HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-010 West Valley Neighborhood Plan; Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan; YMC Amendment; Zoning Map ChangeAN ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE NO. 2011-10
to amend the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan to adopt the
West Valley Neighborhood Plan using the procedures described in YMC
16.10.035; and', amending the official zoning map for the City of Yakima
as established by YMC 15.03.030
WHEREAS, the Growth Management Act (GMA) requires cities and counties to adopt
comprehensive plans for land use under their jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, in April 1997 the City of Yakima (City) and Yakima County (County) adopted
the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan (YUACP) as the comprehensive plan for the
Yakima UGA; and
WHEREAS, the YUACP, upon adoption, did not include detailed land use and related
planning for the western portion of the UGA then known as the West Valley Urban Reserve and
now known as the West Valley Planning Area; and
WHEREAS, the YUACP stated that land use planning within the West Valley Planning
Area would be conducted in the future, as a coordinated effort by Yakima County, the Cities of
Yakima and Union Gap, and area residents; and
WHEREAS, Policy G10.9 of the YUACP tasked Yakima County with establishing "a
mechanism for designating zoning categories within the urban reserve area, to allow for an
appropriate transition to urban area zoning"; and
WHEREAS, the YUACP was updated in 2006 and anticipated the adoption of the West
Valley Neighborhood Plan; and
WHEREAS, concurrent adoption of an area -wide rezone should occur with the adoption
of the WVNP because the GMA requires development regulations to be consistent with and to
implement comprehensive plans; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Findings. The Yakima City Council hereby finds as follows:
1. The Board of County Commissioners and Yakima City Council conducted two joint study
sessions on September 28, 2010 and October 12, 2010 to review the findings and
recommendation of the Yakima Urban Area Regional Planning Commission (RPC), which
provides the Reasons for Action, Findings of Fact, Factors Considered at and After the
Hearing, Analysis of Findings Considered to be Controlling, and Recommendation;
2. The Board of County Commissioners and Yakima City Council held a joint public hearing on
October 26, 2010 to receive public comments on the RPC's recommended West Valley
Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone, and a staff -recommended proposal for Urban
Area Street Standards;
3. The Board of County Commissioners and Yakima City Council conducted joint deliberations
on November 22, 2010 and December 13, 2010 concerning the RPC's recommended West
Valley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone, and a staff -recommended proposal for
Urban Area Street Standards;
4. Following said joint deliberations the Board of County Commissioners and Yakima City
Council directed the preparation of an ordinance to adopt the West Valley Neighborhood
Plan, February 2011 Draft and Area -Wide Rezone.
5. The City of Yakima Municipal Code (YMC 16.10) contains provisions for amending the
Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan. All notice and procedural requirements have been
complied with for the adoption of the West Valley Neighborhood Plan.
Section 2. Adopting the West Valley Neighborhood Plan. The Yakima Municipal Code
Section 1.42.070 is hereby amended as follows:
1.42.070 Yakima urban area comprehensive plan—Adoption and amendment procedures.
A. Plan Adoption. The Yakima urban area comprehensive plan ("the plan") shall consist of
Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025, adopted by Ordinance No. 2006-62 on
December 15, 2006, the Terrace Heights Neighborhood Plan adopted on June 4, 1999 and the
West Valley Neighborhood Plan, as adopted. The plan and its elements and plans including those
incorporated by reference are hereby adopted as the official comprehensive land use plan for the
city of Yakima, as required by Chapter 36.70A RCW.
Section 3. Adopting the West Valley Area -Wide Rezone. The Official Zoning Map for the City
of Yakima adopted pursuant to City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 15.03.030, is hereby
amended in accordance with the "Proposed Zoning" map, attached hereto as Exhibit A; provided
that no amendment is hereby made to the Floodplain Overlay District.
Section 4. Severability. If any rezone, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance or the West Valley Neighborhood Plan should be held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by any body or court with authority and jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other rezone, section,
clause or phrase of this ordinance or the adopted West Valley Neighborhood Plan.
Section 5. Effective Date This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, at a regular meeting and signed and approved this
15th day of February, 2011.
ATTEST:
`712,41 -
City Clerk
Publication Date: Februa
18 2011
Effective Date: March 20, 2011
Exhibits to be attached:
A – "Proposed Zoning" map ("Adopted February 2011" )
Micah Cawl , Mayor
•
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. /(2
For Meeting of February 15, 2011
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of an ordinance to amend the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive
Plan to adopt the West Valley Neighborhood Plan using the procedures
described in YMC 16.10.035; and amending the official zoning map for the City of
Yakima established by YMC 15.03.030
SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport, Acting Director of Community and Economic Development
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Joan Davenport (576-6417)
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The Board of County Commissioners and Yakima City Council held a joint public hearing on
October 26, 2010 to receive public comments on the RPC's recommended West Valley
Neighborhood. Plan and Area -Wide Rezone. Following the hearing the Board of County
Commissioners and Yakima City Council conducted joint deliberations on November 22, 2010
.and December 13, 2010 to review testimony and make final recommendations. As a result of
these measures, the Yakima City Council directed the preparation of an ordinance to adopt the
West Valley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone.
Resolution Ordinance X Other (Specify) WVNP Zoning Map
Mail to (name and address):
Phone:
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL:
Acting City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: The City Council held a joint public hearing with
the County Commissions and directed legislation to be prepared to adopt the West Valley
Neighborhood Plan and the area -wide rezone.
COUNCIL ACTION:
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West Valley
Neighborhood Pian
Proposed Zoning
(Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance)
(YCC Title 15A, YMC Title 15)
Yakima Urban Area Zoning Districts
SR Suburban Residential
R-1 Single Family Residential
R-2 Two Family Residential
R-3 Multi -Family Residential
B-2 Local Business
SCC Small Convenience Center
M-1 Light Industrial
Floodplain & Floodway *
Yakima Primary ASO
City Limits
Tax Lots
— — • Urban Growth Boundary
All Roads
*Floodplain & Floodway shown for Wide Hollow,
Shaw, and Cottonwood Creeks depict FEMA's
Preliminary maps dated August 9, 2010.
*Floodplain & Floodway shown for Ahtanum, Bachelor,
Hatton, and Spring Creeks depict FEMA's Draft maps,
dated August 9, 2010.
*Floodplain & Floodway shown for Cowiche Creek
and the Naches River depict the FEMA maps
currently in effect.
Exhibit A
875 1,750 3,500
5,250 7,000
Adopted • February 2011
Feet
West Valley
Neighborhood Plan
A Subarea Plan of the
Yakima Urban Area
Comprehensive Plan 2025
Adopted
February 2011
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 2
West Valley
Neighborhood Plan
A Subarea Plan of the
Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025
Yakima City Council
Micah Cawley, Mayor
Kathy Coffey, Assistant Mayor
Maureen Adkison
Dave Edler
Rick Ensey
Dave Ettl
Bill Lover
Richard A. Zais, City Manager
Board of Yakima County
Commissioners
Kevin J. Bouchey, Chairman
J. Rand Elliott
Michael D. Leita
Yakima Urban Area Regional Planning Commission
John Hodkinson, Jr., Chair (City of Union Gap)
Bernie Kline, Vice Chair (Yakima County)
Jerry Craig (Yakima County)
John Crawford (City of Yakima)
John Gehlsen (City of Yakima)
Rockey Marshall (City of Yakima)
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 3
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 4
WEST VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
Acknowledgments
The following citizens, organizations, and staff were
instrumental in the development of the West Valley Neighborhood Plan:
WEST VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN - 2000 TASK FORCE
Lou Arend
George "Skip" Buckler
Richard Carmody
Denise Clement
Jerry K. Craig
Lyle Erlewine
Ron Fortier
Betty French
Barbara Gilbert
Bill Hordan
James Murphy
Nancy Nulph
Diana Posada
Mark Reeves
Julian/Patricia Steenbergen
2000 Guests and Advisors:
Gary Platt, Asst. Superintendent Ron Rutherford, Chief
West Valley School District West Valley Fire District
WEST VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN - 2006 WORK GROUP
Ron Anderson
George "Skip" Buckler
Brad Card
Bill Almon, Sr.
Almon Commercial Real Estate
Jerry Craig
Lyle Erlewine
Doug Hughes
Michael Noble
2008 Advisors:
Diana Posada
Steve Strosahl
Joe Walsh
Merle Warehime
Bill Moultray
Heritage-Moultray Real Estate Services
WEST VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING STAFF
Yakima County
Public Services Department
Vern Redifer, P.E., Director
Steve Erickson, Planning Director
Phil Hoge, Project Planner (project manager)
City of Yakima
Community & Economic Development Department
Michael Morales, Director
Joan Davenport, AICP, Planning Manager
Bruce Benson, Supervising Planner
Jeff Peters, Associate Planner
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 5
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 5
Table of Contents 6
List of Tables and Maps 7
Sections
L Introduction 9
II. Land Use & Housing Element 13
III. Transportation Element 27
IV. Parks, Open Space, & Natural Environment Element 45
V. Capital Facilities & Utilities Element 55
Appendix 1 65
Goals, Objectives, & Policies from City of Yakima's Parks & Recreation
Comprehensive Plan 2006-2011 most applicable to the Planning Area.
Appendix 2 67
Policies from the Parks & Open Space Chapter of Yakima County's
Comprehensive Plan, Plan 2015, most applicable to the Planning Area
Appendix 3 68
Illustration from the Yakima Greenway Master Plan Update 1995 showing the
loop trail connection using 66th Avenue between Ahtanum Road and the
Cowiche Canyon.
Maps 69
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 6
List of Tables and Maps
Tables
Table 1: West Valley Population Projections 13
Table 2: Cost Estimates for Improving Streets in the West Valley Area 31
Table 3: Truck Route Classifications 35
Table 4: 6 -Year TIP Projects Located in the Planning Area 38
Table 5: Estimate of the Amount of Park Land Needed 52
Maps 69
Map 1: Planning Area
Map 2: Current Land Use
Map 3: Current Zoning
Map 4: Future Land Use
Map 5: Existing Functional Classification
Map 5A: Proposed Functional Classification of Streets
Map 6: Street Connections Plan
Map 7: Proposed Truck Route Map
Map 8: Sidewalk and Pathway Facilities
Map 9: Bicycle Facilities Plan
Map 10: 6 -Year Transportation Improvement Program
Map 11: Parks and Trails
Map 12: Streams and Floodplains
Map 13: Streams, Wetlands, and Drainage Improvement Districts
Map 14: Water Utilities
Map 15: Waste Water Utilities
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 7
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 8
I. Introduction
Background on the West Valley Neighborhood Plan
In 1997, the Board of Yakima County Commissioners adopted Plan 2015 (the Yakima
County Comprehensive Plan), which established Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) for each
of the 14 cities and towns in Yakima County. Pursuant to the Growth Management Act
(GMA), the 14 cities and towns have also adopted comprehensive plans for their
respective urban growth areas. Pursuant to the 1977 Regional Planning Agreement', the
Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan was adopted jointly for Yakima's UGA by the
City of Yakima and Yakima County in 1997.
However, the 1997 Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan did not include detailed
planning for the west and southwest portion of the Yakima UGA, an area depicted by
Map 1 and now known as the West Valley Neighborhood Planning Areae. The Planning
Area consists of West Valley lands that were not included in the "Yakima Urban Area"
designated in the mid-1970s in conjunction with the planning for the regional wastewater
system. As such, the Planning Area represents additional West Valley lands designated in
and after 1997 for future urban growth3. The 1997 Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive
Plan contemplated that a neighborhood plan would be developed for the Planning Area at
a later date through a joint process involving Yakima County, the cities of Yakima and
Union Gap, and West Valley residents. The West Valley Neighborhood Plan is the
fulfillment of that intention.
The Planning Process for the West Valley Neighborhood Plan
In March 2000, the Board of Yakima County Commissioners appointed a 15 -person Task
Force, consisting primarily of West Valley residents, to work with staff and affected
agencies in developing the West Valley Neighborhood Plan. The Task Force met ten
times between March and June 2000 to study issues and formulate a preliminary draft
plan. On June 8, 2000 an Open House was held at the West Valley Middle School to
present the preliminary plan concepts to the greater West Valley community and gather
public comments on these concepts.
