Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESThe growth in Alternatives 2 and 3 would diverge from past trends in the UGA based on the development of themine site. Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 have sizable population growth, with much of the growth occurring asmore dense housing, primarily townhomes style, at the mine site in the northwest portion of the UGA. Alternative1 would have much less population and housing growth. The little growth that does occur is all in lower densitysingle-family homes.The Gorst UGA is projected to sizably increase the number of jobs by 2035 within the UGA for all alternatives,particularly Alternative 1 and Alternative 2 in Table 3.8-6 2035 Net New Employment by Alternative in the GorstUGA. Alternative 3 would also see an increase in employment, but much less than in the other two alternatives.The vast majority of the new employment for all the alternatives will be in commercial uses, such as retail andcommercial services. Industrial employ would have a sizable increase in Alternative 1 and stay the relatively thesame under Alternatives 2 and 3 as it is today.Table 3.8-62035 Net New Employment by Alternative in the Gorst UGAAlternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3Sector Jobs Percent Jobs Percent Jobs PercentCommercial 606 81.7 573 94.6 315 94.6Industrial 136 18.3 33 5.4 18 5.4Total 742 100.0 606 100.0 333 100.0Source: Kitsap County, 2012; BERK, 2012Alternative 1The growth assumed in Alternative 1 (No Action, Gorst is a relatively small highway-oriented commercial andindustrial center) is mostly employment growth for commercial uses with a small population increase. Alternative1 also assumes the current comprehensive plan land use designations and zoning regulations stay in effect. Thelimited residential growth and lack of change in land use regulations make it likely that any change in the localeconomy will be a continuation of the current character with some larger scale and/or more intense commercialuses that cater to the regional market and pass through traffic.The additional employees in the community during the day would spur demand for some retail establishments,such as lunch and coffee spots.Alternative 2Alternative 2 (Gorst is a well-designed regional commercial center) has a substantial increase in population andmoderate employment growth. Land use and zoning changes in this alternative allow Medium-Density Residentialdevelopment on the mine site in the northwest portion of the UGA and more commercial development on areascurrently designated for industrial uses. Most of the population and housing growth is accommodated by theredevelopment of the mine site. Larger and more intense commercial and retail uses could be developed along SR3 and SR 16.The additional residential growth and ability for larger scale commercial uses could lead to the establishment ofnew businesses and change of current businesses to larger scale ones. The addition of almost 1,000 residentswould likely increase the demand for small scale retail uses, especially convenience items and food services. Largerretail establishments, such as a grocery store or department store, need to be supported by a larger populationbase. The proximity to Bremerton and Port Orchard and the amount of pass by traffic may allow Gorst to supportthese types of businesses. Traffic congestion and highway access would likely be key factors in whether this scaleof auto-oriented businesses materializes.Draft | June 2013 3-114