Vashon-Maury Island CSA Plan Proposed Vision, … · 18-01-2017 · 1 | P a g e Vashon-Maury Island...

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Vashon-Maury Island CSA Plan

Proposed Vision, Policies, Actions & Priorities

(Updated: 1/10/17)

Vashon-Maury Island Vision

A healthy, rural environment with a strong sense of community where people value:

Independence and self-sufficiency

Natural environment

Equity and diversity

Island history

Creativity and self-expression

Sustainable local employment

Community collaboration

These values are exhibited and sustained through guiding principles:

Maintain the rural, small town culture of Vashon-Maury Island

Encourage and protect the diversity of neighborhoods and affordable housing choices for all

Guide limited growth on Vashon-Maury Island and ensure development does not over-extend basic services, public safety, and infrastructure

Plan the Rural Town of Vashon as the mixed use and vibrant center of the community.

Preserve and protect native habitats, groundwater, shorelines, open space and sensitive areas for present and future generations

Protect agricultural lands and support island farmers and growers

Provide a balanced and integrated multimodal transportation system which reflects environmental, economic and social considerations

Preserve historic, archeological and cultural resources

Promote an environment where all people can be physically active, eat nutritious food and live in safe and healthy places

Support and foster a diverse, dynamic and sustainable island economy

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Proposed Policies & Actions

The matrix below contains a combination of updated policies from the 1986 Vashon Community Plan and 1996 Vashon Town Plan plus new policies recommended by the CSA Plan

Community Advisory Group and/or King County staff. They are categorized alphabetically by the CSA Plan topic. The policy numbers are for reference only and do not reflect any type of

priority or level of importance.

Some policies are “general purpose” and do not have an associated implementation item; this is why several cells in the “Potential Action” column are blank.

No prioritization of actions has been done to-date. The “Tentative Priority” column is only an initial estimation by King County staff if sufficient information was available to preliminarily

assess the action.

Policies from prior plans that have either been accomplished or are no longer relevant and are recommended for deletion are shown in Appendix A (forthcoming).

Policies that appear in the KC Comprehensive Plan and have countywide application are NOT duplicated in the Vashon-Maury Island CSA Plan, even if they are highly relevant to the island.

However, policies that appear in the KC Comprehensive Plan and are Vashon-specific will be transferred to the CSA Plan, unless it is determined they are no longer relevant.

Plan

Category # Draft Policy

Policy Origin

Rationale2

Implementation Tentative

Priority5 Existing1 New Potential Action3 KC Dept /

Program4

Agriculture

1 King County will support the King Conservation

District’s (KCD) goal to promote

environmentally-sensitive agricultural practices

through Farm Management Plans and other tools.

This includes reducing animal load impacts on

groundwater and surface water resources.

- KCD has existing conservation services

with specialists and programs that are

offered on the island and they have direct

contact with hundreds of island property

owners.

- Reducing potential negative environmental

impacts of large animal operations is

especially relevant given Vashon’s sole-

source aquifer.

- Get additional input from the bi-

monthly KC/KCD group

- Check with DNRP to see if this policy

is consistent with Farm-Fish-Flood

goals.

DNRP/WLRD

DPER

Ongoing

2 King County should allow applications for rezones

to an “Agriculture” zone on parcels down to 5

acres in size on Vashon-Maury Island when

requested by property owners and where

compatibility standards can be met.

VCP

#V-39

(amended)

- Support small-scale farming.

- There is no Ag Preservation District (APD)

on Vashon, so some advantages offered to

APD lands are not available (e.g.

stormwater dispersion areas).

- Average parcel sizes and average farm sizes

on Vashon-Maury Island are smaller than

other agricultural areas of King County.

- Support the expansion and preservation of

long-term agricultural enterprises &

agricultural lands on the islands, especially

on high quality soils.

- Perform a comparative analysis of “A”

and “RA”-zoned parcels on the island,

examining issues such as farm worker

housing, stormwater regulations,

permit timeframes, current use tax

advantages, and different types of

production and land uses. Consider

amending the current use program to

assist Vashon’s predominantly small

acreage operations that are within

“RA” zones.

- Examine the feasibility of creating

agricultural clusters on Vashon-Maury

Island to designate priority agricultural

lands that are outside of an

Agricultural Production District.

DPER

DNRP/WLRD

DOA

3

3 Food processing operations are an integral part of

creating a viable local agricultural economy and

are deemed compatible with the island’s rural

VCP

#V-40

(amended)

- Allowing for the construction of food

production facilities on island expands post-

harvest options for island growers.

Ongoing

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Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

environment. Food processing plants of

appropriate size and scale shall continue to be

permitted or conditional uses in the “A” zones.

- Expanding the opportunity for value-added

products is a proven economic development

tool

- Policy R-662 & R-663, KC Comprehensive

Plan

- Target 2, Strategy 2.3, 2015 Local Food

Initiative

4 King County will support the Vashon Island

Grower’s Association’s (VIGA) goal to create a

food hub to serve and assist island growers with

marketing, distribution, and other services that can

leverage the capacities of small and medium size

farms.

- Helps to create a resilient local food

system/network.

- Food hub promotes a cooperative type of

food system, which aligns with the 2015

Local Food Initiative goals.

- Helps to increase local production by

allowing growers to dedicate more time to

growing crops and raising animals vs.

marketing and distributing product.

- Depending upon results of VIGA’s

feasibility study and identification of

a potential location, King County

staff will coordinate with the

community on permitting and

infrastructure needs.

- Where feasible, King County will

help to identify capital and/or

operations funding for the food hub.

DPER

DNRP/WLRD

1

5 King County will support the work of the Vashon

Island Grower’s Association and similar island

organizations to secure a more permanent location

and to expand and redevelop the Vashon Farmer’s

Market in a safe, compatible and accessible

manner.

- Section 4, 2014 KC Farms & Food

Roundtable Report

- Policy R-660, KC Comprehensive Plan

- Creating a resilient local food system is a

high priority for islanders. VIGA’s mission

and work closely aligns with goals adopted

in the 2015 Executive Local Food Initiative.

- Regional Food Policy Council 2014 report

identifies need to secure permanent

locations for farmers markets.

- Improving access to a local market,

especially beyond the growing season,

directly assists the island’s low income

populations.

- King County staff will coordinate

with the community on permitting

and infrastructure needs for the

farmer’s market.

- Where feasible, King County will

help to identify capital and/or

operations funding for the farmer’s

market.

DPER

DNRP/WLRD

1

6 Farmland preservation on Vashon-Maury Island

requires strategies that go beyond traditional

approaches to protecting agricultural lands. Parcel

sizes are typically smaller and there is no

Agricultural Production District,. King County

commits to coordinate with property owners, the

Vashon Maury Island Land Trust, and other

organizations to ensure productive and valuable

farmland on the island remains protected.

- Goal 1 under Land Policy Goals, p. 4, KC

Farms & Food Roundtable Report

- Policies R-209, R-642a & R-668, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- While urban encroachment is less of a threat

on the island, preservation is nonetheless

important to help ensure local agriculture

has sufficient land supply into the future.

- The large number of equestrians and

equestrian properties on Vashon have a

disproportionate impact on farmland

availability, prices, etc.

- Land prices on the island have witnessed a

steep increase over the past decade, making

Partner with KCD to create a farmland

preservation strategy that is targeted to

Vashon-Maury Island and its unique needs

and environment. Given the island’s limited

groundwater supply, such a strategy should

examine water rights and ensure that lands

preserved for agriculture contain adequate

water supply.

DNRP/WLRD

DPER

KCD

1

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Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

it more challenging to secure land for

agricultural uses.