Subsequently, the West Valley sub -area planning effort was suspended due to several
conflicting processes, including: efforts to establish a West Valley sewer district;
attempts to incorporate a city of West Valley; and, lawsuits challenging the state's
petition method of annexation that were appealed to and ultimately resolved by the state
Supreme Court in 2004.
1 The Regional Planning Agreement was signed by Yakima, Union Gap and Yakima County in 1977 and
called for the establishment of a common plan and common regulatory ordinances for the Yakima Urban
Area. As a result, Yakima and Yakima County jointly adopted the first Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive
Plan in 1981 and the Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance in 1986.
The 1997 Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan referred to the West Valley Neighborhood Planning
Area as the "Urban Reserve." However, in December 2006 the Board of Yakima County Commissioners
and the Yakima City Council adopted an updated plan for the Yakima UGA entitled Yakima Urban Area
Comprehensive Plan 2025. Because the update eliminated all references to the "Urban Reserve," the West
Valley Neighborhood Plan will refer to this area as the "West Valley Neighborhood Planning Area" or
simply, the "Planning Area.-
' The Board of County Commissioners expanded the Yakima UGA in 2003 by adding the "Apple Tree"
area, and again in 2007 by adding the "Dazet" and "Scenic" areas, which are now included in the WVNP
Planning Area.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 9
In early 2005, the West Valley Neighborhood sub -area planning process was reactivated
with a new emphasis on mobility, housing and parks & open space. With these three
areas of emphasis in mind, work went forward to provide a framework that would guide a
renewed effort. The West Valley Neighborhood Plan Work Group was formed in early
2006 to review the preliminary framework and to establish additional policies that would
bring the preliminary draft plan up to date. Two additional open houses were held on
April 21, 2005, and July 24, 2006, at the West Valley Middle School to present planning
concepts to the public and receive their comments.
In December 2006, the Board of Yakima County Commissioners and Yakima City
Council adopted the Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025, which updated and
replaced the plan adopted in 1997.
In July 2007, a draft WVNP, reflecting the updated Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive
Plan 2025 and incorporating the Work Group's efforts, was circulated to City and County
staff for review and comment. In response to the comments received, further discussions
occurred in an effort to resolve the concerns that were expressed. The completion of these
discussions was interrupted by the GMA-required update of comprehensive plans and
development regulations, and the appeals that followed.
On October 28, 2009, the Yakima County Planning Division published a draft West
Valley Neighborhood Plan for review by the public and the Yakima Urban Area Regional
Planning Commission. The draft plan was available on the web, and open houses were
held during the evenings of November 18 and December 2, 2009 at the Harman Senior
Center where the public could discuss the draft with the staff planners in an informal
setting. Approximately 100 members of the public attended the open houses.
Subsequently, at 7:00 pm on December 2, 2009, the RPC held a public hearing at the
Harman Senior Center and received verbal and written comments from all members of
the public desiring to offer comments. Twenty members of the public signed the hearing
sign -in sheet, 15 members testified verbally, and 11 written comments were submitted.
The hearing was video -recorded by Y -PAC (Yakima Public Affairs Cable) and re-
cablecast several times after the hearing date.
At several meetings between December 2009 and June 2010, the RPC reviewed the draft
plan, considered all comments received from the public and agencies, and requested and
received additional comments and information (particularly about revised flood plain
maps in the planning area). The Regional Planning Commission adopted Findings and
issued its recommended West Valley Neighborhood Plan on June 23, 2010, which
recommended changes to the October 28, 2009 staff draft.
In accordance with the Growth Management Act (GMA), Yakima County and the City of
Yakima provided joint "60 -day notice" on July 8, 2010 to the Department of Commerce
of the pending adoption of the RPC -recommended WLNP and Area -Wide Rezone.
Pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Yakima County conducted
environmental review of the RPC -recommended draft WVNP and Area -Wide Rezone,
culminating in the issuance of a Determination of Nonsignificance on September 23,
2010.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 10
On September 28 and October 12, 2010, the Board of Yakima County Commissioners
and the Yakima City Council met in joint study sessions to review the RPC -
recommended WVNP and Area -Wide Rezone.
On October 26, 2010, the Board of Yakima County Commissioners and the Yakima City
Council held a joint public hearing at the Yakima Convention Center to hear the public's
comments on the proposed WVNP and Area -Wide Rezone.
Subsequently, on November 22 and December 13, 2010, the Board of Yakima County
Commissioners and the Yakima City Council conducted joint deliberations on the WVNP
and Area -Wide Rezone. Changes to the RPC -recommended WVNP were made jointly by
the two elected bodies, and are incorporated into this adopted version.
Goals and Policies
The goals and policies established in Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025
apply to the entire Yakima Urban Growth Area, including the West Valley Neighborhood
Planning Area. In addition, Plan 2015 (the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan) is a
regional plan that establishes the County's perspective on urban policy and the
transitioning of land from rural and resource uses to urban uses. The West Valley
Neighborhood Plan endeavors to apply the goals and policies of both plans to provide
policy direction for the future development of the Planning Area. Where gaps and
potential inconsistencies between Plan 2015 and the YUACP 2025 might exist, the
WVNP attempts to bridge the differences after considering both plans.
The goals and policies in the West Valley Neighborhood Plan are established to provide
more specific policy direction to address the particular issues identified by the planning
process. In some cases, these goals and policies recommend new policy for development
in the Planning Area that would appropriately be applied to the entire Yakima UGA.
Such goals and policies should be considered for incorporating into the YUACP 2025
during future comprehensive plan amendment cycles.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 11
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 12
II. Land Use & Housing Element
Introduction
The Land Use & Housing Element expresses the community's preferences for the future
location of various types of land uses in the Planning Area. In 2006, approximately 74%
of the Planning Area was vacant or undeveloped, but urban development is rapidly
occurring. This element provides guidance for locating housing of various densities,
commercial uses, and industrial uses.
Population
The Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025, adopted in December of 2006,
projects the population for the Planning Area through the year 2025. Table 1 summarizes
those population projections for the Planning Area. The table projects "High" and
"Intermediate" figures from 2010-2025 at 5 -year intervals. These projections indicate that
the Planning Area will likely need to accommodate an additional 7,998 (intermediate
figure) to 12,166 (high figure) people by 2025. This would mean 3,041 to 4,626
additional dwelling units will be needed.
Table 1: West Valley Population Projections4
Area
2010
2015
2020
2025
Change
2010-25
Additional
Dwelling
Units
Needed
West Valley Planning Area
-intermediate projection:
7,219
10,115
12,723
15,217
7,998
3,041
-high projection:
10,347
14,527
18,522
22,513
12,166
4,626
Existing Land Uses
Map 2 shows existing land uses in the Planning Area, primarily as identified by the
County Assessor's land use codes. Agriculture is still a predominant use on many of the
larger parcels indicated as vacant or residential. Commercial and industrial uses are
located in the communities of Ahtanum and Wiley City, while limited commercial uses
also exist at the intersections of Tieton Drive/S. 96th Avenue and Ahtanum Road/S. 64th
Avenue. Warehouses exist along Ahtanum Road just east of 64th Avenue and at the
intersection of Wide Hollow Rd./S. 80th Avenue. There are no public parks, although play
fields and playgrounds are available at the Planning Area's three public schools
(Cottonwood Elementary on S. 96th Avenue, Ahtanum Valley Elementary on South
Wiley Road, and West Valley High School on Zier Road).
Increasingly, as the supply of developable lands to the east has become more and more
scarce, residential subdivisions are being developed within the Planning Area.
4 The 2010-2025 projections in Table 1 come from Tables III -4 and III -5 of Yakima Urban Area
Comprehensive Plan 2025, page III -4 & III -5.
Based on the 2000 Census that found 2.63 people per dwelling unit in Yakima
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 13
Apple Tree Resort
A prominent existing land use in the Planning Area is the Apple Tree Resort. It is a 136 -
acre resort development, located in the vicinity of Occidental Road and S. 86th Avenue,
consisting of a tournament -quality golf course with a proposed resort oriented
commercial center with a 422 residential -unit community including single-family homes,
condominiums, apartments, and recreational condominiums. The golf course/resort
development application was initially submitted to Yakima County in 1985 by the Hull
family, and was called the "Hull Ranches Planned Development." The development is
now owned and operated by Apple Tree Development, the Hull Family, and other private
investors and companies. The golf course itself has grown into one of the Pacific
Northwest's premier golf courses, with high-end homes lining the outside of the course.
Having been developed with the resort, some of the subdivisions within Apple Tree's
development area utilize reduced setbacks, private streets, and other reductions in site
design standards as approved through the Planned Development rezone process.
Landscaping is provided by Apple Tree Resort under an association agreement, which
creates a uniform and professional look for the neighborhood.
The Resort draws a variety of people including retirees from both inside and outside the
Yakima community. New businesses are encouraged to locate in Yakima, because of the
Resort's recreational aspect; and recreational users/tourists come to the community for
golfing, wine tasting, weddings, and business trips. Because of Apple Tree, other
developers have completed residential subdivisions in that area.
Future development within the Apple Tree Resort will likely include a commercial center
that will include: a lodge with restaurant, condominiums, and a golf/sports shop. The
proposed future land use designations depicted on the Future Land Use Map, Map 4, will
allow the commercial and higher density uses previously mentioned as part of the Apple
Tree Resort.
Current Zoning
Map 3 shows the Planning Area's current zoning, which was applied in February 2000
when the County's new zoning ordinance went into effect to implement Plan 2015. This
zoning was applied as an interim measure until adoption of the West Valley
Neighborhood Plan would provide the rationale for long-term zoning. Most land was
zoned "Single -Family Residential" (R-1) as a low -intensity place -holder. The only other
zones currently in the Planning Area are "Industrial" (I) applied to two warehouses, and
"Rural Settlement" (RS) applied to the unincorporated communities of Ahtanum and
Wiley City.
The zoning in the unincorporated portion of the Planning Area prior to adoption of the
WVNP is under Yakima County's Zoning Ordinance (YCZO), which is Yakima County
Code (YCC) Title 15, while the portion within the city limits of Yakima is under the City
of Yakima's Urban Area Zoning Ordinance (UAZO), which is Yakima Municipal Code
(YMC) Title 15.
The intent statements of the zoning districts that currently apply in the Planning Area are
described below:
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 14
One -Family Residential, R-1 (YCZO, YCC Title 15) - This zone is to provide for
lower urban density land development for single family residential purposes
where urban governmental services are either available or can be provided
without excessive public cost or where those uses can function on interim utility
systems until municipal utility services are extended. Minimum sizes for new lots
are 7,200 sq. ft. where such utility services are exist. When such utility services
are not provided, new lots must be at least 21/2 acres.
Single -Family Residential, R-1 (UAZO, YMC Title 15) — This zone is intended
to:
1. Establish new residential neighborhoods for detached single-family
dwellings free from other uses except those which are compatible with,
and serve the residents of this district, which may include common -wall
and zero lot lines if established during the subdivision process;
2. Preserve existing residential neighborhoods for detached single-family
dwellings free from other uses to ensure the preservation of the existing
residential character, and serve the residents of, this district; and,
3. Locate moderate -density residential development, up to seven DU/NRA
(Dwelling Units per Net Residential Acre), in areas served by public water
and sewer system.
Detached single-family dwellings are the primary use in this district. The district
is characterized by forty-five percent lot coverage; access to individual lots by
local access streets; large front, rear and side yard setbacks; and one and two story
structures. The density in the district is generally seven DU/NRA or less.
This zone is intended to afford single-family neighborhoods the highest level of
protection from encroachment by potentially incompatible non-residential land
uses or impacts. Nonresidential uses within these zones are not allowed, except
for public or quasi -public uses, which will be required to undergo extensive
public review and will have all necessary performance or design standards
assigned to them as necessary to mitigate potential impacts to adjacent residences.
