2011 Budget Book - WHOLE - Kitsap County Government

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Detailed Program
Description:
Partnerships/
Collaboration:
Alternatives:
Efficiencies/
Innovations:
This program includes Growth Management Act (GMA) activities, comprehensive planning,
code development and Planning Commission support. The section is responsible for
meeting state mandates (typically GMA), docketing and completing Comp Plan
Amendments, coordinating sub-area plan development and implementation activities/status,
support to 4 citizen advisory committees (CACs) and 3 DCD stakeholder groups, population
allocation from state Office of Financial Management (with Puget Sound Regional Council
(PSRC), code development, Transfer of Development Rights program review, coordination
with other agencies (eg, Dept of Commerce, PSRC and Multi-County Planning Policies,
Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) and County-Wide Planning Policies (CPPs))
and providing support to the Planning Commission (a required recommending body by the
state and local code). A very large variable is the appeal of the 2006 Comp Plan: If a final
decision is not in the County's favor, DCD will have to suspend all other activity to respond.
A decision could come in or near the 2nd quarter of 2011, depending on final appeal/review
direction.
Community Planning regularly collaborates with the Dept of Commerce, PSRC, KRCC,
DPW, DPR, DAS/BCC and with any other Depts on an as needed or as requested basis.
The section also regularly engages four CACs (Hansville, Kingston, Suquamish,
Manchester) and three stakeholder groups (Home Builders' Assoc (HBA), DCD Dept
Advisory Group (DAG), West Sound Conservation Council (WSCC)).
There is no known feasible alternative to the Community Program.
Community Planning adapts to BCC-adopted work programs/dockets and recognizes
potential efficiencies and innovations. It employs CAC members to review programs. DCD
believes there are several successful planning models to consider, minimizing start-up work.
Recent examples include providing the work plan/docket to the BCC 4th quarter, so the new
year begins with the work plan/docket; working with planners to review code for 'functionality'
prior to the public; using other models to develop code format; engaging public in one
subcommittee rather than each separately; and collaborating with reps of proposed Limited
Areas of More Intensive Developments (LAMIRDs) for draft product. Coming innovations
(subject to BCC work approval) include a status check on subarea plans; a coordinated
level-of-service review for all sub-area plans overdue; collaboration with others to consider
existing regional TDR models; and taking priority public-requested code change to the BCC
rather than wholesale (and typically much longer) code change.
Mandates and
Contractual
Agreements:
Regional or Local?
Description of
Requirements:
The WA Growth Management Act, RCW 36.70A, applies specifically to Kitsap and
establishes 13 goals that must be considered in its orderly development, and importantly
which allows public opportunity to be heard. Community Planning provides the annual effort
to update the Comprehensive Plan, subject to work programs and docketed items approved
by the BCC. The GMA also requires reporting efforts (eg, a Buildable Lands Report
beginning in2011/due in 2012), annual Reasonable Measures reporting, and other efforts
due in coming years, which are accomplished by Community Planning. Kitsap is also
obligated to conduct a PSRC certification annually of Comprehensive Plan amendments,
which complexity must vary with the approved final docket.
Community Planning services are largely responsive to Kitsap citizenry and the BCC;
however, the overarching measure of compliance of these efforts with state or other
regulation is often determined by or in conjunction with regional agencies (eg, Dept of
Commerce, PSRC).
RCW 36.70A 'Growth Management Act' prescribes necessary planning of Kitsap County.
The program complies with the requirement annually, subject to BCC decisions/adoption.