7 As an officially designated “Rural Area” of King

County where rural economic development and

agricultural enterprises are intended to locate and

strongly encouraged, agritourism is an industry

with expansion potential for the island. King

County will work with property owners, non-

profits, the Washington Department of

Agriculture, and other organizations to facilitate

agritourism-related activities on Vashon-Maury

Island that are consistent with its character and

values.

- Policies R-658 & 675, KC Comprehensive

Plan

- The Growth Management Act (RCW

36.70A.011) calls for counties to “help

preserve rural-based economies. . .and

foster opportunities for small-scale, rural-

based employment.”

- The wineries, cideries, sheep dog events,

history and natural beauty of the island help

to create an attractive environment for this

niche.

Review King County Code 21A and other

pertinent policies for opportunities to

streamline and create positive incentives for

agritourism activities. Ensure that special on-

farm events are permitted uses.

DPER

DNRP/WLRD

DPH

2

8 Recognize and encourage community gardens as

an important use of open space resources,

particularly in higher density residential areas, in

small commercial centers, and in locations with

less access to affordable food and other services.

- Many low and moderate income individuals

do not have affordable access to healthy

foods on the island.

- Community gardens have strong social

benefits. Social connection is important for

the health of a community.

-

Convene a planning committee of citizens,

social service providers, a staff

representative from King County DNRP/

Agriculture, the WSU Master Gardeners

program, and others to explore the feasibility

of and possibly launch a community garden

program.

Vashon Social

Services Network

VIGA

WSU Extension

DNRP

3

Arts

1 Art, in all its forms and expressions, plays an

influential role in the local culture and public

image of Vashon-Maury Island. King County

should support proactive integration of the arts

into the island’s public and private spaces as a

high priority, especially where such projects invest

in and support island artists.

- Policies P-212 and P-213, KC

Comprehensive Plan.

Ongoing

2 Artful Signage – Incorporating artistic elements

into the physical structure and/or design of signs

across the island is an effective way to display

local art, raise public awareness about local talent

and businesses, invest in island artists, and

improve wayfinding. Community-based arts

organizations should pursue grants and

partnerships for constructing or improving signs.

(Special note to incorporate: Artistic signage of

this genre is encouraged throughout the island but

will require participation from a private property

owner since King County does not own or

maintain this type of signage. Such signs must be

installed outside of the public right-of-way and in

a safe, attractive manner.)

Pursue grants and partnerships for

constructing or improving the following

signs:

“Welcome to Vashon Island” signage

at North End and Tahlequah Ferry

Docks

Vashon Town Markers/Welcome

Signs

Neighborhood Markers/Welcome

Signs for Burton, Dockton, Ellisport

and other community centers

Directional signs for the intersection

of Bank Road and Vashon Hwy.

Welcome and interpretative

markers/signs at parks, forests and

beaches

Community-

based arts

organizations

4Culture

?

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Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

3 Public Art – Public art enhances community

character and diversity, sparks imagination, and

provides a direct cultural experience for its

viewers. King County supports and encourages the

creative incorporation of art into the public and

private spaces of Vashon-Maury Island.

- Policies P-206, P-212 and P-213, KC

Comprehensive Plan.

Seek out opportunities to install permanent

and temporary public art, including:

Play local music on bus routes

118/119, possibly curated by Voice

of Vashon Radio

Use creative design elements such as

paint, tile and texture at public

crosswalks and squares

Purchase and display local art inside

and/or outside government facilities

Display local artist work on public

library computers and screen savers

Solicit local artist involvement in the

design and/or review of new or

expanded government buildings

Install island art on bike racks and

benches at select/visible locations

Community-

based arts

organizations

4Culture

Various agencies

?

4 Community Events – King County will work with

the Vashon-Maury Island community to ensure

access to both public and private spaces for

festivals, fairs, performing and visual arts is

maintained and utilized to their full potential.


Comprehensive Plan.

- Opportunities to explore, teach, and host the

visual and performing arts have expanded

greatly over the past decade through

opening of new venues such as “O” Space

and the Vashon Center for the Arts.

Ongoing

5 Arts Programming – To expand the role, presence,

and influence of the arts throughout Vashon-

Maury Island, it is important to develop an island-

specific strategy which identifies talent, programs,

and other arts programming opportunities. King

County supports a proactive and organized

initiative to develop a long-term, holistic Arts

Master Plan for Vashon-Maury Island.

Art Apprenticeships – Develop a

formal program matching

professional island artists with others

wishing to develop their skills. A

focus could be on mentoring and

education to young people and those

who cannot afford classes.

Identify opportunities to improve

diversity in arts programming

Community-

based arts

organizations

Historic

Preservation

1 Historic preservation is a vital part of Vashon-

Maury Island’s community heritage. King County

will partner with the Vashon- Maury Island

Heritage Association and other preservation

organizations to identify sites that are deemed to

be of significant historic value and to promote

designation of additional historic properties to the

King County Landmark program .

- Policies P-216, P-218 and P-221, KC

Comprehensive Plan.

- KC Code, Protection & Preservation of

Landmarks, Landmark Sites & Districts

(Chapter 20.62)

Recommend eligible, historically significant

structures from the “historic sites” list in

Appendix B for nomination to the National

and State Registers of Historic Places and/or

for designation as King County landmarks.

Vashon Maury

Island Heritage

Association

KCLC

2

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Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

2 Historic sites that meet national, state or county

standards should be safeguarded through land use

designation compatible with the site’s historic

character, and flexible regulations and standards

that promote preservation and reuse. New

construction and additions should be compatible in

design, mass, and scale with the area’s historic

character.

VCP

#V-42

(amended)

- Policy P-220, KC Comprehensive Plan.

- Compatible zoning consistent with the

present or potential use of a historic

structure assist with preservation efforts.

- KC Comprehensive Plan: Rural Area

Designation Criteria R-201(c); R-303; R-

324; R-334(a)

Upon property owner notification and

consent, create a map to catalog the locations

of historically significant properties on the

island.

Vashon Maury

Island Heritage

Association

KCLC

2

3 The preservation and sensitive rehabilitation of

historic or culturally significant sites in the

Vashon Rural Town should be encouraged in

order to maintain the Town’s character and to

preserve tangible links to the Town’s history.

VTP

#H-1


Comprehensive Plan.


Designation Criteria R-302(a); R-504; R-

509

-

DPER Ongoing

4 Dockton and Burton are historically significant

neighborhood centers for Vashon-Maury Island.

Each of these centers has a distinct quality and

scale that contributes to the cultural heritage of

their locale. New development and redevelopment

in these neighborhood centers should be

compatible with their historic character.

VCP

#V-43

(amended)


Designation Criteria R-503

- Based on recommendations from the

Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association,

there is minimal community support for

creation of a formal historic district in either

Burton or Dockton. However, many

property owners support new and

rehabilitated buildings being consistent with

the historic character of these commercial

centers.

DPER Ongoing

5 King County supports collaboration with the

Muckleshoot and Puyallup Tribes and other

groups of cultural significance on Vashon-Maury

Island to identify areas of particular cultural

importance, including archaeological sites, so they

can be protected.


Designation Criteria R-201(c)

Ongoing

Housing

1 The median age of Vashon-Maury Island (50.2) is

much higher than King County (37.1) and

Washington State (37.3). This creates an

increasing need for housing that is accessible to

seniors, as well as people of all ages and physical

abilities. King County should work with property

owners, housing developers, property managers,

and architects to support healthy home

environments, including universal design features

- Policy H-108, KC Comprehensive Plan.

- With limited senior housing developments

and assisted living options on the island,

helping seniors remain in and adapt to their

existing accommodations is especially

important (e.g. “aging in place”).

Research universal design educational tools

and partnerships and examine potential code

or policy incentives to improve the

accessibility of owner-occupied and rental

dwellings (e.g. residential

designer/contractor workshops, expedite

building permits that contain universal

design features, etc.).

DPER

2

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Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

and similar accommodations in existing and new

dwelling units.

