Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES3.7 Land Use PatternsThis section describes existing land uses and land use patterns within the Gorst UGA. The section also comparesthe three alternatives described in Section 2.5 Study Alternatives with respect to the land uses proposed andevaluates their potential impacts on land use patterns and land use compatibility. Where implementation of analternative would have significant adverse impacts, appropriate mitigation measures are identified.Affected EnvironmentWatershedExisting Land UseThe Gorst Creek watershed encompasses approximately 6,000 acres in southwestern Kitsap County, of which themajority is undeveloped or engaged in natural resource uses. Approximately 120 acres are developed forcommercial, industrial, or residential uses. Most of this development is concentrated near where the creek flowsinto Sinclair Inlet, within the Gorst UGA. Low to moderate-intensity development is also present in the southcentralportion of the watershed in the form of a residential subdivision and some associated commercial andindustrial development. Figure 3.7-1 Gorst Watershed Planning Area: Current Land Use shows existing land usethroughout the Gorst Creek Watershed.Comprehensive Plan Land Use and ZoningThe Gorst Creek Watershed covers portions of several local government jurisdictions, including the Cities ofBremerton and Port Orchard, unincorporated Kitsap County, and the Gorst, SKIA, and West Bremerton UGA’sassociated with the City of Bremerton. Comprehensive Plan Land Use designations and zoning throughout thewatershed are established by each of these local jurisdictions. Figure 3.7-2 Gorst Creek Watershed: Land Covershows the adopted land use designations for the Gorst Watershed vicinity. Land use designations in the watershedconsist primarily of CUL, Rural Residential, and Urban Reserve designations. Industrial designations are present inand around the SKIA UGA, located in the southwestern portion of the watershed, and isolated transportation andpublic facilities (railroad traversing north of SR 3 and airport in SKIA). Urban residential, commercial, and industrialdesignations are concentrated within the Gorst UGA and are described in greater detail below.Draft | June 2013 3-98