Development exceeding seven DU/NRA may be allowed in accordance with
Table 4-1 [in the Urban Area Zoning Ordinance].
Industrial, I (YCZO, YCC Title 15) - This zone is established to preserve areas for
industrial and related uses that do not create serious problems of compatibility
with nearby land uses.
Rural Settlement, RS (YCZO, YCC Title 15) - This zone is applied to several
unincorporated communities throughout the County and was first applied to
Wiley City and Ahtanum in the early 1980s. It allows a mixture of land uses (i.e.,
commercial, industrial, and low -to -moderate density residential) in order to
provide convenience goods and services to the surrounding area. However, it is
classified as a rural zone and is applied within UGA as a legacy zone until urban
zoning is applied to implement the WVNP.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 15
Land Use and Housing Issues
The following land use and housing issues are identified by the planning process:
Agriculture & Animal Husbandry — The WVNP is a subarea plan for lands that have
historically been used for rural and agricultural purposes rather than urban uses. As land
transitions from a rural setting to an urban environment, there will likely be conflicts
between the rural uses and urban uses. An example is having a few horses, goats, or other
farm animals. This is a traditional rural residential use in areas with larger lots, but may
cause conflicts when smaller urban -sized lots are created on adjacent lands.
A large portion of the Planning Area is currently used for agricultural purposes, mainly
for fruit crops. As time goes by, these crops will be removed for residential and
commercial development. Many of the new housing developments should be
accompanied with smaller commercial developments that can support the residential
developments.
The several agricultural warehouses and processing facilities that exist in the Planning
Area are currently zoned either One -Family Residential (R-1), Rural Settlement, or
Industrial. How to zone these existing uses in the future is an issue because: (1) The
Rural Settlement zone is a rural zone and must be replaced by urban zoning to implement
Map 4 (Future Land Use); (2) These existing agricultural uses are classified as legal non-
conforming uses in the R-1 zone, which allows for their continuance but can adversely
impact the owner's financing because expansion and re -building opportunities are not
permitted outright; and (3) These existing agricultural uses are allowed as a Class 1 use in
the Industrial zone, but the wide range of industrial uses allowed in the Industrial zone
would be incompatible with the urbanizing uses in some neighborhoods.
If encouraging continued operations, expansions, or modernizations of these existing
agricultural warehouses and processing facilities is desired in neighborhoods where the
Industrial zone is not desired, an alternative strategy is to use the Suburban Residential
zone, which allows such uses as Class 3 permitted uses by YCC Title 15A and as Class 2
permitted uses by YMC Title 15.
In addition to applying appropriate zoning to these existing agricultural uses when new
zoning is applied to the Planning Area, consideration should be given to amending the
zoning ordinances to allow the adaptive re -use of their structures to other uses that are
compatible with the neighborhoods in which they are located.
Flooding — The Planning Area has portions that are significantly prone to flooding due to
its unique topography. The Ahtanum and Wide Hollow basins have been designated
"Flood Prone" by the County Engineer. Floods in the late 1990s showed that the current
National Flood Insurance Maps produced by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management
Agency) in 1985 did not represent the full extent of the flooding in West Valley. These
two basins were selected for re -studies to upgrade the maps as part of the FEMA Map
Modernization Program providing digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The FEMA Work
Maps are scheduled to be available to the communities by the end of 2009. Initial results
indicate much broader areas of flooding than the current FEMA maps.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 16
As a consequence of the 1990's floods and citizen concerns, the Yakima County -wide
Flood Control Zone District (YCFCZD) is developing a Comprehensive Flood Hazard
Management Plan (CHIMP) for the Ahtanum and Wide Hollow basins from their
confluences with the Yakima River upstream through the urban growth areas and beyond
to the headwaters of the basins. The planning process utilizes an advisory committee of
citizens and government representatives, including the municipalities and habitat
agencies. The plan, which is anticipated for submission to the communities in late 2010
for adoption, identifies existing problematic flooding areas, areas where development
should be "tailored," and recommendations on potential planning options.
Special care and inter jurisdictional coordination must be taken in the planning,
development, and annexation processes so that flood damage can be minimized or
prevented during flood events. The YCFCZD, which has been extensively involved with
inter jurisdictional and citizen groups regarding floodplains in the Planning Area, should
be involved in the infrastructure and land use decisions within the floodplains in order to
utilize this information. For example, the YCFCZD has identified several types of soils
located in association with floodplains that have severe limitations for development.
Open space — To minimize flood damage, consideration should be given to permanently
retaining open spaces along creeks as urbanization occurs. Trails and parks are some of
the preferred uses along creeks and streams.
Future Residential Development — A large portion of land designated for future
residential development will be for low density (4-7 DUs/acre), which will be
implemented by the R-1 (Single -/One -Family Residential) and SR (Suburban
Residential) zoning districts. However, diversity of housing is a goal of the Yakinia
Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 and of the Growth Management Act. Both
Yakima County and the City of Yakima recognize a need to designate land for higher
residential densities in the Future Land Use Map to allow the market to provide more
housing choices for residents.
The density of multi -family housing allowed in the R-3 zones is currently limited only by
site requirements such as setbacks from property lines, number of required parking
spaces, and maximum lot coverage. This situation has limited the acceptance of R-3
zoning by neighborhoods. Many communities in the country have adopted design
standards for multi -family housing that allow innovative and attractive structures that are
compatible with neighborhoods. Design standards for multi -family housing should be
considered in order to allow more housing choices for residents.
The Urban Area Zoning Ordinance and Yakima County Zoning Ordinance limit the
impervious coverage of parcels in the R-1 and R-2 zones to 45% and 50% respectively.
In recent years, however, the market has changed to prefer smaller yards and larger
homes. Consideration should be given to amending the zoning ordinances to allow
slightly higher lot coverages in the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts.
Many communities around the country, including the state of Washington, are using
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs to simultaneously maintain rural,
agricultural, or environmentally sensitive areas while increasing urban development in
urbanizing areas, especially when coupled with density incentives in the urbanizing areas.
These programs work by establishing "sending areas," where low densities are to be
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 17
preserved, and "receiving areas," where development is to be encouraged. This versatile
tool could also be used to protect critical areas or to deal with impacts related to airport
safety overlay designations.
Flood prone areas should be considered for the lowest residential densities in order to
minimize flood damage. For example, the density of seven units per net residential acre
in floodplains will expose more properties to risk given the relatively unpredictable flow
paths. The lots and their fences or fill have the ability to redirect flows, as has been
evidenced by recent development in the Planning Area.
Focused Public Investment Corridors - Current plans call for designating and
prioritizing Focused Public Investment Corridors inside the urban reserve area to
facilitate coordinated and collaborative public infrastructure investment. An example of
this was the construction of 96th Avenue south of Summitview Ave. several years ago
wherein the City paid for the installation of a dry sewer line simultaneously with the
County's construction of the street. By focusing public investments, an area could be
managed to grow in a desirable way that makes good use of public and private dollars.
Land Use and Housing Goals & Policies
The Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 establishes goals and policies
pertaining to the Yakima UGA, including the Planning Area. The following goals and
policies for Land Use and Housing are intended to guide the application of the YUACP
2025 goals and policies to the Planning Area and address the issues identified by the
planning process.
GOAL 2.1: Provide a wide variety of housing types that offer choices to the entire
community.
Policies:
2.1.1 Apply the Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance (YCC Title 15A and YMC Title
15) to the West Valley Neighborhood Planning Area as a legislative rezone in
conjunction with the adoption of the WVNP.
2.1.2 Update the Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance and Yakima County Zoning
Ordinance to facilitate common development standards within the Yakima UGA
and to incorporate desired urban features.
2.1.3 Through land use controls, prevent conversion of land in the Urban Growth Area
to uses/densities that cannot be urbanized. Where public sewer or water is not
available, provide that new lots be at least 5 acres unless interim community
utilities with clustering are provided.
2.1.4 Plan to accommodate the area's expected population growth in a sustainable
manner that maintains or improves the community's character, environmental
quality, and quality of life.
2.1.5 Provide density incentives to developers for the inclusion of a percentage of
affordable housing units.
2.1.6 Allow for smaller single-family residential lot sizes and higher lot coverage
allowances, and provide incentives for developers to create them.
2.1.7 Slightly increase the lot coverages allowed in the residential zones, and allow
even higher coverage when common open spaces are provided in conjunction
with a planned development.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 18
2.1.8 Ensure that infill development or subdivisions are compatible with existing
neighborhoods. Lots proposed for new residential subdivisions and adjacent to
existing urban neighborhoods should be compatible with existing residential lots
(pursuant to YUACP 2025, Goal 3.3 and its Policies).
2.1.9 Allow for adequate areas zoned for high and medium density residential to
provide a wide variety of housing options and affordability.
2.1.10 Investigate TDR (Transferable Development Rights) programs in other
communities by the next update required by RCW 36.70A.130(5) prior to
considering such a program in Yakima.
GOAL 2.2: Provide a variety of housing, retail, and commercial centered on key
intersections, in a pattern that encourages walking and bicycling.
Policies:
2.2.1 Establish criteria for potential neighborhood villages that allow for a pleasant
living, shopping, and working environment; pedestrian accessibility; a sense of
community; adequate, well located open spaces; an attractive , well connected and
designed street system; and a balance of retail, office, multi -family, single-family,
and public uses.
2.2.2 Establish parking requirements for land uses located in neighborhood villages
that reflect their pedestrian and transit orientation (e.g., reduce 10 to 15 percent
below the requirements for areas without such pedestrian orientation).
2.2.3 Designate areas suitable for commercial and retail use. Cluster commercial/retail
land uses around key intersections, rather than as strips along arterials and
collectors.
2.2.4 Provide for small scale commercial services in existing communities and at
selected intersections of arterial and collector streets.
• Locate, orient, and design uses likely to attract a substantial number of people
from outside of the local community (e.g., supermarkets) so that they do not
significantly detract from local pedestrian -oriented character.
• Encourage additional landscaping in connection with commercial and retail
development.
2.2.5 Encourage medium or high density residential in areas adjacent to and between
commercial or retail zoned property along major arterials and collectors.
2.2.6 Review key intersections for flood risk.
GOAL 2.3: Provide for the continued viability of agricultural warehouses and
processing facilities and allow for their adaptive conversion to other
uses compatible with the neighborhood.
Policies:
2.3.1 Apply zoning districts to agricultural warehouses and processing facilities that
will make them permitted uses.
2.3.2 Amend the zoning ordinances to allow agricultural warehouses and processing
facilities located in non -industrial zones to convert to other uses that are
compatible with the neighborhood.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 19
GOAL 2.4: Provide Protection for Developments in Flood prone areas.
General Policies:
2.4.1 Maintain and restore open space buffers along rivers and creeks and identified
floodplain overflow areas for flood storage, priority habitat species, and passive
recreation.
2.4.2 Support development by the Yakima County -wide Flood Control Zone District of
a management plan for the West Valley area to reduce or prevent flood damage
and improve natural habitat along creeks.
2.4.3 The building envelope for any existing lot which extends within the 100 -year
floodplain should be located outside the floodplain boundary whenever possible.
2.4.4 Encourage the use of low -impact development such as permeable materials for
parking and pedestrian surfaces.
2.4.5 Consider incorporating the recommendations of the Ahtanum-Wide Hollow
Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan into the Yakima Urban Area
Comprehensive Plan and Yakima County Comprehensive Plan.
2.4.6 Focus flood control on economic development and public safety.
2.4.7 Provide future development patterns that ensure flood risk is minimized.
2.4.8 Prevent new development from increasing flooding on adjacent lands through un -
modeled fill in the floodplain and through the preservation of existing channels,
both mapped and unmapped by FEMA.
2.4.9 Provide incentives to developers to provide for community open space and to
cluster away from critical areas.
2.4.10 Consult the YCFCZD concerning land use and infrastructure issues within flood -
prone areas.