2 To help increase the island’s inventory of

affordable housing, accessory dwelling units

should continue to be permitted on single family

residential lots per KCC 21A.08.030 and should

be allowed as either attached or detached units

whenever minimum setbacks, water and

wastewater standards can be met. King County

should consider new options to streamline and

simplify the ADU permitting process.

VTP

#R-4

(amended)

- This policy is amended from the 1996 plan

to give plan support for detached ADUs in

the Rural Town (which are permitted under

21A.08.030 but are discouraged in the

current VTP)

- ADUs can help expand housing

affordability options, especially on the

island where transit oriented development,

homelessness counts, and other criteria for

housing subsidies often cannot be met.

- Water District 19 allows both attached and

detached ADUs to connect to the water

system utilizing the same service as the

primary dwelling unit. Amending the plan

to support this brings it into alignment with

Water District 19 policy.

[Since this policy was initiated by the CAG,

DPH has clarified their Department policy

related to sizing of onsite septic systems for

ADUs. Their current policy is below:

“A septic system separate from the primary

dwelling is required for ADUs. The septic

system minimum size requirement is for 3-

bedroom structure. It requires a separate drain

field and reserve drain field.

- However, for an onsite septic system (OSS)

application designed to accommodate an

ADU with two bedrooms, the designer may

ask for a waiver of the 3-bedroom

requirement by submitting a copy of the

house floor plans, a District Waiver Request

asking for consideration of an OSS designed

for less than three bedroom minimum

specified in 13.28.070 A, and a recorded

notice on title specifying that the OSS is

designed for two bedrooms only.”]

-

Research and draft amendments to the ADU

section of the King County Code and DPER

policy on the following topics:

a. Allow an applicant to request a

waiver from the off-street parking

requirement;

b. Allow park model homes as ADUs;

c. Create a suite of registered ADU

plans for attached and detached

ADUs to expedite the building permit

process and reduce plan check fees;

and

d. Allow detached ADUs on lots sizes

<5k sq. ft if minimum building

setbacks and maximum impervious

surface area standards are met.

DPER

1

3 In the Rural Area (RA) zones, preserving a healthy

diversity of housing types, sizes, and price levels

helps to meet the diverse demographic needs of

- Housing diversity and economic and social

diversity are closely related. Geographic

concentrations of too much high-end

Ongoing

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Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

the island. While protecting the low density RA

zones, King County shall encourage and support a

wide variety of single-family residential dwellings.

housing or too much low-end housing can

contribute to gentrification, over-crowding,

or other negative social and/or economic

consequences.

4 A residential density of one home per 10 acres:

a. Shall be maintained on areas zoned RA-10

as of 1994 to help protect community

character and reduce adverse impacts on

the island’s infrastructure; and

b. Shall be applied to areas with a

predominant lot size of 10 acres or greater

and mapped as category I Critical Aquifer

Recharge Areas.

- This policy is a verbatim duplicate of Policy

R-307 in the KC Comprehensive Plan. The

intent is to ensure Vashon-specific policies

in the Comprehensive Plan are mirrored in

the CSA Plan to help create consistency

between the 2 documents.

Ongoing

5 Apartments, townhouses, cottages, and other types

of higher density housing should locate in the

Vashon Rural Town. Such multi-family uses

should be incentivized as infill development where

they are structurally compatible with the

neighborhood and are hooked-up to central sewer

and Class A water systems.

VTP

#R-7

(amended)

and

VCP

#V-11 thru

V-13

- Policies R-302, R-506 and H-112, KC

Comprehensive Plan.

- This plan uses the KC Comprehensive Plan

definition of infill, which is “development

or redevelopment on small properties or

groups of properties within existing built-up

areas.”

- Both Vashon Sewer District and KC Water

District 19 serve the Rural Town.

- This policy is intended to emphasize

Vashon Rural Town as the primary area on

the island for multi-family housing .

Assess the King County zoning and

planning ordinances as well as

policies of King County Water

District 19 and Vashon Sewer

District for innovative opportunities

to simplify and streamline multi-

family infill development on both

vacant and underdeveloped parcels.

DPER

KC WD19

VSD

3

6 Increasing the inventory of housing that is

affordable to very-low, low, and moderate-income

populations on the island is a high community

need and priority. One barrier to constructing

affordable housing is the lack of land suitable and

zoned for high density residential. King County

should support increasing incentives to allow for

higher density residential in the Rural Town, if it

meets the following criteria:

a. is within a sewer and water service areas;

b. provides housing that is affordable to

families with an income of 80% AMI or

below;

c. complies with KCC 20.22.150.

- Policies R-506, R-507 and H-130, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- There are less than 12 acres of vacant,

multi-family residential parcels in the

existing Rural Town, many of which are

encumbered with wetlands and do not allow

maximum densities to be achieved.

- There is a strong demand on the island for

housing that is affordable to individuals and

families earning below King County’s

median income.

Expand the Residential Density Incentives

for affordable housing currently listed in

KCC 21A.34 for the Rural Town.

DPER

DCHS

1

7 Policies No. 5 and No. 6 support new multi-family

housing being constructed in the Vashon Rural

Town. This is not meant to preclude single-family

- 5 platted, single-family subdivisions with

shared access streets, homeowner

DPER Ongoing

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Rationale2



Program4

detached housing since a diversity of housing

types is desired within the town. King County

should ensure that established, single-family

residential subdivisions in the Rural Town are

allowed to retain their low density character and

zoning.

associations, common areas and other

shared features are in the Rural Town.

- The intent of this policy is to retain low-

density zoning districts (R-1 and R-4) for

these developments.

- These subdivisions would be excluded any

upzoning in the Rural Town.

Land Use

1 All of Vashon-Maury Island is recognized for its

unique ecological functions as a Puget Sound

island and is designated as a “Rural Area” by the

King County Comprehensive Plan. Development

activities should protect the entire ecological

system, including the Puget Sound shoreline,

island habitat areas, and ground and surface water

resources.

VCP

#V-1

(amended)

- Policy is adopted in Ch. 11 of KCCP

- This statement serves more as a goal that

bridges land use and natural resources and is

a foundational and influential principle

throughout the plan. It may be moved from

policy section and integrated with the vision

statement.

Ongoing

2 The whole island is the recharge area for a sole

source aquifer. Within the island, based largely on

soil types, there are areas of relatively high,

medium, and low recharge potential. All land use

policies and regulations shall reflect the fact that

the whole island is the recharge area for a sole

source aquifer and areas of higher recharge

potential should receive extra protection.

VCP

#V-3

(amended)

- Policy is adopted in Ch. 11 of KCCP

- Supported by DNRP/WLRD plans and

policies (citations?)

- A Special District Overlay (SO-140) already

exists in King County Code which maps

higher recharge areas and sets development

restrictions for parcels.

Ongoing

3 The Vashon Town Core is intended to be a

walkable area and the primary location for

commercial businesses and medium to high

density housing. Minimum off-street parking

requirements often conflict with small town

design, pedestrian safety, and housing

affordability goals. Depending on the type of land

use, street/intersection capacity, and vehicular

demand, some reduction to the minimum number

of off-street parking spaces may be warranted. In

order to foster walkability and housing

affordability in the Vashon Rural Town, King

County will use the flexibility that is allowed

under the code when enforcing off-street parking

requirements.

VTP

#C-6

(amended)

- The adopted Vashon Town Plan has a

“Parking Reduction Zone” already in place.

This policy would potentially broaden the

scope of that zone to include multi-family

housing and parcels that are outside of the

reduction zone today.

- KCC 21A.18.020.D grants the DPER

Director authority to waive or modify off-

street parking requirements.

