Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESWhile some of the commercial areas near the waterfront are converted to open space with this alternative, thedensity of the type of commercial developments envisioned for this alternative will result in similar trafficoperational concerns on SR 3 and SR 16 in the center of the Gorst UGA as Alternative 1. Trips accessing thiscommercial area will be employment trips originating from outside of the Gorst Area as well as number of tripsoriginating outside of the area that are destined to the various commercial developments along the statehighways.The inclusion of pedestrian friendly commercial developments between SR 3 and Sinclair inlet will result in anincreased pedestrian demand from the residential areas to the waterfront. This increase in demand will create asafety concern for pedestrians crossing the highway at grade.Impacts of Alternative 3Alternative 3 would convert the resource area along Sinclair Heights to residential but with a different mix ofresidential than Alternative 2. Under this alternative, an additional 536 housing units would be added incomparison to Alternative 1. However due to the presence of small scale commercial developments near theresidential development as well as the inclusion of trails and pedestrian facilities, these additional housing unitswould actually result in a reduction in the volumes on the local county roadway as compared to Alternative 2. Aswith Alternative 2, the traffic projections for this alternative show that the majority of the trips generated from thenew residential developments are directed north toward Werner Road to access employment areas to the northand east while the remaining trips are directed to the southwest and east via Belfair Road and Sam ChristophersonAvenue.The biggest change with this Alternative is the change in the type and intensity of commercial developments withthe central area of the Gorst UGA. This lower intensity development will result in 408 fewer jobs in the Gorst UGAas compared with Alternative 1. The combination of lower density commercial and the change in the land usealong the waterfront such that access control along SR 3 can be more readily implemented, the traffic operationsalong the state highways with this alternative is expected to be the least disruptive with this alternative than theother 2 alternatives.The inclusion of pedestrian friendly commercial developments between SR 3 and Sinclair inlet will result in anincreased pedestrian demand from the residential areas to the waterfront. This increase in demand will create asafety concern for pedestrians crossing the highway at grade.Mitigation MeasuresIncorporated Plan FeaturesAll alternatives would implement City of Bremerton and County Comprehensive Plan Transportation Elementsincluding adopted policies regarding levels of service, concurrency, TDM, etc.The Draft Gorst Creek Watershed Characterization & Framework Plan and Draft Gorst Subarea Plan include thefollowing policies that would address transportation impacts:• Manage land use and growth to avoid increases in traffic congestion, and create opportunities forimprovements to existing congestion.• Improve safety and circulation, and improve transportation mode choices including transit, bicycle,pedestrian, and automobiles.• Encourage improved Kitsap Transit service such as added park and ride facilities.• Design roads to incorporate gateway treatments, boulevard style streetscape improvements, and accessimprovements to invite the community to Gorst and allow convenient travel to regional businesses.Draft | June 2013 3-173