The citizens of Kitsap County recognize the importance of the natural environment to our culture and historical rural life style. That environment must be preserved consistent with the balance of growth in the county and the requirements for protection. The citizens recognize the individual property owner to be the best steward of the environment and require protection by regulation to be limited to the absolute minimum necessary.

K. Citizen Participation and Coordination – The citizens of Kitsap County recognize that government derives its just powers from the citizens and that all power resides in the people. Accordingly, Kitsap county comprehensive planning will reflect an open, truly collaborative effort between the citizens and their elected representatives.

L. Public Facilities and services – The citizens of Kitsap County recognize that for government to provide essential services, certain public facilities must be constructed, outfitted and maintained. The citizens also recognize that providing services equally throughout the county will require facilities, including some duplication, at multiple locations. To that end essential public facilities will be limited to that number and design necessary to provide essential services.

M. Historic Preservation – Because the culture of Kitsap County is one of evolving history, comprehensive planning will be undertaken to reflect and preserve the historical rural nature of the county. Those properties, facilities, and sites having real historical significance will, to the extent practicable, preserved.

N. Shorelines – Kitsap County is virtually surrounded by Puget Sound and is imbued with numerous streams and lakes. The shoreline areas serve concurrently as habitat for humans and wildlife.  Shoreline preservation is best accomplished by the individual property owner, with assistance when required from government.

Recommendation: The above vision statements be incorporated as the basis for Comprehensive Plan development under the 10 year review process.

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