- Off-street parking is a significant cost and

inhibits the affordability of housing.

a. Conduct an analysis of existing and

projected off-street parking demands

within the Vashon Rural Town to

document potential impacts on road

and pedestrian safety, congestion,

housing affordability, and related

opportunities and threats. Explore the

benefits and risks of a Special

District Overlay derived from the

Parking Reduction Zone that reduces

off-street parking requirements.

b. Develop standard criteria and

findings for making parking waiver

decisions.

DPER 2

4 The King County Comprehensive Plan identifies

10 Rural Neighborhood Commercial Centers on

the island. (Ref. policy R-501.) Examples include

Burton, Dockton, Portage, Vashon Center, the

Heights Dock and other former “Mosquito Fleet”

VCP

#V-20 thru

#V-23

(merged &

amended)

- Policies R-501, R-502 and R-503, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- Preservation of the Neighborhood Business

zone in these 10 centers allows for more

flexibility of uses to serve the changing

a. Amend the “Rural Area” Comp Plan

designation on 3 parcels in the Burton

neighborhood commercial center (0.61

acres) and 1 parcel in the Vashon

Center area (0.67 acres) to “Rural

DPER

PSB

Item a to be

submitted as

part of the 2017

CSA Plan.

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Program4

towns. Neighborhood stores, eating establishments

and similar services are recognized as part of the

past and present identity of Rural Neighborhood

Commercial Centers. The small-scale,

neighborhood character of business uses in these

areas should be maintained.

needs of residents in these more remote

parts of the island (beyond Vashon).

Neighborhood Commercial Center.”

(To be done with this CSA Plan.)

b. Conduct community and property

owner outreach in Burton to assess the

needs and benefits of rezoning parcels

that are contiguous to the existing

RNCC for the purpose of eliminating

nonconforming uses.

c. Conduct a market analysis of the need

and demand for small-scale multi-

family residential uses in Burton (e.g. 3

or 4 attached units).

Items b and c to

be done as

growth in and

adjacent to

Burton may

dictate.

5 In order to fully utilize existing services including

sewers, Class I water, public transportation, and

shopping, Vashon Rural Town is planned to

accommodate the most intensive residential,

commercial and industrial development on the

Island.

VTP

#L-4

(amended)

- Policies R-504, R-505 and R-506, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- Expands the VTP policy (which focused on

residential) to include commercial and

industrial development

Ongoing

6 The area between SW 184th Way and Vashon

Center on Vashon Highway SW should retain the

existing low density residential zones and low

impact uses to create visual relief and separation

between the commercial nodes, mitigate against

strip-type development, and to allow for

development of single-family housing in the Rural

Town.

VTP

#L-6

(amended)

- This policy compliments Housing policy #5

and LU Policy #5 which targets most higher

density residential in the northern half of the

Rural Town.

- There are no north/south or east/west public

streets on the east side of Vashon Hwy in

this quadrant to provide adequate vehicular

access for higher intensity development.

Ongoing

7 Future industrial development on the island should

occur only within the Rural Town where there is

sewer and water service, appropriately zoned land,

and nearby access to Vashon Highway. Said uses

should be clustered south of SW 178th St and west

of Vashon Hwy SW. This policy is not intended to

preclude certain types of uses that are permitted

under King County Code in the Rural Area zones.

VTP

#L-10 and

L-11

and

VCP

#V-24

(amended)

- The only parcels on the entire island that

have Industrial zoning today are within the

Rural Town.

- More than 17 acres of vacant I-zoned land is

available today, all of which is in the Rural

Town.

- Most industrial uses on the island are

located in the south half of the Rural Town.

- Certain types of industrial uses are allowed

on RA-zoned land under Title 21A today.

Examples include material processing

facilities and portable sawmills.

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8 The architectural design, height, bulk, and

setbacks of both new and remodeled buildings

within Vashon Town Core shall respect and

reinforce the existing mix of Vashon’s varied

architectural styles. No prescriptive architectural

design and no formal building design review

process should be required. However, basic

commercial building standards should be adopted

by King County which ensure new and remodeled

buildings provide a general compliment to the

character of the Town Core.

- Similar language was proposed by the Land

Use Sub-Committee of the VMI

Community Council who developed

amendments to the VTP in 2011/12 but

which were not adopted.

- The 2012 University of Washington design

studio in the Town of Vashon received

broad public support and provides core

themes to build on.

- The diverse, eclectic nature of Vashon’s

commercial building stock contributes to the

town’s “village charm” and appeal.

Draft an amendment to P-Suffix VS-P28 that

establishes minimum commercial design

elements for the Vashon Town Core.

DPER 2

9 Unless warranted by special property or historical

circumstances that cannot be adequately addressed

through provisions of King County Code (Title

21A), it is the preferred approach on Vashon-

Maury Island to reduce or omit specific

development standards (“P-suffix conditions”) on

parcels of land. Instead, land use and development

will occur according to the base zoning district to

be consistent with other parcels in the same

district.

Vashon-Maury Island has more than 20 parcels

that have special property conditions known as

“P-suffix” conditions. Most of them date back

at least to 1996 and many prior to that. Zoning

administration, customer service, and property

owner understanding of their allowed land uses

is often hampered by these conditions which

often are “buried” and do not get disclosed.

a. DPER staff to prepare a detailed

recommendation of P-suffix

amendments;

b. CAG to review recommendation;

c. Property owners will be notified via

mail and given 30 days to reply;

d. A staff report will be submitted to

King County Council as part of the

CSA Plan docket item.

DPER To be submitted

with this CSA

Plan

10 King County will support Vashon-Maury Island

residents, health care services, community-based

organizations, foundations, and other agencies in

their efforts to identify a long-term, stable funding

source and location for a medical care facility and

other social service activities on the island.

- Policies H-204 and H-205, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- The rapid change of medical providers in

2016 at the Sunrise Ridge facility south of

Vashon Town underscores the need in the

community and importance of having a

stable and reliable health care service.

- Easy access to health services is vital for

helping residents prevent illness before it

arises or worsens.

Ongoing

Natural

Resources

1 Areas where natural features and resources are

fragile or potentially threatened by or a hazard to

development are given special recognition as

VCP

#V-30

(amended)

- Policies E-105 and E-112b, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- KCC 21A.24

Ongoing

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critical areas. These areas are defined in KCC

21A.06 and include aquatic areas, erosion hazard

areas, flood hazard areas and many others. This

plan strongly supports the continued protection of

critical areas on Vashon-Maury Island and

enforcement of all federal, state, and local

regulations intended to protect or mitigate damage

to or by these areas.

- Public support on the island for protecting

the natural environment has been

consistently strong over decades.

- The plan seeks to specifically recognize

critical areas and the unique and important

role they play in the island’s habitats.

2 Critical fish and wildlife habitats across the island

will be considered for parks and/or open space

acquisition by King County and other conservation

organizations.

VCP

#V-36

(amended)

- Policies E-402, E-433, E-435 & E-436, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- Community wants to distinguish natural

resource open space from constructed or

improved open space and highlight the

importance of acquiring and protecting both

types.

King County, the Vashon Maury Island Land

Trust, and other partners will continue to

explore options to accelerate habitat

protection and conservation using both

traditional and non-traditional tools.

Ongoing

3 Proportionately, Vashon-Maury Island has a high

percentage of acres enrolled in King County’s

Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) program. In

concert with King County’s current use taxation

program, public education and outreach regarding

land and natural resource stewardship should be

offered to PBRS enrollees to enhance

environmental benefits.

- Policies E-443 & E-444, KC

Comprehensive Plan

Develop enhanced methods of public

outreach and education to better assist

Vashon-Maury Island’s PBRS participants

with forestry, agricultural, and other land

stewardship improvements, including topics,

tools, property owner forums, etc.

