2017 Comprehensive Plan Update for BENTON COUNTY
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February 2018 [Project Name] Update Updated January 2020 Benton County Comprehensive Plan Prepared for Prepared by Benton County Anchor QEA, LLC 7122 W Okanogan Place, Bldg A 720 Olive Way, Suite 1900 Kennewick, Washington 99336 Seattle, Washington 98101 Oneza & Associates 3131 Western Avenue, Suite 316 Seattle, Washington 98121 2017 Comprehensive Plan Update FOR BENTON COUNTY Adopted on February 13, 2018 Ordinance #600 Resolution # 2018-137 AMENDMENTS: Resolution # 2020-062, Ordinance #620Effective Date: January 14, 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................... i Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................... v 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose and Intent of the Benton County Comprehensive Plan ...................................................... 1 1.2 Planning Under the Growth Management Act ........................................................................................ 4 1.3 Benton County Profile ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Plan Framework ................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Consistency and Relationship of the Plan to Other Documents ....................................................... 8 1.6 Concurrency ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.7 Amendments to this Comprehensive Plan ............................................................................................. 10 2 Goals and Policies .................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Planning Process ............................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Land Use .............................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.3 Natural Resource Lands ................................................................................................................................. 17 2.4 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 17 2.5 Critical Areas ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.6 Economic Development ................................................................................................................................. 23 2.7 Housing ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 2.8 Transportation Element ................................................................................................................................. 25 2.9 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Historic Preservation .............................................................. 28 2.10 Capital Facilities and Public Services ........................................................................................................ 29 2.11 Utilities 30 3 Land Use Element ................................................................................................................... 32 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 32 3.2 Existing Land Uses in the County ............................................................................................................... 33 3.3 Land Use Categories ....................................................................................................................................... 37 3.4 Sub Area Plans ................................................................................................................................................... 49 3.5 Countywide Planning Policies ..................................................................................................................... 51 3.6 Expansion of Urban Growth Areas............................................................................................................. 52 3.7 Population Projections for Benton County ............................................................................................ 53 3.8 New Housing Units Needed for Projected Rural Population Growth .......................................... 55 Benton County Comprehensive Plan Update i February 2018 4 Natural Resources Element .................................................................................................. 56 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 56 4.2 Natural Setting of Benton County ............................................................................................................. 56 4.3 Soils and Agricultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 58 4.4 Mineral Resources ............................................................................................................................................ 60 4.5 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 61 4.6 Critical Areas ...................................................................................................................................................... 70 5 Economics Element................................................................................................................. 82 5.1 Introduction and Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 82 5.2 Hanford Nuclear Reservation ...................................................................................................................... 82 5.3 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................................................... 83 5.4 Summary of Economic Development Priorities .................................................................................... 87 5.5 The County's Role in Economic Development and Diversification ............................................... 91 6 Housing Element ..................................................................................................................... 92 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 92 6.2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................................................... 92 6.3 Current Trends ................................................................................................................................................... 94 6.4 Future Considerations .................................................................................................................................... 95 7 Transportation Element ......................................................................................................... 98 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 98 7.2 Existing Transportation System .................................................................................................................. 98 7.3 Level of Service Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 104 7.4 Planned Improvements and Financing .................................................................................................. 106 7.5 Regional Transportation Plans .................................................................................................................. 108 8 Parks and Recreation Element ............................................................................................ 112 8.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 112 8.2 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................ 113 8.3 Current Trends ................................................................................................................................................. 118 8.4 Future Considerations .................................................................................................................................