Comprehensive Plan 2018-2038 FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON JUNE 2021 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Board of County Commissioners AHBL, Inc (Consultant) Brad Peck Wayne Carlson, AICP Clint Didier Nicole Stickney, AICP Rocky Mullen MillieAnne VanDevender, AICP Rick Miller (*) Helen Stanton Robert E. Koch (*) Contributors County Planning Commission Citizens of Franklin County Layton Lowe - Connell /Kahlotus Area Randy E. Hayden, Port of Pasco Melinda Didier - Eltopia Area Buck Taft, Tri-Cities Airport Mike Vincent - Columbia R. West Area Gary Ballew, Port of Pasco (*) Claude Pierret - Snake R. Area Len Pavelka, BFCG (*) Mike Corrales - Basin City Area Erin Braich, BFCG Roger Lenk - Riverview/W. Pasco Area Paul Gonseth, WSDOT Kent McMullen - Riverview/W. Pasco Area Rick Dawson, Benton-Franklin Health District. Brent Stenson (*) Mark Hay, BBEC Duane Smith, Franklin PUD Alison Cable, Futurewise County Staff Tim Trohimovich, Futurewise Keith Johnson Debbie Berkowitz, Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Matt Mahoney Society Derrick Braaten R. Leaumont- Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Aaron Gunderson Society Jennifer Johnson Eric Weinheimer, E. Washington Real Estate Rebeca Gilley Sean Davis, Franklin County Emergency Julie Michel Management Michael Morgan Mark Neilson, Franklin County Conservation Loren Wiltse (*) District Teresa Chen (*) Kelley Paul-Lefferts, USDA- NRCS Ginger Wireman (*) = Former Laurie Ness City of Pasco Planning Department Staff City of Connell Staff Cover Photo: Washington State Ecology Coastal Atlas TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 Previous Plans and Public Participation ................................................................................................. 2 Growth Management Act......................................................................................................................... 3 What is in the Plan? ................................................................................................................................. 3 Plan Implementation ............................................................................................................................... 4 State and County Goals and State Mandates ....................................................................................... 5 COUNTY-WIDE PLANNING POLICIES ....................................................................................................... 6 LAND USE ELEMENT .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Population ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Employment .......................................................................................................................................... 17 Land Ownership .................................................................................................................................... 20 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................. 21 Land Use Compatability ....................................................................................................................... 21 Land Use Map ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Urban Growth Areas ............................................................................................................................. 28 GENERAL LAND USE GOALS AND POLICIES ........................................................................................ 33 RURAL LANDS SUB-ELEMENT ........................................................................................................................... 39 Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDS) ...................................................... 40 Rural Land Use Categories................................................................................................................... 41 Wells and Water Rights ........................................................................................................................ 53 Master Planned Resorts ....................................................................................................................... 54 RURAL LANDS GOALS AND POLICIES .................................................................................................. 54 RESOURCE LANDS SUB-ELEMENT .................................................................................................................... 58 Agricultural Resource Lands ................................................................................................................ 58 Mineral Resource Lands ...................................................................................................................... 61 RESOURCE LANDS GOALS AND POLICIES ........................................................................................... 63 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ELEMENT .................................................................................................................. 67 Geology .................................................................................................................................................. 68 Hydrogeology/Hydrology AND SOILS ................................................................................................... 69 Critical Areas ......................................................................................................................................... 77 Natural Hazards and Mitigation ........................................................................................................... 81 Environmental Stewardship and Protection ....................................................................................... 84 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT GOALS AND POLICIES ................................................................................ 85 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT ............................................................................................................... 89 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................. 89 Diversification and Economic Resiliance ............................................................................................ 93 Business Recruitment and Retention ................................................................................................. 96 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND POLICIES ............................................................................ 96 HOUSING ELEMENT ........................................................................................................................................... 99 Housing Inventory ................................................................................................................................. 99 Future Housing Needs ........................................................................................................................ 102 Affordable Housing ............................................................................................................................. 102 Housing Types and Options ............................................................................................................... 103 Income ................................................................................................................................................. 106 HOUSING GOALS AND POLICIES ........................................................................................................ 108 HISTORICAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT .......................................................................................... 110 Designation of Historic Properties ..................................................................................................... 110 HISTORICAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES GOALS AND POLICIES ........................................................ 112 CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN ELEMENT................................................................................................................ 114 Capital Facilities Decision Making ..................................................................................................... 115 Community Facilities Inventory .......................................................................................................... 118 COMMUNITY FACILITIES GOALS AND POLICIES ................................................................................ 128 GENERAL CAPITAL FACILITIES PLANNING GOALS AND POLICIES.................................................... 130 UTILITIES ELEMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 132 Energy .................................................................................................................................................. 132 Telecommunications and Cable ........................................................................................................ 135 Solid Waste Management .................................................................................................................