2.4.11 Follow the development requirements in the new stormwater ordinances.
Residential Policies:
2.4.12 Do not allow medium or high density zoning within the 100 -year floodplain
unless clustering away from the floodplain is required.
2.4.13 Encourage lower maximum density for new subdivisions and short plats being
proposed within the 100 -year floodplain.
2.4.14 Offer a density bonus above the allowed density in the underlying zone for
development to set back from the 100 -year floodplain.
2.4.15 Review fill in the floodplain to avoid flow redirection onto neighbors.
2.4.16 Allow floodplain areas to count as open space for proposed new development.
2.4.17 Wherever possible, use the 100 -year floodplain to provide a natural buffer
between commercial and residential development.
GOAL 2.5: Protect residential areas from the glaring lights of major light
generators such as commercial uses, schools, sports facilities, and
churches.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 20
Future Land Use
Map 4 (Future Land Use) shows the preferred land uses for the Planning Area as it
urbanizes over the next several decades. This map will guide the future zoning and
development of the West Valley Planning Area.
An underlying concept of the Future Land Use Map is to provide commercial and higher
density residential uses at key intersections. This is intended to allow options for non-
traditional housing types (such as cottages, well-designed multi -family ("garden
apartments" and condominiums) that will create walkable neighborhoods served by
transit stops.
The land use designations listed below are established by and described in the Yakinia
Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025. The considerations for applying them in the
West Valley Planning Area are described below:
Low Density Residential (LDR) — Priniarily free-standing single-family residences.
Residential density is less than 7 dwelling units per acre. This is considered the
lowest possible residential density that can efficiently support public services.
The Low Density Residential properties west of 48th Avenue within the Urban Growth
Boundary consist of 7,736 acres. As previously mentioned, many of these properties
took on a LDR designation when they were annexed into the City or included in the
Urban Growth Area. Historically, most of the housing built in Yakima has expanded
westward as single-family homes on individual lots, which is predominately built as
three-bedroom, two -bath homes for individuals, couples, and small families.
Development has also been sporadically spread on larger than urban lots; making
redevelopment to urban densities difficult.
The conceptual considerations for Low Density Residential in the Planning Area are:
• This is the most extensive land use designation in the Planning Area and located
where other designations are not appropriate;
• Usually located in areas that are already characterized by smaller, developed
parcels.
Medium Density Residential (MDR) — Characterized by a mixture of single-family
detached residences and duplexes, with a variety of other housing types at a
residential density ranging between 7 and 11 dwelling units per acre.
The West Valley Neighborhood Plan reflects the need to provide more opportunity for
medium -density residential (MDR) developments in the Urban Growth Area. In making
this determination, the densities in the High and Medium Density Residential future land
use designations were calculated for the area west of 48th Avenue and east of the
Planning Area. The MDR properties west of 48th Avenue consist of 483 acres (299 acres
Congdon -owned). The vacant non -Congdon owned property totals 14.4% of the
undeveloped MDR properties west of 48th Avenue. All of the 299 acres owned by
Congdon are undeveloped. Those 299 MDR acres make up 62% of all of the MDR
properties, which is 85.5% of the total undeveloped MDR properties. A diverse
ownership of this vacant land would more than likely keep the price of the higher density
development affordable and accessible. However, in this situation where 14% of the
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 21
vacant non -Congdon MDR property is still developable, there is more of an opportunity
to develop vacant land than properties designated HDR. Because the bulk of the
undeveloped land is under the control of one developer, more MDR property is provided
in the Future Land Use Map, Map 4.
Twenty eight percent of the existing MDR land has been developed into duplex, triplex,
four-plex, and townhouse/condo developments, as well as single-family residential
subdivisions. The density for the MDR properties is 6.36 DU/NRA (dwelling units per
net residential acre), which is within the density levels of the LDR designation. The
Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025, Table III -11, sets the average density
levels for the MDR at 10 DU/NRA.
Part of the reason why low density levels exist within the Medium and High Density
property designations is that when they were rezoned, previously developed, small -lot
properties were included, leaving redevelopment as the only option to achieve higher
densities. Also, some developers opted for mixed housing developments and created
covenants restricting certain higher density lots to single-family dwellings. Cottonwood
Grove Phases 5-7 is one such example.
Areas designated MDR should be considered to become "receiving areas" for a
transferable development rights (TDR) program. Such programs simultaneously conserve
resource and open space lands (known as "sending areas") and boost the development
intensity in desired places (known as "receiving areas").
The conceptual considerations for Medium Density Residential in the Planning Area
are:
• Intended to provide for higher lot coverages in single family developments as
requested by the market (50% instead of 45%);
• Located in the center of the Planning Area where it can promote more walking to
schools and reduce the cost of school bussing;
• Intended to provide an incentive for non-traditional housing types (such as
cottages, townhouses, condominiums, duplexes, and garden apartments) to create
affordable housing for "empty -nesters," young singles, seniors, and other small
household sizes.
• Located adjacent to high density residential and commercial to buffer these more
intense land uses from low density residential.
• Intended to provide an incentive to cluster development on parcels away from
floodplains so that floods may be accommodated and "green spaces" can be
maintained.
• Located on large undeveloped parcels to enable quality layout/housing designs;
• Requested by the community for higher densities to enable affordable housing
options;
• Along Zier Road between 80th and 96th Avenues, parcels have been designated
as Medium Density Residential. These parcels were selected because they are all
located:
1. on one or more arterial streets (96th Avenue, 80th Avenue, and Zier Road),
where access does not need to pass through low density developments;
2. within close proximity to the West Valley High School, West Valley Middle
School, and Cottonwood Elementary School, where it would reduce the cost
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 22
of busing children to the nearby schools and promote the healthy physical
activity of walking to schools;
3. on sloped terrain where it would be more cost effective to build apartments,
townhouses, and condos rather than single-family dwellings; and,
4. where the dwelling units per acre could be higher and more consistent with
density levels desired.
High Density Residential (HDR) — Multi family residential development may include
apartments, condominiums, and townhouses, containing 12 or more dwelling units
per acre. A limited range of other niixed land uses may be perniitted, such as some
professional offices and community services.
Currently, there is a need to provide more opportunity for High Density Residential
(HDR) developments in the Urban Growth Area for the area west of 48th Avenue. The
HDR properties west of 48th consist of 286 acres, with 129 undeveloped acres (96% of
the property is owned by Congdon Development Co. "Congdon"). Those undeveloped
129 acres make up 45% of the total HDR property east of the Planning Area. Of the non -
Congdon owned property, there is only 3.7% of the HDR designated property left to be
developed west of 48th Avenue. A diverse ownership of HDR properties would more
than likely keep the price of the HDR development affordable and accessible.
A large majority of the property east of the Planning Area designated HDR has been
developed into manufactured home parks, duplex, triplex, four-plex, townhouse/condo,
and a few multi -family developments. The developed HDR densities equal 9.8 DU/NRA
(dwelling units per net residential acre). The HDR developments include: Castle Creek,
St. Andrews Place, Rose of Mary Terrace, and Cornerstone Apartments. Without those
four developments, the density levels of the HDR designation drop to 7.4 DU/NRA,
which is consistent with the MDR designation. The Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive
Plan 2006, Table III -11, sets the average density levels for the HDR at 20 DU/NRA. The
20 DU/NRA may seem high, but considering that the density levels of the four apartment
complexes west of 48th Avenue average 21.67 DU/NRA, one could assume that it was
anticipated that all HDR would be developed as apartment complexes or similar high
density developments.
The conceptual considerations for High Density Residential in the Planning Area are:
• Primarily located adjacent to commercial areas to form walkable neighborhood
centers around transit stops;
• This designation west of S. 38th Avenue is intended to buffer the adjacent single-
family neighborhood from the industrial area to the north;
• Accommodates the Apple Tree Resort's Master Planned Development;
• Requests from the community for higher densities to enable affordable housing;
Professional Office — A wide range of office uses, such as financial institutions, real
estate, insurance, engineering, legal, medical offices and other similar business uses,
specifically perniitted by the applicable zoning district.
The conceptual considerations for Professional Office in the Planning Area are:
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 23
• Although no locations are initially identified by this subarea plan, appropriate
locations may be designated in the future, such as along arterials.
Institutions — Institutions include existing and new large-scale institutional facilities
such as hospitals and higher educational facilities that niay have significant rnlpacts
to the surrounding land uses. 6
The conceptual considerations for Institutions in the Planning Area are:
• No locations are identified as being suitable for this designation.
Neighborhood Commercial (NC) — Small scale, neighborhood convenience coniniercial
uses and services primarily for residences of adjacent neighborhoods. These areas
are typically located along a mirror arterial, or at the intersection of a mirror arterial
and a collector arterial street.
The conceptual considerations for Neighborhood Commercial in the Planning Area are:
• Recognize the existing commercial areas in the communities of Ahtanum and
Wiley City, but does not expand their extent due to flooding. An additional
commercial area is provided in Wiley City outside of flooded areas;
• New areas are primarily located at intersections and adjacent to higher density
housing so that this housing provides a buffer to low density residential;
• 96th Avenue and Tieton Drive - For the housing areas around the commercially
designated property at the intersection of 96th Avenue and Tieton Drive,
development would include walking and biking trails to nearby commercial
developments. The concept is to create a community -oriented center, focused on
serving the immediate neighborhood while providing for flood hazard reduction
and public safety.
• S. 64t1i Avenue and Ahtanum Road are major arterials and their intersection is a
natural spot for a commercial node;
• The southeast corner of W. Washington and S. 64th Avenues is just outside the
Planning Area and zoned Small Convenience Center. The designation at the
southwest corner is intended to compliment the existing zoning so as to form a
commercial intersection.
• Neighborhood Commercial is designated along Occidental to accommodate the
commercial uses in Apple Tree Resort's Master Planned Development.
Community Commercial (CC) — Community Commercial provides medium scale
coniniercial uses that serve multiple neighborhoods and residential areas in the
community. These areas are typically located along a principal arterial, or selected
niinor arterial, or at the intersection of a principal arterial and a niinor arterial
street.
The conceptual considerations for Community Commercial in the Planning Area are:
• The primary commercial area in the Planning Area is proposed northwest of the
intersection of Wide Hollow Road and S. 96th Avenue. The area south of the
intersection is almost entirely within the floodplain to the southern valley wall in
6 Refer to YUI4C'P 2025 for the complete description of the Institutions plan designation.
People in the local commercial development industry advise clustering commercial areas around major
intersections and not letting them spread out between such intersections.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 24
the new FEMA Work Maps and should not be considered for commercial
development.
• The 2000 Task Force indicated support for a mixed-use center along Wide
Hollow Road near/at the intersection with S. 96th Avenue;
• This mixed-use center is envisioned as a "Village Center" that would incorporate
commercial uses, 2nd story or adjacent high and medium density housing;
utilization of Wide Hollow Creek as a public gathering place/park while
accommodating floods; and utilization of the City's trolley corridor along Wide
Hollow Road as a trail that connects to nearby parks, schools, and other trail
systems;
• Nearby medium density housing will promote this "Village" area as a walkable
neighborhood;
• A focused public investment corridor along 96th Avenue between Zier and
Tieton Drive could enhance the pedestrian environment of the "Village," by
including trails through the floodplains.
General Commercial (GC) — General Coniniercial provides a wide variety of
coniniercial retail and services that are heavily dependent on convenient vehicle
access along major travel routes. General Coniniercial land uses may include those
uses identified in Neighborhood Coniniercial or Community Coniniercial, but do not
serve only the adjacent neighborhoods. General Coniniercial includes uses such as
fast food restaurants, auto -oriented services and other coniniercial services. The City
has designated these areas with the intent that undesirable strip coniniercial
developnient is avoided8.
The conceptual considerations for General Commercial in the Planning Area are:
• The GC designation allows a wide variety of uses that are heavily dependent on
convenient vehicle access. No locations are identified as being suitable for this
designation.
