February 2018 Benton County Update February 2018 Benton County Comprehensive Plan Update 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 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 ................................................................................................................................. 15 2.4 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 16 2.5 Critical Areas ...................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.6 Economic Development ................................................................................................................................. 22 2.7 Housing ................................................................................................................................................................ 23 2.8 Transportation Element ................................................................................................................................. 24 2.9 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Historic Preservation............................................................... 26 2.10 Capital Facilities and Public Services ........................................................................................................ 28 2.11 Utilities 29 3 Land Use Element ................................................................................................................... 30 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 30 3.2 Existing Land Uses in the County ............................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Land Use Categories ....................................................................................................................................... 35 3.4 Sub Area Plans ................................................................................................................................................... 47 3.5 Countywide Planning Policies ..................................................................................................................... 49 3.6 Expansion of Urban Growth Areas............................................................................................................. 50 3.7 Population Projections for Benton County............................................................................................. 51 3.8 New Housing Units Needed for Projected Rural Population Growth .......................................... 53 Benton County Comprehensive Plan Update i February 2018 4 Natural Resources Element .................................................................................................. 54 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 54 4.2 Natural Setting of Benton County ............................................................................................................. 54 4.3 Soils and Agricultural Resources ................................................................................................................ 56 4.4 Mineral Resources ............................................................................................................................................ 58 4.5 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 59 4.6 Critical Areas ...................................................................................................................................................... 68 5 Economics Element................................................................................................................. 80 5.1 Introduction and Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 80 5.2 Hanford Nuclear Reservation ...................................................................................................................... 80 5.3 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................................................... 81 5.4 Summary of Economic Development Priorities .................................................................................... 85 5.5 The County's Role in Economic Development and Diversification ............................................... 89 6 Housing Element ..................................................................................................................... 90 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 90 6.2 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................................................... 90 6.3 Current Trends ................................................................................................................................................... 92 6.4 Future Considerations .................................................................................................................................... 93 7 Transportation Element ......................................................................................................... 96 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 96 7.2 Existing Transportation System .................................................................................................................. 96 7.3 Level of Service Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 101 7.4 Planned Improvements and Financing .................................................................................................. 103 7.5 Regional Transportation Plans .................................................................................................................. 105 8 Parks and Recreation Element ............................................................................................ 108 8.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 108 8.2 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................ 109 8.3 Current Trends ................................................................................................................................................. 114 8.4 Future Considerations .................................................................................................................................. 116 9 Capital Facilities Element ....................................................................................................