DNRP/WLRD

1

4 Vashon-Maury Island comprises almost 50% of

King County’s total shoreline miles. As such, it

has a high exposure to potential impacts of sea

level rise related to climate change. King County

should develop a suite of climate change

adaptation and mitigation strategies for the island

to better prepare not only waterfront properties

and infrastructure but other sensitive and

vulnerable upland properties for expected climate

change impacts. King County supports the

development of public education and regulatory

tools to help achieve this objective.

- Policies E-201 and E-215a, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- Conclusions from the Vashon Maury Island

Hydrologic Modeling Report (2009)

recommended additional study of climate

change models be done in order to better

understand the impacts of climate change on

island groundwater supplies.

- Section 2 of the 2015 Strategic Climate

Action Plan

- Beyond requiring a three-foot elevation

above the 100-year flood level for new

construction and major remodels in

unincorporated King County, King County

does not currently have a comprehensive

strategy for reducing future flood risks to

Puget Sound shoreline homes and

businesses under its jurisdiction in the

unincorporated area of Vashon-Maury

Island.

1. King County will coordinate with island

property owners, hazard mitigation

specialists, engineers, and other key

stakeholders to develop policy and

public education tools targeted for use

on Vashon-Maury Island, considering

such topics as:

a. Creating disincentives for new

construction that is located in

projected sea-level rise zones;

b. Determine if some flood district and

flood hazard reduction tools for

riverine areas can or should be

applied in marine zones

c. Other Vashon-specific items derived

from the sea level rise strategy being

developed by DNRP/WLRD staff.

2. King County will pursue a permanent

funding source for routine monitoring of

marine shoreline changes. Data collected

DPER

DNRP/WLRD

1

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- Tide heights at the National Oceanographic

and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)

Seattle tide gage shows an 8-inch rise in the

past century

(http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/slt

rends_station.shtml?stnid=9447130).

- For the past few years, DNRP/WLRD has

conducted shoreline monitoring around the

perimeter of the island via watercraft,

including creating visual images of slopes,

structures and other habitat. Grant funding

for this initiative is scheduled to end in

2017. A new action proposes to continue

this program.

from said monitoring will be used to

support future climate change mitigation

and adaptation interventions.

5 Intertidal shellfish habitat on Vashon-Maury

Island shall be protected for its key role in the

marine food chain, to protect public health, and to

assure long-term productivity. King County shall

explore effective means to protect this fisheries

resource.

KCCP

#CP-1208

- Carries over an existing policy from the

2012 KCCP.

- 1997 report of Beach Assessment Program

documents the degradation of the shellfish

habitat from over-harvesting, increased

beach use, etc.

- The Public Health-Seattle & King County’s

Pollution Identification and Correction

program in Quartermaster Harbor has

provided a valuable body of data that

supports continued public education, loans,

and improved wastewater disposal methods

to help protect intertidal shellfish habitats.

DNRP

DPER

Ongoing

6 According to DNRP/Solid Waste, approximately

140 tons of garbage are exported from Vashon-

Maury Island to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill

each week, amounting to more than 7,200 tons per

year. Significant amounts (estimates are more than

70%) of both organic and inorganic waste is

disposed of which can be more efficiently

recycled, reused, or composted. King County will

continue to partner with island organizations and

businesses to improve public education, recycling,

and waste reduction.

- The processing and transportation of waste

contributes greenhouse gas emissions to the

atmosphere.

- The island poses a unique type of “petri

dish” environment in which to study and

learn lessons about composting and solid

waste stream reduction that may be applied

in other parts of King County.

- In October 2015, DNRP/Solid Waste,

working with Zero Waste Vashon, started a

one year pilot program to collect yard/food

waste for composting at the transfer station.

DNRP plans to continue this service beyond

the one year pilot.

- In 2016, the Solid Waste Division provided

a $30,000 grant to Impact Bioenergy. This

Analyze results of the Impact Bioenergy

assessment and feasibility study in late

2018/early 2019 and determine next steps

that will have the greatest impact on

reducing the island’s solid waste stream.

DNRP/Solid

Waste

2

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project will, 1) create and utilize a software

tool to facilitate the diversion of edible and

inedible food waste from disposal, 2)

conduct a feedstock assessment, and 3)

conduct a feasibility study to establish

feasibility, gather requirements and design a

community-digester operating system for

Vashon Island, which can also serve as a

template for others. The term of this project

is June 2016-July 2018.

7 King County should promote preservation of at

least 65% forest cover on rural-residential zoned

parcels. The 65% forest cover goal may be

adjusted for parcels less than 2 ½ acres in size.

Dispersion of stormwater runoff from impervious

surfaces into native vegetation in accordance with

the Surface Water Design Manual shall be the

preferred method of stormwater management in

the Rural Area.

KCCP

#CP-1228

- Reduce development impacts on an island

with a sole-source aquifer.

- Public comments from island residents to-

date indicate robust support for low impact

design principles to be more widespread.

- King County’s recently adopted Surface

Water Design Manual includes incentives to

leave 65% of a parcel as forested.

King County will work with residential

builders and developers on Vashon-Maury

Island to encourage the use of low impact

development practices that protect and

enhance native vegetation and soils and

reduce impervious surface area.

DPER

2

1 Additional water-related natural areas should be

acquired along the saltwater shorelines of Vashon-

Maury Island. These lands should be retained as

passive, natural areas.

VCP

#V-84

- This policy works in tandem with climate

change adaptation goals to reduce structural

and facility exposure to sea level rise.

DNRP/Parks has ongoing programs that

identify parcels with high ecological value

on the island and then acquire them for long-

term public benefit.

DNRP/Parks Ongoing

2 A public, off-street trail system that meets the

recreational needs of islanders should be identified

and encouraged for preservation. As depicted in

Appendix D, an island-wide network of soft-

surface, backcountry trails is envisioned for

pedestrians and equestrians that connects several

open space , park and community destination.

Trail corridors should be established and designed

based upon the following criteria:

a. Connect park and open space areas;

b. Provide access to shoreline areas,

particularly public parks;

c. Incorporate views and other special

features of scenic, historic, or

archaeological interest.

VCP

#V-85

and

#V-85d

and

#V-85f

(amended)

- Promotes an active, healthy lifestyle for

islanders and visitors.

- King County Parks, the Vashon-Maury

Island Land Trust, and equestrian groups

have done a significant amount of

backcountry trail planning to-date. This

policy seeks to support that work.

a. Scope, identify funding for, and

conduct a feasibility study for a

connected, island-wide trail network.

b. Pursue voluntary public easements

across private lands in order to

connect public trails. Upgrade

DNRP’s current program to promote

donations from willing land owners

(similar to conservation easements).

DNRP/Parks

DNRP/WLRD

VMI Land Trust

1

3 The existing public boat launch site adjacent to the

State of Washington north ferry terminal should be

preserved and improved to become a more

functional boat launch at the north end of Vashon

Island.

VCP

#V-86

(amended)



- Improves the safety and access of a public

recreation facility, which may entice more

users.

a. Determine the legal description and

property ownership of the existing

launch site, including access to the

site.

DNRP/Parks

(only as support

agency)

3

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b. Identify partners and formalize an

inter-agency agreement to assess the

launch site, safety, parking and create

recommendations for potential

improvements.

Vashon Park

District

4 The Tramp Harbor dock/pier has significant

historic, economic, and recreational community

value. King County is supportive of the Vashon

Park District’s ongoing maintenance of the docks

in a safe, attractive, and functional state. King

County should work with the Vashon Park

District, Washington Department of Natural

Resources, and other key stakeholders to ensure

the Tramp Harbor facility is well-maintained and

complies with all state and federal regulations.

- Leverage economies of scale on dock

projects through joint planning and

construction.

- There were 780+ individual responses to a

2014 KC/Parks survey about the Tramp

Harbor Dock, showing strong user support.

- Safe, attractive and functional docks and

marinas induce increased use by birders,

fishermen, economic development, etc.

