Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
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FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Draft: March 2017 Final: June 2017 YAKIMA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FACT SHEET Project Title City of Yakima’s Comprehensive Plan 2040 Update Proposed Action and Alternatives The proposed action is the adoption of the City of Yakima Comprehensive Plan 2040 and updated Development Regulations and Critical Areas Ordinance will provide an updated land use plan and policies to address growth through 2040. The Plan updates all sections of the 2006 plan and introduces new elements for Historic Preservation and Energy. Within the range of prior alternatives evaluated in 1997 and 2006, this Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS) tests two alternatives, further described in this section: . Alternative 1 No Action – Current Comprehensive Plan: This alternative is required by the State Environmental Policy Act. It assumes the 2006 Comprehensive Plan (as amended through 2016) remains in place including its policies, land use plan, and codes. Growth would occur based on current plans and zoning at a level above growth targets. Action Alternative 2 – Plan Update – Infill, Mixed Use, and Higher Growth: This alternative updates the Comprehensive Plan including the vision statement, all elements, the future land use map, transportation plan, capital facilities plan, and selected implementing zoning and critical areas regulations in a manner that promotes a vision of equity in plans and strategies, and growth in already developed areas where there is infrastructure and a well-designed and compatible land use pattern. This alternative would also implement the individual parcel rezone/ Future Land Use amendments recommended for evaluation by the Planning Commission that promote infill and greater land use compatibility. Growth would occur based on a revised land use plan and zoning at a level higher than growth targets. A greater emphasis on infill development and mixed uses would allow an improved jobs-housing balance. The Final SEIS Preferred Alternative is consistent with Action Alternative 2 with adjustments often in response to comments: . Land Use Map: Consistent with Action Alternative 2 provided that approximately 1.2 acres would change from proposed Mixed Residential to Commercial Mixed Use. Cultural Resources Policies: Shoreline policies regarding cultural resources protection are added to the citywide Historic Resources Element. Natural Environment Policies: Policies are included addressing conserving native vegegation, and to sustain levee vegetation or enhance it. Transportation System Plan: Map and text changes that show greater integration with the Bicycle Master Plan, Airport Master Plan, and Transit Development Plan, correct maps of traffic features such as signals, and adjust bike routes, pedestrian routes, and truck routes. A policy is added to support development of a long-range transit plan. Stream Regulations: Stream typing would be retained but descriptions of stream types would be based on fish and salmonid presence. Buffers for Type 2 streams would be increased to 100 feet. FINAL JUNE 2017 | Environmental Summary iv YAKIMA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Unless otherwise stated the impacts of the Preferred Alternative are considered identical to those of Action Alternative 2. Proponent and Lead Agency City of Yakima; 129 N 2nd St; Yakima, WA; 98901 Tentative Date of Implementation June 30, 2017 Responsible SEPA Official Joan Davenport, AICP; Community Development Director City of Yakima 129 North Second Street Yakima, WA 98901 Contact Person Joseph Calhoun, Senior Planner City of Yakima Planning Division 129 North Second Street Yakima, WA 98901 509-575-6042 [email protected] Required Approvals Recommendation by the Planning Commission and City Council Adoption. State agency review will also occur in accordance with the Growth Management Act as coordinated by the State of Washington Department of Commerce. Principal SEIS Authors and Principal Contributors This document was prepared under the direction of the City of Yakima Planning Division. Principal Authors BERK Consulting, Inc. 2025 First Avenue, Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98121 (Comprehensive Plan Update Consultant Lead; Existing Conditions Report; Land Capacity Analysis; Plan Foundation and Vision; Housing Element; Utilities Element; Capital Facilities Plan and Element; SEPA strategies and evaluation of: Natural Environment, Population/Housing/Employment, Plans and Policies, Cultural Resources, Schools, Infrastructure) City of Yakima Planning Division 129 North Second Street Yakima, WA 98901 (Comprehensive Plan Update Management; GIS and Mapping; SEPA evaluation of Air Quality, Land Use Patterns, Parks, Police, Fire, Power and Telecommunications, and Citizen Amendment Requests) FINAL JUNE 2017 | Fact Sheet v YAKIMA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Contributing Authors Artifacts Consulting, Inc. 401 Broadway Tacoma WA 98402 (Historic Preservation Plan) Makers Architecture and Urban Design Securities Building, 1904 3rd Ave #725 Seattle, WA 98101 (Land Use Element and Future Land Use Plan Update) Shannon and Wilson, Inc. 400 N 34th St #100 Seattle, WA 98103 (Natural Environment Element, Critical Areas Ordinance Gap Analysis, Existing Conditions Report and SEIS addressing Natural Environment) Transpo Group 12131 113th Ave NE #203 Kirkland, WA 98034 (Transportation Element and Plan Update, transportation modeling and analysis) Tadzo 4609 Scenic Drive Yakima, WA 98908 (Yakima Economic Development Strategic Plan) Date of Draft SEIS Issuance March 17, 2017 Draft SEIS Comment Period March 17, 2017 to May 16, 2017. Date and Location of Draft SEIS Public Meeting April 11, 2017: Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session. Location: City Hall Council Chambers, 129 N 2nd St., Yakima, WA, 98901. April 11, 2017: Public Open House, Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center Date of Final SEIS Issuance June 13, 2017 Date of Final Action June 30, 2017 projected completion. FINAL JUNE 2017 | Fact Sheet vi YAKIMA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Prior Environmental Review / EIS Supplemented This SEIS supplements the Final Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan, Appendix A, November 2006. Subsequent Environmental Review The City is using phased review in its environmental review of the City Comprehensive Plan update with a programmatic review of the proposal and alternatives. Examples of proposals that may require more area- specific or site-specific SEPA review when more details are known include, but are not limited to, capital improvement projects and private development. Location of Background Data See Contact Person above. Final SEIS Availability The document is posted at the City’s website at: https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/planning/comprehensive-plan-update/ Compact disks are available at no charge at Yakima City Hall, Planning Division. Copies of the document may be purchased at Yakima City Hall Planning Division. A reference copy is available for review at City Hall Planning Division as well. The address for City Hall, Planning Division is: 129 North Second Street, Yakima, WA 98901. FINAL JUNE 2017 | Fact Sheet vii YAKIMA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Environmental Summary ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose of Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 State Environmental Policy Act Process ..................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Public Involvement..................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.4 Summary of Proposed Alternatives ........................................................................................... 1-2 1.5 Summary of Impacts of the Proposal and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 1-3 1.6 Citizen Amendment Requests .................................................................................................. 1-15 1.7 Major Conclusions, Areas of Controversy or Uncertainty, and Issues to be Resolved ............ 1-16 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction and Purpose .......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Description of Planning Area ..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 State and Regional Planning Requirements ............................................................................... 2-2 2.4 SEPA Process .............................................................................................................................. 2-3 2.5 Objectives and Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 2-5 2.6 Summary of Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 2-17 2.7 Future Alternatives .................................................................................................................