Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

1.0 SUMMARY1.1 Purpose of Proposed ActionThe City of Bremerton, in partnership with Kitsap County and other state, federal, and tribal agencies, is planningthe future of the Gorst Creek Watershed and UGA. These coordinated efforts are intended to:• Make Gorst a place where people want to live, shop and recreate,• Protect water quality, habitat and fish while fostering economic development,• Identify areas for development, restoration and protection based on science,• Adopt a land use plan for Gorst, and• Implement a long-range capital improvement plan to provide for future utility services, public services andtransportation needs.Products of the planning effort to date include a Draft Gorst Creek Watershed Characterization & Framework Planfor the 6,000-acre watershed as a whole and a Draft Gorst Subarea Plan for the Gorst UGA. This Draft EIS evaluatespossible environmental impacts of the draft plans and alternatives. In addition to these plans and developmentregulations, the City of Bremerton and Kitsap County are considering designating a planned action for some or allof the Gorst UGA. A planned action provides more detailed environmental analysis during an area-wide planningstage rather than at the project permit review stage. Designating a planned action streamlines environmentalreview for development proposals consistent with EIS mitigation measures that are adopted in a planned actionordinance.To illustrate a range of possible futures in Gorst, the following alternatives are evaluated in the Draft GorstSubarea Plan and this Draft EIS:• Alternative 1 (No Action) – Gorst is a relatively small highway-oriented commercial and industrial center• Alternative 2 – Gorst is a well-designed regional commercial center• Alternative 3 – Gorst becomes a complete communityAlternative 1 is a required alternative under the SEPA. It represents a continuation of the current ComprehensivePlan and regulations. Action alternatives represent a range of land use, growth, policies, and regulations and weredeveloped as part of a public outreach process. These alternatives are discussed more fully in this Chapter.1.2 State Environmental Policy Act ProcessSEPA (Chapter 43.21C RCW) requires government officials to consider the environmental consequences of actionsthey are about to take and better or less damaging ways to accomplish these proposals. The officials must considerwhether the proposal will have a probable significant adverse environmental impact on the natural and builtenvironment.The Draft EIS is an informational document that provides the City of Bremerton, Kitsap County, members of thepublic, and other agencies with environmental information, an evaluation of alternatives, and potential mitigationmeasures to minimize environmental impacts. This Draft EIS is being made available to the City of Bremerton andKitsap County decision makers, other agencies, and the public for review and comment (see Fact Sheet). Followingthe comment period, the City of Bremerton, in consultation with Kitsap County, will prepare a Final EIS thatresponds to comments and describes a preferred alternative that may be similar to a Draft EIS alternative or is inthe range of studied alternatives.Draft | June 2013 1-1