Regional Commercial (RC) — The Regional Coniniercial designation is intended to
provide the community with a niix of retail service and business establishnients on a
medium to large scale. Coniniercial firnis span a wide range of activities such as
retail stores, business and professional services, hotel niotel operations, restaurants,
theaters and gas stations. Generally, regional coniniercial uses are the source of
consumer goods and services for the community and the traveling public. Their
locational, market area and site requirements tend to be as diverse as the niix of
activities. In common, these firms are generally dependent upon visibility for
customer attraction, and prefer locations with heavy traffic flows.
The typical size of a regional coniniercial developnient is 10-60 acres and serves a
population of 100,000-200,000 people.
The conceptual considerations for Regional Commercial in the Planning Area are:
8 The description of General Commercial in YU4C'P 2025 continues with the following parenthetical
language: ("Strip Commercial" development is usually described as commercial properties developed
along a street in linear fashion (as opposed to the downtown or malls), where individual driveways,
separated parking lots, different building designs and access points, can lead to problems including traffic
safety, shopper confusion, higher failure rates among businesses, poor aesthetics, etc.)
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 25
• No locations are identified as being suitable for this designation.
Central Business District Core Commercial (CBD) — Central Business District Core
Coniniercial designation is a wide variety of intense retail, office, institutional and
high-density residential land uses with the broadest range of niixed uses and
flexibility. Land uses to be encourages in this area are those new developnients that
foster the unique, regional nature of the Yakima Central Business District.
The conceptual considerations for Central Business District Core Commercial in the
Planning Area are:
• No locations are identified as being suitable for this designation.
Industrial (I) — The Industrial designation is a range of activities, including construction
businesses, manufacturing, transportation, coninwnication, utilities, and wholesale
and warehouse activities, which niay include some accessory office and retail use
The conceptual considerations for Industrial in the Planning Area are:
• Except for the Powerhouse Rd. area, the Planning Area is generally located
beyond the reach of major roads and other industrial infrastructure, so is not
suited for designation as a major industrial area;
• Existing fruit packing and warehouses are designated Low Density Residential
rather than Industrial because the wide range of industrial uses allowed by the
Industrial zone would not be compatible with the neighborhoods. The LDR
designation allows them to be zoned SR, which allows fruit packing and
warehouses as permitted uses rather than as non -conforming uses. Currently the
City's Urban Area Zoning Ordinance allows these uses in the SR zone as Class
(2) permitted uses, and the County's Urban Area Zoning Ordinance allows them
in the SR zone as Class (3) permitted uses.
Parks & Recreation (P&R) — Includes all existing public parks, playgrounds,
recreation areas, greenways, pathways, golf courses, conservancy and designated
open spaces. This designation niay also include land that is preserved by Yakama
Nation, State and or Federal agencies and private entities.
The conceptual considerations for Parks & Recreation in the Planning Area are:
• While listed and described in YUACP 2025, this designation is not applied on its
future land use map. Therefore, to be consistent with the future land use map in
YUACP 2025, it is not appropriate to show this designation on Map 4 (Future
Land Use) of the West Valley Neighborhood Plan.
• To be consistent with YUACP 2025, Parks and Recreation areas in the West
Valley Planning Area are more appropriately shown on Map 11 (Parks and Trails)
rather than on Map 4 (Future Land Use).
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 26
III. Transportation Element
1. OVERVIEW
This Transportation Element is a guide for street improvement needs, as well as for the
rights of way for bicycles, pedestrians, public transit, freight and utility corridors in the
West Valley Neighborhood Planning Area.
The goals and policies of the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan Update, 2005-
2025 apply to the entire Yakima Urban Growth Area, which includes the Planning Area.
This Sub -Area Plan applies those goals and policies to the Planning Area and
recommends additional policies and goals that should be considered for incorporating in
the YUACP 2025.
• The Transportation and Capital Facilities Elements of Yakima Urban Area
Comprehensive Plan 2025 contain detailed financing and project information for
improvements in the UGA. This section provides supplementary information for
the Planning Area.
• Future land use assumptions for the Planning Area indicate the area will be
predominately Low Density Residential with small commercial nodes and limited
opportunities for Medium & High Density Residential where indicated on Map #4
(Future Land Use). Existing mixed-use communities in the vicinity of Ahtanum
and Wiley City are recognized but not proposed for expansion due to flooding
constraints.
• The Planning Area is nearly 8.3 square miles in size, consisting of over 1920
parcels. Approximately 7,200 people currently live in the area. Over 2,300 acres
(48%) of the area is vacant or undeveloped. Growth assumptions for Future Land
Use include the potential for an additional 8,000 to 15,300 people or 3,000 to
4,600 new homes by 2025 in this area.
2. LOCAL STREETS
In 2008, the Planning Area had approximately 20 linear miles of Local Access streets.
The Planning Area has over 2,300 acres of vacant land or land currently in agricultural
use that may be converted to other land uses in the future. Development of up to 6,000
new homes will add approximately 50 miles of new or additional local streets (using a
ratio of one new mile of local streets for each 30 acres of converted land).
Since these streets are not classified as Arterial or Collector Streets, no State or Federal
funds are available maintenance and improvement, leaving Yakima County or the City of
Yakima solely responsible for their maintenance.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 27
Issues
• A schedule of planned maintenance for local streets will need to be established to
include filling potholes, crack -filling, chip -sealing, and related repairs. Average
cost of these maintenance activities is $15,000 per mile. A 12 -year cycle or less
is desirable for maintenance. Funding for local street maintenance will need to be
identified, possibly from REET (real estate excise tax).
• To promote neighborhood safety, clear sight envelopes (also known as sight
distance triangles) must be maintained at street intersections
• Traffic speed and volume have become a concern on many neighborhood streets.
The introduction of traffic calming designs in new subdivisions when they are
initially planned and constructed could reduce the need to retrofit neighborhoods
with traffic calming measures in the future.
• As neighborhoods are constructed through the subdivision platting process,
continuation of the street grid between developments is encouraged by the
YUACP 2025, Policy 6.1.2, to promote traffic circulation and reduce the
congestion and turning movements on the Arterial Streets. Map 6 shows the
recommended street connections that will be used to guide the location of future
local access and classified streets as land is short -platted and subdivided.
• New Local Access streets are constructed primarily with the subdivision of land
by private developers. Local housing providers have requested more flexibility in
design standards, including street width and the use of Low Impact Development
standards to reduce stormwater runoff. Revised standards need to be developed to
incorporate such concerns along with others as called for in YUACP 2025 (such as
Goal 6.6 to improve pedestrian use and safety; Goal 6.12 to improve the quality of
streets; and Policy 6.26.1 to implement the Yakima Urban Area Transportation
Plan Update, 2025).
3. PEDESTRIANS AND THE WALKING ENVIRONMENT
Because the Planning Area was historically a rural and agricultural area, many arterials
and collector streets were not constructed with sidewalks. Consequently, the sidewalk
and path system is mostly non-existent or discontinuous, which often forces pedestrians
to walk on the travel lane or in a drainage ditch along the shoulder.
The City and County officially added the Planning Area to the Yakima Urban Growth
Area in 1997; and in 2003 the state and federal departments of transportation expanded
their "urban area" so that virtually all of the Planning Area was included.
Newly built major streets include sidewalks, such as 96th Avenue, Tieton Drive,
Summitview Avenue, and portions of Occidental Road. Likewise, new developments are
constructing sidewalk facilities along newly built Local Access Streets.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 28
Future considerations include:
• No sidewalk system exists to connect Cottonwood Elementary to the
neighborhood to the east, nor along Zier Road to serve West Valley High School.
• West Valley School District has a one -mile "Walk to School" zone, which
includes most of the Planning Area. While many children are regularly
transported to school by parents or family, these zones remain pedestrian
corridors.
• Marked crosswalks will be installed at appropriate locations, such as school
crossing areas and signalized intersections.
• In some instances, a standard concrete sidewalk is not practical - an asphalt path
or paved, striped shoulder may be a viable temporary alternative to the concrete
sidewalk requirements.
• When existing public streets are re -built or new sidewalks are constructed, ADA
accessible sidewalk ramps are required.
• Pathway systems can supplement sidewalks and provide a connection between
schools parks and other areas of activity. Irrigation canals and the creek system
offer some location opportunities for future pathways. In addition, the Cowiche
Canyon trail, the William 0. Douglas Path, irrigation canals, and the Yakima
Valley Trolley corridor offer the potential for trail and pathway development, as
shown on Maps 8 and 11.
4. BICYCLES AND OTHER PEOPLE -POWERED VEHICLES
A bicycle -friendly transportation system was supported by citizens at open houses and
the WVNP Task Force during the planning process.
The YUACP 2025 identifies these levels of improvements for bicycle facilities along
public streets:
• Level 1 (Type 1) facilities include a dedicated bicycle lane, minimum of 5 -feet in
width, on both sides of streets, such as Tieton Drive, S. 96th Avenue, and West
Powerhouse Road.
• Level 2 (Type 2) facilities include shared outside lanes, typically 14 feet in width,
often with a marked BIKE symbol to indicate sharing between motorists and
cyclists, such as Washington Avenue.
• Level 3 (Type 3) facilities include signed bike routes, with no specified area for
cyclists. While none currently exist in the Planning Area, example elsewhere in
the Yakima UGA include N. 6th Avenue, West Chestnut Avenue, and 37th138th
Avenues.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 29
• Pathway facilities are off-street systems that can provide both pedestrian and
bicycle routes. While none currently exist in the Planning Area, the Cowiche
Canyon, Cowiche Uplands, and West Valley Community Park pathways are
adjacent. Opportunities for creating an interconnecting system of pathway are
provided by former trolley and rail corridors, by canal corridors, and stream sides,
as depicted by Maps 8 and 11.
The YUACP 2025 recommends dedicated 5 -foot bike lanes (Level 1) on streets where
volumes (planned or future) exceed 20,000 Average Daily Trips. It recommends 14 -foot
wide outside curb lanes (Level 2) on other classified streets to accommodate shared
cyclists -motorists use. Map 9 shows the current and recommended bicycle facilities on
existing and proposed streets and potential pathway corridors.
5. ARTERIAL AND COLLECTOR STREET SYSTEM
Connectivity
Few roads and streets run the length and breadth of the Planning Area, which results
in many jogs and turns while traveling in and through the area. To promote
connectivity, safety and reduce response time for emergency vehicle access, a number
of existing main streets are recommended to be extended, as shown on Map 6. The
costs for improving particular streets in the West Valley area have been estimated by
the City of Yakima and Yakima County as shown in Table 2. These are rough
estimates. Actual costs in the future will depend on the applicable development
standards and the engineering design, which will determine attributes such as the
number of lanes and the right-of-way width needed for particular segments.
Several of the north -south connectors will either be inundated during the 100 -year
and higher frequency floods, or act as raised dams. Design of these streets must
consider impacts to future development and in some cases may not be appropriate to
build.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 30
Table 2: Cost Estimates for ImnrovinStreets in the West Valley Area
Road Name
From
To
Length
(Ft)
Lanes'
Lane
Miles
2008
Improve -
ment Cost
(street
only)'o
2008 Total
Cost"
2020 Total
Cost12
42nd Ave., S.
Coolidge Rd.
Ahtanum Rd.
3706
2
1.40
$1,400,000
72nd Ave., S.
Washington Ave.
Coolidge Rd.
1373
$780,000
$1,098,059
72nd Ave., S.
Coolidge Rd.
Occidental Rd.
1370
$778,409
$1,095,820
72nd Ave., S.
Occidental Rd.
Ahtanum Rd.
2000
$1,136,364
$1,599,737
72nd Ave., S.
Coolidge Rd.
Ahtanum Rd.
3518
3
2.00
$1,998,761
80th Ave. S.
Zier Rd.
Coolidge Rd.
2656
3
1.51
$1,509,199
80th Ave., S.
Tieton Dr
Nob Hill Blvd
2693
$1,147,500
$1,615,414
80th Ave., S.
