HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Supplemental Environment Impact Statement - PLN General - 11/23/2004 • f
Mason County
Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement for the Proposed Belfair
Urban Growth Area Plan and Development
Regulations
Prepared by
Mason County
Department of Community Development
November 23, 2004
November 23,2004
Attached is the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement(FSEIS)for Amendments to the
Mason County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations.The Comprehensive Plan was adopted
April 2, 1996,and the Final Environmental Impact Statement(FEIS),which is being adopted and
supplemented,was issued March 26, 1996.Also issued by the county are an FEIS for Amendments to the
Mason County Plan issued May 19, 1998;an FSEIS for Amendments to the Mason County Comprehensive
Plan and Development Regulations issued December 13,2002;and an Addendum on Plan amendments
issued April 30,2000.The FSEIS provides an analysis of proposed adoption of a sub-area plan for the
Belfair Urban Growth Area including a new zoning code.This FSEIS was prepared to supply significant
new information on possible impacts from this proposal as contrasted with the existing plan and codes.
A Draft SEIS was prepared pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act.A 30 day comment period was
provided,ending July 14,2004.Comments received were used to prepare the Final SEIS and can be found
in the Appendix.The FSEIS and other information in the record will be used as a basis for making a final
decision on the proposal.Action on the proposal may be taken as early as the end of December 2004.
Sincerely,
Ron Henrickson
Responsible Official
Director
Mason County Department of Community Development
FACT SHEET
Final Supplemental EIS for Amendments to the Mason County
Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations for the Belfair
Urban Growth Area
Proposed Action The proposed action focuses on a plan amendment for the Belfair
Urban Growth Area together with the adoption of new zoning codes
and development design guidelines for that area.
Alternatives The draft EIS contained 4 alternatives and discussion of a few
variations on the alternatives.
The Recommended Alternative This alternative is the recommendation
of the Belfair Sub-Area Planning Committee as transmitted to Mason
County.The plan and regulations propose to manage growth in the
Urban Growth Area(UGA). In addition to land use controls,the
proposal includes recommendations for transportation,parks,trails,
open space,and water quality.
The no action alternative keeps the current single urban zone
throughout the UGA.
In addition,the SEIS discusses some variations which were developed
in the planning process.These alternative include less intensive
residential land use and not creating an agricultural area in the UGA,
but excluding it from the urban area,designation of additional
agricultural area,increasing the intensity of the lowest density
residential zone,and other minor variations.
Initiating Proposal Mason County,Washington
Lead Agency and Ron Henrickson,Director
Responsible Official Mason County Department of Community Development
P.O.Box 279
Shelton,WA 98584
Required Approvals Adoption by the Board of County Commissioners
Contact Person Robert Fink,Planning Manager
i
Final EIS Author Mason County
Department of Community Development
Date of Issuance Draft SEIS June 14,2004
Date Comments were Due July 14,2004
Date of Issuance of FSEIS November 23,2004
Date of Final Action Final action may be taken as early as the end of December 2004.
Adopted Documents The EIS supplemented by this SEIS is available for view at the
Department of Community Development,Courthouse Building 1,
411 N.5th,Shelton WA,between 8:30 a.m.and 5:00 p.m.Monday
to Friday.
Cost A limited number of the FSEIS are available at no charge at the
above location.
The draft documents are available on the Mason County web site:
www.co.mason.wa.us
ii
ADOPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS AND
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF
DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Description of current proposal: Amendments to the Mason County Comprehensive Plan
and Development Regulations
Proponent: Mason County Washington
Location of current proposal: The Belfair Urban Growth Area in the unincorporated area
of Mason County,Washington
Title of documents being adopted: Final Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed
Mason County Comprehensive Plan issued March 26, 1996; FEIS for Amendments to the
Mason County Plan issued May 19, 1998; FSEIS for Amendments to the Mason County
Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations issued December 13, 2002.
Agency that prepared document being adopted: Mason County
Date adopted document was prepared: See above.
Description of documents (or portion) being adopted: The FEIS for the Mason County
Comprehensive Plan adopted under the State GMA
If the document being adopted has been challenged(197-11-630),please describe: No.
The document is available to be read at: Mason County Department of Community
Development, 411 N 5th Street, Shelton WA, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday , the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the
Mason County Comprehensive Plan is available for public review and comment. Copies of
this draft SEIS are available at the Mason County Department of Community Development
in Shelton, Courthouse Bldg. I, 411 N 5th Street. Comments on the draft SEIS must be
submitted no later than July 14,2004.
We have identified and adopted these documents as being appropriate for this proposal
after independent review. These documents meet our environmental review needs for the
current proposal and will accompany the proposal to the decision maker.
Name of agency adopting documents: Mason County
Responsible Official and Contact Person: Ron Henrickson, Director and Bob Fink,
Planning Manager Position/Title: Director of the
Department of Community Development Phone: _(360) 427-9670 #366 Address: PO
Box 279, Shelton WA 98584
Signature•
Date•
iii
Mason County Draft SETS (DRAFT) June 2004
per year, which would serve a total population of almost 7,900 persons. According to the
Belfair Water District Water Facilities Inventory for February 2000, the district currently
services 1,130 people(active residents) and uses an average of 145,000 gallons per day. That
is an average of 128 gallons per day per capita. That would give a maximum service capacity
of almost 9,200 persons population (including commercial uses). In order to do this, the
system would need a number of improvements and expansions. It should also be remembered
that the service area for the water district extends beyond the UGA boundaries, so some of
this capacity is and will be used outside of the UGA.
D. Plants and Animals
Generally, there is little discernable difference in impact among the alternatives. Virtually
all of the Belfair urban area has been developed or recently logged. However there are areas
of wetlands, streams,ponds and lakes with the area. Adjacent and encroaching on the urban
area are significant wetlands in the lower Union River Valley. Known wetlands and streams
and the associated buffers are shown in Map Appendix E. It is expected that there are
regulated wetlands and streams that have not been identified and will not be identified until
individual properties are investigated in preparation for development. As discussed earlier,
the wetlands, streams and associated habitat is protected under existing county regulations
for all alternatives. Away from such protected areas, there will be impacts to other habitat
from the development of the urban area under any alternative. The recommended alternative
may have some reduction in habitat because of its reduced densities credited for critical areas
and its more intensive development pattern which allows the same amount of development
is less area.
A review of the Fish and Wildlife data base shows no species of concern within the urban
area, although there are some streams used by salmon or which flow into the Union River,
which is a salmon river used by Summer Run Chum, a listed species. The county Fish and
Wildlife Habitat regulations does provide for protection for critical habitat when
development happens and will serve to mitigate such impacts. The policies and critical areas
provisions for all the alternatives provide special consideration for anadromous fish.
Concentrating growth in urban growth areas and other clusters of development provides for
larger areas of habitat in the remainder of the county.
E. Energy and Natural Resources
Development in any alternative will use energy as provided by the local utilities and as fuel
of various sorts. The amount of energy used will vary with the intensity of development. The
recommended alternative has a number of provisions to require pedestrian connectivity and
to otherwise encourage non-motorized transportation.
The key difference between the alternatives with regard to resource lands is the creation of
Page 11