Vashon Park District and DNRP/Parks will

continue to partner to secure a state

appropriation to upgrade the Tramp Harbor

dock, including removal of creosote, pylon

safety improvements, and other

improvements. Coordinate on lease

relationships with the Washington

Department of Natural Resources. Solicit

community input on dock design and desired

activities.

Vashon Park

District

DNRP/Parks

2

5 King County supports improved and expanded

public access to the island’s shoreline where

sensitive habitats are not disturbed.

- Although the island has approximately 50

miles of shoreline, the majority of that land

is under private ownership and control.



- Increases public access to and enjoyment of

shorelines and beaches.

- Improved shoreline access may facilitate

habitat improvements.

- Some research on this project has already

been completed by a Vashon student to

identify parcels that access the shoreline, so

there is

a. King County should analyze its

publicly-held property and road right-

of-way to identify any potential

opportunities for increasing public

shoreline access or transferring to

other agencies.

b. Cooperate with Vashon Park District

to include any District-owned parcels

or surplus land in a future shoreline

access analysis.

c. (Pending action – DOT/Roads and

DNRP/Parks staff to meet and

discuss criteria to identify

opportunities for appropriate

shoreline access.)

DOT

DNRP/Parks

VMI Land Trust

Vashon Park

District

1

6 King County supports and will continue to be an

active partner with the VPD and Land Trust in

ensuring high quality public parks and recreational

services and facilities continue to be provided on

the island.

- Recognize the long-standing partnerships

between VPD, the Land Trust, and King

County.

- Recognize the unique and influential role of

VPD and Land Trust in securing and

managing open space lands and educating

islanders about conservation, recreation,

habitat protection, etc.

- Encourage collaboration on projects where

there is a mutual interest and benefit to the

public and these 3 entities.

- The Vashon Park District (VPD), a Junior

Taxing District providing active and passive

recreational opportunities to island residents,

There is some fragmented ownership of

public open space across the island and land

utilization is not always aligned to the

strength or mission of each entity. To

consolidate ownership, improve

maintenance, and provide for improved land

management schemes, develop a mid-to-

long-term strategy that supports mutually

beneficial exchanges between VPD, the

Land Trust and King County Parks. Consider

special lease agreements, underutilized

parcels, etc.

DNRP/Parks

Vashon Park

District

VMI Land Trust

2

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is the largest owner and operator of

improved public parks and facilities on the

island. They own almost 50 parcels of land

and manage 18 island parks. The Vashon

Maury Island Land Trust, a local non-profit

land stewardship and conservation

organization, has helped to acquire and

preserve approximately 2,000 acres of high

quality lands over 25 years.

7 As identified in the King County Comprehensive

Plan, the Regional Trails System is the centerpiece

of the nonmotorized system in the Rural Area.

There is currently no segment of the Regional

Trails System on Vashon-Maury Island.

Therefore, King County should explore the

feasibility of a new regional trail or other non-

motorized corridor that connects the Vashon and

Maury Island communities with the north and

south ferry terminals and respective ferry routes.

- The 1986 Vashon Community Plan

called for some type of nonmotorized

path to connect the north ferry and

Tahlequah ferry terminals and Maury

Island and such a pathway continues to

receive broad public support.

- There is no existing or abandoned

railroad corridor on Vashon-Maury

Island to form the backbone of a

regional trail network as in many other

parts of unincorporated King County.

- King County’s road design standards do

not contain any type of on-street or “in

public right-of-way” provision to

accommodate a typical regional trail

cross-section. As such, a regional trail

or similar type facility would need to be

primarily outside of the DOT right-of-

way. .

-

Form an interdepartmental and interagency

working committee to assess the financial,

topographical and design feasibility for a

new regional trail or other non-motorized

corridor.

DOT/Roads

DNRP/Parks

VMI Land Trust

1

Transportation

1 The community desires an island-wide network of

off-street, multi-use trails that provides

commuters, students, and recreationalists with

access to commercial areas, transit services,

schools and other destinations. King County

should seek opportunities to identify, evaluate,

and, where physically, environmentally, and

financially feasible, plan trails that achieve the

following:

a. Connect residential, employment and

commercial centers;

b. Connect the north and south ferry

terminals;

VCP

#V-69,

#V-85a

and

#V-85e

(amended)

- Increasing non-motorized transportation

options have been clearly identified in

various island plans and called for by

various island groups since at least the mid-

1980s.



- Contributes to a reduction in GHG

emissions.

- Supports shared goals of the Land Trust,

local bicycle groups and other organizations

who advocate for improved connectivity of

island trail system.

Form an interdepartmental and interagency

working committee to assess the financial,

topographical and design feasibility for a

new regional trail or other non-motorized

corridor.

DOT/Roads

DNRP/Parks

VMI Land Trust

2

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c. Provide public access to shoreline areas,

particularly public parks;

d. Improve safe access to and connect

schools.

2 As a Rural Area of King County with

predominantly low density, dispersed housing,

much of Vashon-Maury Island is not conducive to

efficient transit service. However, for Vashon,

Burton, Dockton, Vashon Heights, and other large

neighborhood centers, some transit services need

to be provided. Such services may include

ridesharing, pedi-cabs, community vans, mobile

vehicle matching, and on-island shuttle buses.

VCP

#V-66

(amended)

- Policies T-204 and T-245, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- Results of Metro’s 2015/16 Vashon

Alternative Services study support this

policy.

- Serve more of the non-driving population

- Help reduce GHG emissions

- Implement the Community Van

program which provides Metro vans

for local prescheduled group trips

that are arranged by a Community

Transportation Coordinator and

driven by volunteer drivers to meet

community-identified transportation

needs.

- Promote mobile carpool matching

services that help people find one-

time carpools in real time.

DOT 1

3 Park-and-Ride lot maintenance should be

encouraged at the Vashon facilities of Ober Park,

Valley Center, Tahlequah and the North end

parking lot at the ferry terminal..

VCP

#V-67

(amended)

- Policy CP-1215, KC Comprehensive Plan

- The 1986 policy language is amended to

reduce ambiguity about “major employment

centers” and recognize the progress that has

been made in providing consistent, reliable,

on-island bus service.

a. Continue to perform quarterly

utilization counts of King County

park and ride lots on the island. Make

the results of said assessments readily

accessible to park and ride lot

customers.

DOT Ongoing

4 Metro’s bus route 118 on Vashon and route 119 on

Maury Island offer regular weekday and reduced

weekend service to key island destinations,

including both ferry terminals, Vashon, Burton

and Dockton. This is a critical public service for

many islanders. Metro will continue to serve and

evaluate connectivity to the island’s major activity

centers.

VCP

#V-68

(amended)

- Policies T-204 and T-301, KC

Comprehensive Plan

DOT Ongoing

5 Except in the Rural Town, new roads should not

be constructed on Vashon-Maury Island until other

viable multimodal alternatives have been

implemented or determined infeasible.

VCP

#V-73

- Policies T-206, R-208 and T-209, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- Carries forward a long-standing community

plan policy.

- Recognizes the underfunded DOT/Roads

budget

DOT Ongoing

6 The King County Marine Division’s passenger-

only water taxi service to Vashon Island is a

critical link in the island-mainland transportation

network, especially for Vashon-Seattle

commuters. The community has expressed interest

in expanding the level of water taxi service to

Vashon Island. King County should seek

VCP

#V-74

(amended)

- Policies T-301a and T-302, KC

Comprehensive Plan

- The Marine Division reported a 2016

ridership increase of 10.7% over the 2015

figures.

Examine the projected demand, the financial

and operational feasibility of expanding

water taxi service to Vashon Island.

3

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opportunities to evaluate the demand, financial

feasibility and operational needs of water taxi

service expansion to Vashon Island.

- The CSA Plan survey taken at Strawberry

Festival showed a keen interest from

residents in expanded trip times.