Nob Hill Blvd
Zier Rd
3907
$1,665,000
$2,343,934
80th Ave., S.
Zier Rd
Washington Ave.
1400
$596,591
$839,862
80th Ave., S.
Washington Ave.
Coolidge Rd.
1267
$540,000
$760,195
86th Ave. S.
Occidental Rd.
Zier Rd.
8038
2
3.04
$3,044,621
86th Ave., S.
Nob Hill Blvd
Wide Hollow Rd.
1301
$492,803
$693,752
86th Ave., S.
Wide Hollow Rd.
Zier Rd
2700
$1,022,727
$1,439,763
86th Ave., S.
Zier Rd
Washington Ave.
1500
$568,182
$799,868
86th Ave., S.
Washington Ave.
Coolidge Rd.
2534
$960,000
$1,351,457
86th Ave., S.
Coolidge Rd.
Occidental Rd.
1360
$515,152
$725,214
86th Ave., S.
Occidental Rd.
Ahtanum Rd.
2053
$777,652
$1,094,753
88th Ave., S.
Midvale Rd.
Zier Rd.
10984
2
4.16
$4,160,682
96th Ave., S.
Zier Rd.
Coolidge Rd.
2672
3
1.52
$1,518,301
96th Ave., S.
End of WV School
Coolidge Rd.
2000
$852,273
$1,199,802
Coolidge Rd
72nd Ave.
80th Ave.
2640
$1,000,000
$1,407,768
Coolidge Rd
80th Ave.
88th Ave.
2670
$1,011,364
$1,423,766
Coolidge Rd
88th Ave.
96th Ave.
2675
$1,013,258
$1,426,432
Coolidge Rd.
64th Ave., S.
Dazet Rd.
3882
2
1.47
$1,470,367
Mead-Plath Ave. W.
80th Ave., S.
Dazet Rd.
7970
2
3.02
$3,020,000
Nob Hill Blvd., W.
80th Ave.
88th Ave.
2488
$1,413,636
$1,990,072
Nob Hill Blvd., W.
88th Ave.
Wide Hollow Rd.
1775
$1,008,750
$1,420,086
Occidental Rd
64th Ave.
86th Ave.
7445
$2,820,000
$3,969,906
Occidental Rd
96th Ave.
Dazet Rd.
2638
$999,242
$1,406,702
Occidental Rd.
38th Ave., S.
64th Ave., S.
4008
2
1.52
$1,518,330
Ridgeway Rd.
Ahtanum Rd.
Draper Rd., S.
3165
2
1.20
$1,198,879
Washington Ave., W.
73rd Ave., S.
Dazet Rd.
9881
2
3.74
$3,742,845
Washington Ave., W.
72nd Ave.
88th Ave.
5328
$2,270,455
$3,196,274
Washington Ave., W.
88th Ave.
96th Ave.
2750
$1,171,960
$1,649,848
Washington Ave., W.
96th Ave.
Dazet Rd.
2621
$1,116,903
$1,572,341
Wellington Dr. (56th
Ave., S.)
Washington Ave., W.
Ahtanum Rd.
3396
2
1.29
$1,286,155
Wide Hollow Rd
91st Vicinity (Nob Hill)
Dazet Rd.
4330
$1,640,000
$2,308,740
Total Costs
$37,722,958
$27,298,220
$38,429,565
9 The number of lanes is estimated in Table 2 in order to calculate improvement costs. The actual number
of lanes may be different, and will be based on engineering analyses.
10 Primarily estimated by City
11 Estimated by County
12 Estimated by County
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 31
Functional Classifications
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW 47.05.021) provides definitions of the
hierarchy of the Classified Street system. Definitions from the RCW related to the
Urban street system include:
a. The "Minor Arterial system" shall, in conjunction with the principal
arterial system through urban areas form an integrated network providing
interstate and interregional service; and
b. The "Collector system" shall consist of routes which primarily collect
traffic from the system of local access roads and convey it to the arterial
system, and on which, regardless of traffic volume, the predominant travel
distances are shorter than on arterial routes.
As shown in Map 5, the Planning Area has 16.3 miles of Classified Streets including
9.81 miles of Minor Arterials (Ackley Rd., Summitview Ave., Tieton Dr., Wide
Hollow Rd., Occidental Rd., Ahtanum Rd, 96th Ave, and 64th Ave.) and 6.48 miles of
Collector Arterials (Powerhouse Rd., Summitview Extension, Zier Rd, Coolidge Rd.,
Gilbert Rd., Meadowbrook Rd., Wiley Rd., Draper Rd., Dazet Rd., Pear Rd., S. 79th
Ave., and S. 52nd Ave). No Principal Arterials are currently classified in the Planning
Area.
The classifications of streets are made by the federal highway administration in
collaboration with the state department of transportation and local governments. A
process to review the classifications normally occurs during the three years following
the decennial census. YUACP 2025 is recommending that the classifications for
several streets in the UGA be changed. When these are reviewed after the census, the
classifications of the existing and proposed street extensions in the Planning Area
should also be reviewed as proposed in Map 5A (Proposed Functional Classification
of Streets).
Level of Service
Ensuring adequate capacity exists on public streets to support new development and
provide for community needs is one of the key components of the Washington State
Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.070).
All streets within the Planning Area currently have acceptable LOS related to
congestion. Level of service (LOS) measures congestion and is a quality measure,
generally in terms of such service measures as speed and travel time, freedom to
maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort and convenience a given LOS (A, B, C, D, E,
F) comprises or describes a range of conditions or values always given from the
perspective of the facility user (Highway Capacity Manual, 2000).
The minimum acceptable Level -of -Service within the City of Yakima is "D" (defined
as volume -to -capacity ratio of between 0.80 and 0.89). This threshold implies that
any street segment that has a lower volume -to -capacity than 0.89 does not meet the
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 32
Level -of -Service standard for the Yakima Urban Area. Yakima County utilizes
Level -of Service "C" as the minimum acceptable level for congestion.
Projections of future traffic in the Planning Area indicate all Arterial and Collector
streets will have acceptable LOS capacity through 2025. However, the addition of
center left turn lanes or other improvements may be necessary for safety and
efficiency of the system.
Yakima County uses a Condition LOS model13 in addition to the capacity LOS
system. Under the County's model, points are assigned to roadway segments that are
deficient in meeting a set of desired criteria within four categories (safety, mobility,
economic development, and alternative modes). For example, if a road has a high
accident rate, the assigned points will reflect this deficiency, and deficiency points
will be compiled in the "safety" category. The Condition LOS model determines the
relative deficiencies of all road segments in the county. The model indicates road
segments in need of improvement and thus informs the formulation of the County's
6 -year Transportation Improvement Program.
Safety
Safety Needs of the Arterial Streets are determined largely from reviewing
Police/Sheriff accident records, which provide useful data on the location, type of
collision, time of day, injuries, and other contributing factors that can be analyzed, as
well as the number and severity of injuries for persons involved in the collision.
Safety projects are often targeted to intersections.
Access Management techniques can be applied to Arterial streets and near
intersections to reduce traffic hazards and improve street capacity. Access
management principals may be necessary in the vicinity of planned commercial nodes
within the Planning Area.
Maintenance and Road Improvements
All streets require routine maintenance in order to preserve the integrity of the
pavement, prevent water damage and extend the life of the asphalt. The County
maintains its standard maintenance operation activities for all classified and non-
classified road in the Planning Area. As annexations occur, the City will need to
develop a program of regular planned maintenance for the 16+ miles of Arterial
streets in the Planning Area, which will include chip -sealing, grind and overlay, or
total reconstruction. The Arterial Plan will include the selection of the appropriate
treatment, schedule, and financing method.
The creeks within the Planning Area have considerable floodplain and floodway
channels. New roads and road improvement project must be designed to reduce or
avoid flood hazards.
13 Yakima County's condition LOS model is fully described in Plan 2015, i 'ol. 2, Chapter XI (the
Transportation Element).
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 33
6. SIGNALIZED AND OTHER MAJOR INTERSECTIONS
The Planning Area has few existing or planned signalized intersections. Future traffic
volumes and safety data will dictate where additional or revised traffic control is
necessary.
Alternatives to signalized intersections such as roundabouts will be considered.
7. FREIGHT TRANSPORT, AIRPORT, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Streets
The transition from agriculture to urban land uses in the Planning Area will be an on-
going process. Fruit and other agricultural products will continue to require transport
and storage for the economic vitality of Yakima County.
Freight trucks add stress to pavement surfaces and require enhanced radius
construction at intersections, which may conflict with pedestrian -friendliness. Over
half the trucks hauling agricultural products have a payload of 20 to 25 tons, with 6%
weighing 30 tons or more. County roads are designed and constructed to a condition
that can withstand the heavier truck loads in all seasons and that can accommodate
the wider widths and turning movements needed for truck travel.
Access to and from the State Highway system is the most critical traffic flow issue for
the local freight system. The Yakima Urban Area Transportation Plan Update 2025
identifies three categories of truck routes as depicted on Map 7 (Proposed Truck
Route Map) and described in Table 3. Plan 2015 uses a classification system
developed by the WSDOT, which is based on the amount of freight hauled on each
road. Plan 2015's classification system is also described in Table 3. Map 7 also
proposes the extensions of the truck route designations in the Yakima Urban Area
Transportation Plan 2025 into the Planning Area.
Due to the dispersed nature of industrial and agricultural service land uses in the
Planning Area, truck traffic must travel the classified street system to reach packing
facilities, warehouses, freeways, airport, or rail service. Freight movement could be
encouraged to use Arterial Streets by adding advisory signs.
Economic Development and tourism rely upon a connected and well-maintained
street system. Adequate street signage and street lighting enhance the ability of
visitors to find facilities as well as promote a safe environment.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 34
Table 3: Truck Route Classifications
Yakima County (Source: Plan 2015, Table XI -3)
Classification
Annual Gross Tonnage
40 ton (Gross) Truck
Equivalent
Yakima County
Arterial Miles
T-1
Over 10,000,000
Over 120 trucks/hour*
0.00 miles
T-2
5,000,000 to 10,000,000
60 to 120 trucks/hour*
0.00 miles
T-3
300,000 to 5,000,000
3.6 to 60 trucks/hour*
37.37 miles
T-4
100,000 to 300,000
1.2 to 3.6 trucks/hour*
164.04 miles
T-5
Over 20,000 in 60 days
Over 1 truck/hour**
353.55 miles
City of Yakima (Source: YUATP Update 2025, Chapter 7, pages 6-9)
Classification
Designation Criteria
Examples
Through
Truck Routes
Roadways that provide for the
most efficient movement of
goods and services.
The State Highway
System of I-82 and
SR12.
Primary
Truck Routes
Roadways that link the City
roadway system to the regional
Through Truck Routes, which
are largely Principal Arterial
Streets.
1st Street, 16th Ave., 40th
Ave., Terrace Heights
Dr., Fruitvale Blvd., Nob
Hill Blvd., Washington
Ave., Valley Mall Blvd.
Secondary
Truck Routes
Roadways that link the industrial
centers of the City to the
Primary and Through Tmck
Routes and represent those
roadways that are better suited to
accommodate frequent truck
movements.
Summitview Ave.,
Tieton Dr., 48th Ave.,
64th Ave 72nd Ave.
*10 ton trucks with 30 ton payload running 8 hours/day, Monday -Friday.
**10 ton trucks with 30 ton payload running 8 hours/day, 7 days/week, for 60 days.
Airport
The importance of aviation as a vital transportation element is essential to the
economic health of the region. The Yakima Air Terminal is part of the regional and
national aviation system called the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, or
"NPIAS." In the NPIAS, capacity development (such as runway extensions) is
recommended when an activity approaches certain defined levels. The adopted airport
layout plan provides for extending Runways 9/27 in both directions in the future.
The Yakima Air Terminal is approximately 825 acres in size and has a runway 7,604
feet long. Most business aircraft can conduct normal operations on a field of this
length. Larger commercial jets, however, may have to limit fuel loads on takeoff
during hot weather. The Airport passenger terminal building is a two (2) level
structure with ground level enplaning and deplaning operation.
