Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

FACT SHEETProject TitleGorst Creek Watershed Characterization & Framework Plan, Gorst Subarea Plan, and Gorst Planned ActionProposed Action and AlternativesThe City of Bremerton, in partnership with Kitsap County and other state, federal, and tribal agencies, is planningthe future of the Gorst Creek Watershed and Gorst 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 335-acre Gorst UGA. This DraftGorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) evaluates possible environmental impacts of thedraft plans and alternatives.In addition to these plans and development regulations, the City of Bremerton and Kitsap County are consideringdesignating a planned action for some or all of the Gorst UGA. A planned action provides more detailedenvironmental analysis during an area-wide planning stage rather than at the project permit review stage.Designating a planned action streamlines environmental review for development proposals consistent with EISmitigation measures that are adopted in a planned action ordinance.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 community.Alternative 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 Chapter 2.ProponentThe City of Bremerton and Kitsap CountyTentative Date of ImplementationDecember 2013Lead AgencyCity of BremertonDraft | June 2013III