7 A high priority goal of this plan is to create a more

sustainable island transportation system through a

reduction in motorized vehicle trips. How people

travel to and from the two Washington State

Ferries’ terminals is a key element in meeting the

trip reduction goal. More incentives should be

provided for passenger versus automobiles on the

ferry system and Metro bus connections to and

from the terminals should be continually

monitored and strengthened.

VCP

#V-75

thru

#V-78

Encourage use of incentives distributed

through the promotion of real-time

ridesharing through the Alternative Service

program to reduce drive-alone rates on the

island by making it easy to share the ride

to/from the ferries.

DOT ongoing

8 The Vashon Airfield on SW Cove Road, owned

and operated by King County Airport District #1

(a non-King County government entity), offers an

alternative mode of travel to the island. The

airfield is an important component of the island’s

emergency preparedness planning. It is also

situated in a rural residential area where flight

patterns affect residences. King County will strive

to ensure the airfield retains its important travel

and emergency planning function while balancing

the safety, noise, and aesthetic interests of

neighborhood residents.

- Policies T-213 & R-401, KC

Comprehensive Plan

In collaboration with the King County

Airport District #1, perform a standard

airport/land use compatibility appraisal to

ensure minimum FAA guidelines and other

safety precautions are in place for future

development within a 1-mile radius of the

runway.

DPER

OEM ?

Airport District

Vashon Fire

District

2

9 Traffic calming devices as well as street

landscaping, public art, and other design elements

are encouraged in the Town Core where they do

not negatively impact travel safety, overall traffic

flow, or impede emergency vehicle access.

- Similar policy was recommended by the

2011/12 VMICC land use committee.

- Supported by several other safe pedestrian

design policies in the KCCP.

Ongoing

10 The town core should be designed and maintained

to accommodate all modes of transportation,

including nonmotorized users.

- Vashon Town Core is a mixed use

development area that brings together

vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

- Vashon Town Core transportation

system (roads, sidewalks, etc..) are

congested at times due to volume of

users and limited space available

King County will review the standards for

roads in the town core for compatibility with

nonmotorized uses and also identify potential

nonmotorized infrastructure improvement

needs in the town core for inclusion in the

next update to the Transportation Needs

Report. Community input will be included

in this review.

DPER

DOT/Roads

1

1

VCP

#V-44

(amended)

- Policies T-230, T-231 & T-242, KC

Comprehensive Plan.

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Wastewater

Wastewater

[DPH recommends deletion of this policy since

Washington DOE already has a list of approved,

alternative OSS. DPH has procedures in place to

apply for and use alternative systems.]

- See VCP Policy V-46 for more support and

explanation of this policy.

- KCCP Policy CP-1243 encourages the use

of demonstrated new and alternative on-site

septic treatment technologies, with priority

on Marine Recovery Areas.

- KCCP Policy F-260 states that on-site

treatment systems in the Rural Area and

Natural Resource Land areas should be

designed and built as “permanent methods of

sewage disposal.”

- The majority of parcels on Vashon-Maury

Island are located outside of the Vashon

Sewer District local service area boundary

and are served by on-site wastewater

disposal systems. Individual and community

septic systems are the most common type of

on-site wastewater system. King County

Public Health is responsible for the

permitting and regulation of said systems.

Depending upon soil type, groundwater

level, slope, and other factors, some

alternative on-site wastewater disposal may

be needed or desired by a property owner,

including composting and incinerating

toilets. All systems approved by the

Washington State Department of Health

(WADOH) are allowable. This includes

alternative systems, composting toilets and

incinerating toilets.

- List of Registered Onsite Treatment and

Distribution Products as established in

Chapter 246-272A WAC (July 2016) –

www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs

/337-024.pdf

[Deletion of this policy does not render

obsolete the rationale and need statements.

Consider using the rationale background in

the plan text and as part of a new Wastewater

policy #8.]

2 When considering future boundary adjustments to

the Local Service Area on Vashon Island,

demonstration shall be required that sewer service

would not be made available to, or result in,

adverse impacts to agricultural lands, floodplains,

wetlands, or other critical areas. Under King

County Code, critical areas include groundwater

recharge areas and wildlife habitat areas.

VCP

#V-50

- Policy supports and is consistent with

KC Comprehensive Plan policies R-508

and F-258

Ongoing

http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/337-024.pdf

http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/337-024.pdf

20 | P a g e

Plan


Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

3 The existing public sewer system in the Vashon

Rural Town cannot be expanded to serve land

beyond the boundaries of the town, except as

provided in Policy F-258 and as consistent with

Title 57 RCW.

KCCP

#F-258

- Policy intended to duplicate an existing

KCCP policy that is specific to Vashon to

ensure consistency between the countywide

and subarea plans.

- Policy supports and is consistent with

KC Comprehensive Plan policies R-508

and F-258

Ongoing

4 King County should focus outreach education and

incentives to implement best management

practices designed to reduce excessive nutrient and

bacterial contaminate loading within the

Quartermaster Harbor drainage area. The Vashon-

Maury Island Groundwater Protection Committee,

with King County support, should seek grants to

enhance existing outreach education and

incentives when funding opportunities occur.

KCCP

#CP-1231




and subarea plans.

- The 2005 VMI Watershed Plan calls for a

public education program that supports this

policy.

- With the 2016 decision to withdraw a

proposed fee by Public Health to support

King County’s OSS work with property

owners, identifying new funding streams

outside of direct user fees are increasingly

important.

Pursue funding opportunities to enhance

education and incentives.

DNRP

DPER

King

Conservation

District

VMI

Groundwater

Protection Cmte

Ongoing

5 King County should request Ecology assistance to

develop a Total Maximum Daily Load water

quality improvement plan to reduce point and

nonpoint pollution sources to Quartermaster

Harbor if the harbor water quality is listed as a

Category 5 polluted water body on the 2010

Washington State Water Quality Assessment.

KCCP

#CP-1233




and subarea plans.

3

6

King County should perform a comprehensive

island-wide study of septic systems, evaluate the

impacts of sea-level rise on shoreline septic

systems, and evaluate the need for community

systems or other wastewater solutions.

Climate change will impact shoreline septic

systems. These systems are typically limited

by space and soil conditions, and their failure

has a significant impact on the marine

environment. Innovative solutions will be

required to address these challenges.

Seek grant funding to execute this septic

system study. Said study should evaluate all

treatment options: group systems,

community systems, conveyance to Vashon

Sewer District and/or the WWTP, local

package wastewater treatment systems such

as MBRs, etc.

DNRP/WLRD

VMI

Groundwater

Protection Cmte

Vashon Sewer

District

DPH

3

7 King County should seek to reduce the amount of

septage transported off island.

- Currently, 100% of island septage is

transported off island for disposal.

- It was determined by

DNRP/Wastewater several years ago

Perform routine evaluations of the Vashon

wastewater treatment plant with a long-term

goal to equip it for accepting island septage.

KC Wastewater 3

21 | P a g e

Plan


Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

that the costs of transporting septage

off-island were less than upgrading the

plant. They occasionally revisit the

cost/benefit ratio to factor in new

economic realities, etc.

8 King County should perform an evaluation of the

potential uses of reclaimed water on Vashon-

Maury Island rather than discharge to Puget

Sound. The County should perform an evaluation

of the existing wastewater treatment plant to

determine how best to serve identified water reuse

needs.. . Reuse or land application of Biosolids

should also be evaluated.

- Treated water reuse could be used as a

source of groundwater recharge.

Wastewater reuse fits with the recycle,

reuse and self-sustainability character

of the island.

- Focus should first be placed on

identifying potential uses of water and

then on what improvements need to be

made to the treatment plant to meet

those potential uses.

- KCWTD will soon begin a regional

biosolids planning effort. Results of

that work will help to guide the level of

biosolids production related to the

island.