Because the Yakima Air Terminal has a tower, the airspace above it is classified as
Air Traffic Control Tower Airspace. For the Yakima Air Terminal, the airspace is
classified as Control Zone Airspace. The airspace has a radius of approximately five
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 35
(5) miles with extensions at the approach and departure paths. This airspace borders a
Restricted Area associated with the Army's Yakima Training Center.
Ensuring that new development in the vicinity of the Yakima Air Terminal
McAllister Field is compatible with airport operations is important to the future long-
term viability of the airport. A separate interjurisdictional planning process is
addressing this issue. The airport's management believes that noise and the safety of
people and property in the air and on the ground should particularly be considered in
defining compatible development in the vicinity of the airport.
8. PUBLIC TRANSIT
Yakima Transit provides public transportation services within the Yakima Urban
Area. This service is preformed primarily through the scheduling and routing of
regular fixed -route bus service that includes Yakima, Selah, and Terrace Heights.
Union Gap has its own fixed -route system that connects with Yakima transit. Both
systems have access to the Lower Valley via People for People's "Community
C onnector."
Although the Planning Area is not currently fully served by Yakima Transit,
extensions of transit routes will occur as residential density and public/commercial
land uses create sufficient demand for services and the ability to provide fixed -route
service occurs. Yakima Transit is planning to develop a West Side Transit Center
within the next several years. The City's 6 -year Transportation Improvement Program
includes funding for a placement study for the facility. The YUATP 2025 lists a new
Westside transfer location in the vicinity of 72nd Avenue as one of Yakima Transit's
near- and mid-term implementation tasks.
• The Future Land Use Map (Map 4) includes the concept for transit -oriented
development ("TOD") in and around the intersection of Wide Hollow Road and
96t1i Avenue. Consideration for locating the bus -transfer station near this
intersection is recommended.
• Bus -pullouts, shelters, and other transit amenities along arterial streets will need
to be developed as routes are established and the needs arise. Significant new
developments should coordinate with these transit improvements.
9. STATE AND REGIONAL STREET SYSTEM
The only state or regional street system within the Planning Area is SR 12 at Ackley
Rd.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 36
10. IMPLEMENTATION AND FINANCING
Every year the City and County each adopt Transportation Improvement Programs
(TIP) that list their planned expenditures for transportation improvements over the
ensuing six years. The projects on the most recent TIPS that are located in or adjacent
to the Planning Area are shown on Map 10 and listed in the following table:
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 37
Table 4: 6 -Year Transportation Improvement Projects Located in the Planning
Area (Locations are shown on Map 10)
Street Name
Location
Project Description
Year
Cost
City of Yakima (adopted August
3, 2010, Resolution No. R-2010-98)
S. 80th Ave.
Tieton Dr. to Zier Rd.
Preliminary engineering, R/W
acquisition, & construction:
Major widening, curb, gutter,
sidewalk.
2012-16
$2,519,000
S. 72"d Ave. & W.
Washington Ave.
Intersection
Preliminary engineering, R/W
acquisition, & constmction:
Intersection improvement,
possible roundabout.
2012-16
840,000
William 0
Douglas Pathway
Cowiche Canyon (project is
both inside and outside of
the Planning Area)
Preliminary engineering &
construction:
Pathway improvements,
connections, and signage to
Cowiche Canyon Trail.
2011
$138,000
Citywide Pathway
Connections
(see next column: project is
both inside and outside of
the Planning Area)
Preliminary engineering, R/W
acquisition, & constmction:
Cowiche Canyon Trail,
Powerhouse Rd. pathway, east
side canal paths, WOD Trail,
Greenway including Naches Rail
Spur, signage and amenities.
2012-16
$3,339,000
YVT Pathway
YVT Rail Corridor (project
is both inside and outside of
the Planning Area)
Preliminary engineering &
construction:
Development pathway in West
Valley area including 53rd Ave.,
Wide Hollow, 64th Ave.,
Ahtanum including all utilities
and signage.
2014-16
$1,424,000
W Yakima
North/South
Connector to West
Valley
Unknown Road.
Preliminary engineering for City
& County joint project to
build/extend roadways.
2014-16
$137,000
West Side Transit
Center
Unknown.
Preliminary engineering:
Locate and acquire property for
the placement of a West Side
Transit Center Operation.
2011
$500,000
West Side Transit
Center
Unknown.
Preliminary engineering:
Construct a West Side Transit
Center (Park & Ride facility).
2013-16
$1,600,000
Coolidge Road
80th Ave. to 88th Ave.
Construction:
Widen roadway and pave with
curb and gutter.
2011
$754,000
Occidental Road
�8t11 Ave. to 64th Ave.
Preliminary engineering:
Construct roadway.
2014-16
$100,000
86th Ave.
Occidental to Coolidge
Preliminary engineering:
Construct roadway.
2014-16
$100,000
64th Ave.
Washington Ave. to Nob
Hill Blvd. (intersection with
Washington Ave. is within
Planning Area)
Preliminary engineering, R/W
acquisition, & construction:
Widen roadway, curb, gutter,
sidewalks, lighting, & drainage.
2012-13
$2,081,000
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 38
Street Name
Location
Project Description
Year
Cost
Yakima County (adopted November 23, 2010, Resolution No. 469-2010)
Ahtanum Rd.
S. 66t11 Ave. vicinity to S.
90th Ave. vicinity
Preliminary engineering & R/W
acquisition: Reconstruct to 5
lanes with curbs, gutters,
sidewalks, lighting, bike lanes,
and channelization.
2014-16
$600,000
Ahtanum Rd.
S. 26th Ave. vicinity to S.
52"d Ave. vicinity
Preliminary engineering:
Reconstruct to 4 lanes w/ curbs,
gutters, sidewalks, lighting, bike
lanes, and channelization.
2014-16
$150,000
Wide Hollow Rd.
S. 80th Ave. to S. 96th Ave.
Preliminary engineering and R/W
acquisition:
Reconstruct to 4 lanes w/ curbs,
gutters, sidewalks, lighting, and
channelization.
2014-16
$500,000
W. Powerhouse
Rd.
Yakima city limits to S.
Naches Rd.
Preliminary engineering & R/W
acquisition:
Reconstruct roadway to 40' wide,
w/2 12' lanes and 8' shoulders.
2014-16
$190,000
Hennessy Rd.
Tieton Dr. to end of road
Preliminary engineering, R/W
acquisition, and construction:
Reconstruct gravel road to
standard 30' paved roadway.
2011
$445,000
Sources of Street Improvement Revenues:
• Gas Tax — A portion of gas tax receipts are allocated to cities and counties for
street and road system maintenance and improvements.
• Real Estate Excise Tax 1 (REET 1)14 — RCW 82.46.010 authorizes cities and
counties to levy a quarter percent (0.25%) excise tax on the sale price of real
estate. Cities and counties with a population of 5,000 or more that are planning
under GMA may spend these funds only on capital projects listed in the capital
facilities plan element of their comprehensive plans. RCW 82.46.010(6) defines
"capital projects" as:
"...those public works projects of a local government for planning,
acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement,
rehabilitation, or improvement of streets; roads; highways; sidewalks;
street and road lighting systems; traffic signals; bridges; domestic water
systems; storm and sanitary sewer systems; parks; recreational facilities;
law enforcement facilities; fire protection facilities; trails; libraries;
administrative and judicial facilities..."
• Real Estate Excise Tax 2 (REET 2)15 - Cities and counties that are required to or
choose to plan under the Growth Management Act may levy a second quarter
14 Information provided by the Municipal Research Services Center of Washington state:
http://www. mrsc. org/Subjects/finance/reet/reetweb. asps#que stionl
1' ditto
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 39
percent (0.25%) excise tax on the sale price of real estate. For this quarter percent
of the real estate excise tax, "capital project" means those:
"...public works projects of a local government for planning, acquisition,
construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement, rehabilitation, or
improvement of streets, roads, highways, sidewalks, street and road
lighting systems, traffic signals, bridges, domestic water systems, storm
and sanitary sewer systems, and planning, construction, reconstruction,
repair, rehabilitation, or improvement of parks. RCW 82.46.035(5).
Note that acquisition of land for parks is not a permitted use of REET 2
receipts, although it is a permitted use for street, water, and sewer projects.
In 2004, the Yakima City Council authorized the second quarter Real Estate
Excise Tax. The City uses these funds for to purchase materials for crack filling
and chip sealing local access streets. The revenues have also been used for street
maintenance and repair purposes, as well as other projects listed on the Capital
Facilities Plan.
• Property Tax - Property tax funds the day-to-day operations of the City's street
and traffic operations division. This includes utilities such as power for
streetlights and signals. Materials such as paint, sign plates, rock, salt, anti -icing
chemicals, oil, and lamps that are required for programs such as lane line striping,
street light repairs, signal repair and operation, snow and ice control, mowing, and
street maintenance and preservation. Programs may be mandated, provide for the
safety of the citizens, or are good stewardship programs that protect the $250
million investment that the public has made to the existing transportation system.
• Grants - Both Yakima County and the City of Yakima actively seeks grant funds
for capital projects. In the past, funding sources have included Transportation
Improvement Board, Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Hazard
Elimination, Freight Mobility, Congestion Management and Air Quality, Surface
Transportation Program, County Road Administration Board (CRAB), Urban
Arterial Trust Account (UATA), Transportation Improvement Account (TIA),
Bridge Replacement (BR), County Arterial Preservation Program (CAPP), and
Rural Arterial Program (RAP).
• Latecomers Agreements — An agreement between the developer of a particular
property and the local government that allows the developer to recoup some of
his/her costs of constructing a public road/improvement from future users of the
improvement. The sewer line serving Apple Tree is an example.
• Proportional Share Contributions - Private developers have contributed funds
toward capital projects based on a pro -rata share of new, site -generated traffic
volumes as a share of the total project cost and total future traffic toward projects
contained in the Six -Year Transportation Plan list. Rates are based on a formula
that assesses a proportionate share of the total project cost relative to the trip rate.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 40
• County Road Tax — A tax assessed on property in unincorporated areas that is
dedicated exclusively for transportation improvements.
• Federal Forest Payments — Much of western Yakima County is federally owned
forest property that is not assessed for the County's road levy or property taxes.
The federal government makes Federal Forest payments to the County for use in
funding transportation improvements to compensate for this loss of revenue and
to account for the impact that forest management activities have on the County's
road system.
• Miscellaneous Local Revenue — Yakima County receives local revenues from
miscellaneous sources. These include mitigation payments and transfers of funds
from other jurisdictions for reimbursable work.
• Road Improvement Districts RIDs — can be used to finance a wide range of
public improvements, such as upgrading substandard residential streets. RIDS
involve the issuance of special assessment bonds with a pledge of repayment by
the benefited property owners or developers. The County can partially offset the
cost of RIDS by contributing a staff person to help organize and promote the RIDS
and by paying some of the preliminary engineering design work for determining
the types and cost of improvements needed. RIDS are typically not a funding
source for general transportation improvements.
• Local Option Fees and Taxes — Establishment of the Local Option Vehicle
License Fee for general transportation purposes could generate additional revenue
to be used for targeted areas such as the focused public investment areas, safety
projects, paving gravel roads, & alternative mode improvements. A local option
fuel tax is another potential revenue source.
• Congressional Direct Appropriations — Federal appropriation bills may include
funding for particular local or state transportation projects.
Transportation Issues
The following transportation issues are identified by the planning process:
1. Few major roads run the length and breadth of the Planning Area, which makes
travel within and through the area difficult, confusing, and time-consuming for
emergency services. The north/south roads are particularly discontinuous, but
many east/west roads are as well. This subarea plan considers designating roads
that could be extended to improve east -west and north -south through routes.
2. Historically, new subdivisions have been built without providing for direct road
connections between them. Connecting neighborhoods promotes alternative
modes of travel and limits congestion on major streets. Traffic calming methods
may be considered on local access roads that are connected together to promote
their desirability in the neighborhoods they serve.