KCWTD 3

9 King County should consider regulations allowing

the recycle and reuse of gray water from

residential systems and encourage gray water use

for subsurface irrigation consistent with existing

State regulations..

Gray water reuse reduces water use, freeing

water shares for other uses. Gray water reuse

would require re-plumbing the residence, but it

could be an option for new construction or

significant remodels.

- Seek funding opportunities

- Educate residents of existing

permitted uses for gray water

- Pursue code changes

KCWTD

10 King County and the Vashon Sewer District

should evaluate inflow and infiltration (I/I) within

the sewer system that conveys flows to the

WWTP.

I/I impacts the capacity of the wastewater

treatment plant. If significant I/I is identified,

measures to reduce I/I can be implemented,

freeing up WWTP capacity.

- Seek grant funding. Partnership

between KC WTD and Vashon

Sewer District to conduct I/I study.

Vashon Sewer

District

KCWTD

Water

1 The quantity and quality of Vashon-Maury Islands'

groundwater supply should be monitored, along

with building permit and subdivision data, to

determine if planned densities can be achieved. If

new information indicates the groundwater supply

is endangered, the County shall take immediate

steps to ensure new development does not impair

the groundwater supply, especially in areas highly

susceptible to contamination or near public water

supplies.

KCCP

#CP-1227

and

#V-61

(combined)




and subarea plans.

[KC/DNRP is currently looking at feasibility

of completing this analysis for the current

CSA Plan]

Ongoing

2 The following conditions must be evaluated in

determining the adequacy of water service for any

proposed boundary adjustments to the major

Water Purveyors Service Area:

VCP

#V-51

(amended)



Ongoing

22 | P a g e

Plan


Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

a. A Local Service Area boundary adjustment

should not be allowed if the resulting

development would adversely impact

domestic water supplies which serve

existing or previously approved uses;

b. No boundary adjustment shall be allowed

unless a Group A public water system is

available and is technically adequate to

serve the proposed development.


and subarea plans.

3 Island water resources should continue to be the

sole water-supply source in the future. The plan

discourages importing water for domestic uses

from off the island.

VCP

#V-52




and subarea plans.

Ongoing

4 Land uses and development densities should be

planned so that demands on the Island's

groundwater resources do not exceed its capacity

to provide adequate supplies without deterioration

of quality. In order to achieve this, ongoing

research and monitoring as recommended by the

Vashon Maury Island Groundwater Protection

Committee should be conducted.

VCP

#V-53




and subarea plans.

(Policies #4-5 are broad enough and similar

enough that they should be combined into

some type of introductory narrative

statement in the Water section vs. individual

policy statements.)

DPER

Water Purveyors

VMI

Groundwater

Protection

Committee

Ongoing

5 To protect domestic water resource, areas deemed

highly susceptible to groundwater contamination

and watersheds should be maintained in residential

or similarly non-intensive uses at low densities.

VCP

#V-57

- Special District Overlay 140 is currently in

place for much of the island and places

development restrictions on hundreds of

parcels that are over or near aquifer recharge

zones (e.g. requires at least 40% of all

commercial and industrial sites remain in

natural vegetation).

- Well head protection areas

Assess the effectiveness of SDO 140 by

examining parcels that have been developed

under this provision and determine if any

modifications and/or enforcement changes

are needed.

Water Purveyors Ongoing

6 As an additional requirement for the

comprehensive plans of public water systems on

Vashon-Maury Island, King County shall ask that

information be included assessing the ability of

existing and potential water sources to meet

anticipated population growth. Planned expansion

of the water system should be prohibited if the

analysis reveals a risk to the adequacy of service

including quality of water being provided to

current users.

VCP

#V-59

This policy is supported by the intent of the

2016 Whatcom County v. Hirst Supreme Court

decision.

DPER Ongoing

7 King County should include water quality

monitoring and reporting in the scope of work for

KCCP

#CP-1229

23 | P a g e

Plan


Policy Origin

Rationale2



Program4

new low impact development projects on public

properties to the maximum extent practical.

8 The Vashon-Maury Island Groundwater Protection

Committee, with King County support, should

support the use of harvested rainwater as a

supplemental source of water.

KCCP

#CP-1238

- Harvested rainwater was added by the

GWPC as another way to address

exempt individual well growth on the

Island & options for landowners within

districts who have no available

connections.

- Rainwater as a supplemental source of

water is allowable under KC BOH,

Title 13 (D. A rainwater catchment

system that serves as the only source of

drinking water for a single-family

residence and that complies with

conditions. . .)

- Seek funding for residents to

purchase rain barrels.

VMI

Groundwater

Protection

Committee

Ongoing

9 The Vashon-Maury Island Groundwater Protection

Committee, with King County support, should

establish a management program for individual

water systems and Group B water systems on

Vashon-Maury Island to periodically monitor

water quality.

KCCP

#CP-1239

(amended)

Individual wells and Group B wells are not

required to monitor water quality or quantity.

This item was added as one approach to ensure

that all sources of water are being monitored

and for users to be self-aware of their usage

and potential impacts to an Island system.

Seek funding to establish a management

program

VMI

Groundwater

Protection Cmte

2

10 Vashon-Maury Groundwater Protection

Committee with support from King County should

conduct a study of existing private wells on

Vashon and Maury Islands. This study should

consider water quantity and water quality

monitoring of private wells.

- KCC 13.24.138 requires that new

development in the rural area be served

by Group A water systems, Group B

water systems or individual private

wells, in that order of priority. The only

way DPER would approve connection

to an exempt well if a property was

located in the service area of a Group A

system is if water service could not be

provided in a timely and reasonable

manner from the Group A system.

- Private wells are generally an unknown

resource. Flows and water quality are

not monitored. They represent a huge

source of information regarding

groundwater on VMI. With the

concerns surrounding the sole source

aquifer, a useful amount of data about

groundwater could be obtained from

private wells.

Seek private well owners as volunteers in the

program/study.

VMI

Groundwater

Protection Cmte

3

1Existing policy sources: “VCP” = 1986 Vashon Community Plan / “VTP” = 1996 Vashon Town Plan / Policy number is taken from the relevant plan.

24 | P a g e

2This language may or may not be carried over into the final plan. It’s included here to provide background and reasoning for new policies and to create a more traceable record for future reference. Cited policies are from other adopted plans or

studies that support the proposed policy. All King County Comprehensive Plan citations are taken from the 2016 Executive Recommended Draft.

3Potential actions, where known and relevant, are used to implement policies and will be transferred to a separate implementation section where all actions will be prioritized and assigned a responsible party. Additional actions are expected to be

added between October and December 2016.

4King County Department acronyms:

- DOA = Department of Assessments (County Assessor)

- DCHS = Department of Community & Human Services (Community Services, Housing & Homelessness)

- DPER = Department of Permitting & Environmental Review (Code Enforcement, Permitting)

- DNRP = Department of Natural Resources & Parks (Parks, Solid Waste, Water & Land Resources, Wastewater Treatment)

- DOT = Department of Transportation (Metro Transit, Road Services, Water Taxi)

- DPH = Department of Public Health (Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Health)

- KCLC = King County Landmarks Commission

- PSB = Performance, Strategy & Budget Office

5

Priority #1 = 2017/2018

Priority #2 = 2019/2020

Priority #3 = 2021+

Ongoing = The action item is a component of an ongoing and funded program.

Appendices

A. Accomplished and/or omitted policies from prior plans (pending)

B. Vashon Century Houses List (submitted by Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association, July 2016)

C. Vashon Rural Town sign ordinance amendments proposed by the 2011/12 Vashon Maury Island Community Council land use committee

D. Backcountry trail system map

E. Vashon Rural Town pedestrian circulation system (from the 1996 Vashon Town Plan)

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