3. A proliferation of driveways along major streets as land is developed in the future
will reduce their capacity to carry traffic. Standards for access management
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 41
should be developed to protect the function of these roads to carry high volumes
of traffic safely.
4. Other communities have gained increased environmental benefits and reduced
costs by revising standards for new access roads. Currently, design standards are
marginally different between the City and County and should be consistent.
5. Newer north -south and east -west arterial roads located in the floodplains in the
Planning Area have both redirected flood flows and increased flooding from
ponding. Careful consideration in the future is needed to alleviate this situation.
6. Consider traffic patterns and safety, especially at schools.
7. There is interest in identifying opportunities for trails systems and ensuring that
future street improvements provide for alternative travel modes.
8. Focused Public Investment Corridors offer an approach that would provide fully -
served areas for future development. The Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive
Plan 2025 defines Focused Investment Areas or Corridors as:
"[a]reas or corridors within an urban growth area where the City,
Yakinia County and other urban service providers (Nob Hill Water
Association, West Valley Fire District, East Valley Fire District, Terrace
Heights Sewer District, City of Union Gap, Irrigation Districts)
strategically coordinate finance and extension of infrastructure and
services."
Similarly, Focused Public Investment, as defined by Plan 2015:
"targets capital improvements expenditures in public investment areas to
produce "frilly -served land" for developnient. Focused public iin'estnient
maximizes the use of limited public funds by coordinating government
expenditures and focusing developnient first in some areas, then in others.
The targeted public iin'estnient is an incentive to developnient to occur
where the public 's capital iin'estnient is focused. In order for public
investment to be focused to produce fully -served land, the County and
other service providers will need to resolve the following issues: (1) what
criteria should be used to prioritize public investnients, and (2) how
should areas be selected for targeted investnient?
Previous comprehensive plan policies16 called for designating and prioritizing
Focused Public Investment Corridors inside the Planning Area and the UGA to
facilitate coordinated and collaborative public infrastructure investment.
However, rather than designating them in the WVNP, such corridors will be
partnerships that develop over time.
9. The Planning Area will primarily be a residential area with limited commercial
nodes. As such, the visual clutter of billboards is not appropriate.
Transportation Goals and Policies
The Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 establishes goals and policies
pertaining to the Yakima UGA, including the Planning Area. The following goals and
policies for Transportation are intended to guide the application of the YUACP 2025
16 For example, Policy G10.2 of the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan (adopted 1997) stated:
"Designate and prioritize Focused Public Investment Areas or Corridors inside the urban service area and
or the urban reserve area to facilitate coordinated and collaborative public infrastructure investment."
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 42
goals and policies to the Planning Area and address the issues identified by the planning
process.
GOAL 3.1: Ensure that West Valley's street system is designed to provide
multiple connections to reduce traffic congestion on major arterials
and improve mobility.
Policies:
3.1.1 Designate east -west and north -south through -connections to reserve corridors for
the future improvement of local access and classified streets as indicated on Map
6 (Street Connections Plan).
• The several connections shown between Nob Hill Blvd. and Wide
Hollow Road indicate possible options rather than the determined
connections.
3.1.2 Ensure the continuation of the street grid network as new developments are
approved and roads are constructed, except where flooding makes this
undesirable.
3.1.3 Design new streets and street improvements to avoid increased flooding by
accommodating flooding channels, both mapped and unmapped by FEMA.
3.1.4 Ensure consistency of road standards between the City and County.
3.1.5 Provide road connections between new subdivisions.
3.1.6 Establish and implement access road design standards that calm traffic.
3.1.7 Design arterial streets to accommodate transit.
3.1.8 Review new development to ensure adequate street connectivity that provides for
multiple means of ingress and egress where feasible.
3.1.9 Encourage the use of street patterns within new development that provide for
neighborhood safety, and prevent non-resident through traffic, while allowing for
optimum traffic flow.
3.1.10 Develop low -impact ("green") residential street design standards that not only
reduce stormwater runoff and infrastructure and maintenance costs, but help
lower the cost of development associated with new road infrastructure.
3.1.11 Provide for multiple residential street design options that allow for flexibility in
new development.
3.1.12 Designate Focused Public Investment Corridors as an approach to provide fully -
served areas for future development. Such corridors could facilitate coordinated
and collaborative infrastructure investment by coordinating investments of the
various public agencies and private developers.
3.1.13 Establish a collaborative city/county Transportation Improvement Program
process through the Intergovernmental Committee.
GOAL 3.2: Ensure that West Valley is pedestrian and bicycle friendly.
Policies:
3.2.1 Designate a system of streets with bicycle lanes or wide curb lanes on arterials
that is coordinated with the trail and road system of adjacent jurisdictions. See
Map 9 (Bicycle Facilities Plan).
3.2.2 Consider use of floodplains to facilitate east -west trail connectivity. Some north -
south connectivity can be provided by use of irrigation canals.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 43
3.2.3 Develop new residential street design standards that increase walkability by
utilizing traffic calming techniques to help maintain a close-knit feel to the
community.
3.2.4 Develop effective pedestrian -friendly subdivision design standards that connect
new developments with access to transit and adjacent land uses with sidewalks or
footpaths where feasible.
3.2.5 Introduce traffic calming designs in new subdivisions when they are initially
planned and constructed.
3.2.6 As an interim measure prior to completion of the sidewalk system, stripe wide
shoulders where appropriate to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety.
GOAL 3.3: Provide for street and parking standards in commercial and retail
areas that maximize safety and provide a more pleasing environment.
Policies:
3.3.1 Provide incentives for establishing shared parking lots and access to them.
3.3.2 Establish minimum parking standards for commercial and retail uses.
3.3.3 Develop a road access management plan to minimize new driveways onto
collector and arterial streets.
GOAL 3.4: Promote aesthetically -pleasing streetscapes.
Policies:
3.4.1 Apply zoning in the Planning Area that prohibits billboards.
3.4.2 Adopt a definition for billboards in the Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance
that distinguishes large leased commercial signs.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 44
IV. Parks, Open Space, & Natural
Environment Element
Introduction
Plan 2015, the Yakima County comprehensive plan, frames a major challenge for this
element:
"... the need for urban parks, particularly in areas outside current city limits but
within urban growth boundaries was identified In areas such as West
Valley...little or no parkland has been preserved. Since most future developnient
will occur within urban areas, the location of parks and open space within ...them
will beconie particularly important. Unless park and open space lands are
acquired and preserved in the very near future, area residents will not enjoy the
convenience of nearby parks and recreational facilities... [PJublic officials
planning for the long term must be aware of the consequences of not providing
additional parks and recreational opportunities as the area grows. If an
acquisition and developnient program is not impleniented, the costs of recreation
will eventually beconie prohibitive as land options diniinish. ,,With no land
available, the opportunity to build new parks will be lost forever."'
Current Parks, Open Space, & Natural
Environment Policy
Policies from several existing planning documents that currently apply to the Planning
Area are summarized below.
Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025
The Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 was adopted by the Board of County
Commissioners and City Council in December 2006. That plan adopts, by reference, the
City of Yakima's Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan 2006-2011, which provides
the policy direction for the entire Yakima UGA. The goals, objectives, and policies that
are most applicable to the Planning Area are summarized below18:
1. Establish a Parks Fund dedicated to the acquisition of land for future
neighborhood and community parks within the City of Yakima;
2. Develop and maintain an up-to-date park land acquisition plan that targets and
sets priorities for future park acquisition;
3. Plan for a series of neighborhood parks in Yakima's UGA;
4. Develop new neighborhood and community parks west of 40th Avenue;
17 Plan 2015, Vol. 1, Parks & Open Space chapter, Major Issues section.
18 The full text of goals, objectives, and policies that are most applicable to the West Valley Planning Area
are in Appendix 1.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 45
5. Develop greenbelts and pathways within the City, using existing irrigation canal
rights-of-way and Yakima Valley Trolley corridors for pathways that link bicycle
routes, major parks, the Greenway, and pathways that extend beyond the UGA;
6. Incorporate pathways into all future residential, commercial, and industrial
developments;
7. Develop innovative approaches to creating new park facilities.
Plan 2015
Plan 2015, the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan, also provides policy direction to
Yakima County concerning parks. The policies that are most applicable to managing
growth in the Planning Area are summarized below19:
1. Encourage and assist the City in developing parks to meet the needs of city
residents and facilitate connections with nearby recreation opportunities;
2. Consider regulations requiring developers to meet a minimum standard for on-site
recreational facilities or equivalent alternative provisions;
3. Pursue funding sources;
4. Investigate innovative methods to finance facility development, maintenance, and
operations;
5. Facilitate a county -wide network of open space and greenbelts; and
6. Develop trails to accommodate multiple uses.
Open Space Tax Program
The Washington State Open Space Tax Act (RCW 84.34) offers reduced real estate taxes
to landowners as an incentive to keep their land in open space. Two programs apply in
the Planning Area:
1. Current Use Program — Agricultural lands meeting the statutory criteria may
qualify for the current use program, whereby the property is assessed at its current
use value rather than its market value. Applications for this program are made to
and decided by the County Assessor.
2. Open Space Program — Lands having particular resources (such as floodplains,
scenic vistas, etc.) may qualify for a reduction in their assessed values under
Yakima County's Public Benefit and Rating System. This system awards points
based on resource characteristics, public access availability, and other attributes.
More points result in lower taxes for the property owner20. Applications for this
program are made to the County Planning Division, with the decision on the
reduction made by the Board of County Commissioners after recommendation by
the Yakima County Planning Commission. However, applications concerning
land within the city limits are decided by a granting authority composed of three
members of the Board of County Commissioners and three members of the City
Council .
19 The full text of policies that are most applicable to the West Valley Planning Area are included in
Appendix 2.
- No change in revenue results to taxing districts because the losses are made up by other property owners
in the districts.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 46
Shoreline Master Program
The Naches River and Cowiche Creek are under the jurisdiction of the state's Shoreline
Management Act and thus are under the jurisdiction of the City's and County's Shoreline
Master Programs (SMPs). The SMPs promote conservation of, and public access to, these
shoreline resources.
Critical Areas Ordinances
The Critical Area Ordinances (CAO) of the County and City are intended to protect five
types of environmentally sensitive areas, namely: critical aquifer recharge areas for
potable water, frequently flooded areas, fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, and
geological hazards. For instance, developments in FEMA -designated floodplains are
subject to development standards intended to minimize damage during flood events.
Similarly, vegetative buffers along creeks, rivers, and wetlands are established to protect
the values and function of wetlands and streams, such as floodwater storage, stream bank
and shoreline stabilization, erosion prevention, and migratory corridors for wildlife. Map
13 identifies the locations of potential steams and wetlands that might be subject to
development standards.
Flood Hazard Areas
Of particular note within the West Valley Planning Area, the Naches River and Cowiche,
Spring, Bachelor, Hatton, Shaw, and Wide Hollow Creeks, and their tributary streams
have the potential to threaten public health, infrastructure, and safety during floods.
Minor flooding occurs on a regular basis with periodic major floods. Flooding
characteristics differ somewhat between the drainages depending in part on how much
flow they receive from snow melt. All of these streams - except Shaw Creek - have
associated floodplains mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
as depicted in Map 12. (However, a current remapping project will designate a FEMA
floodplain for Shaw Creek, as described below.) There are also overland floodplains
identified as flowing between Spring, Bachelor, and Ahtanum Creeks in several
locations.
FEMA, with the assistance of the Yakima County -wide Flood Control District
(YCFCZD), is currently remapping the floodplains of Wide Hollow Creek and Ahtanum
Creek and their tributaries, which includes mapping the Shaw Creek floodplain for the
first time. The YCFCZD also recently completed remapping the floodplain for a portion
of the Naches River, including the portion located in the Planning Area. These revised
floodplain designations will be incorporated into the FEMA flood maps upon adoption by
FEMA.
The YCFCZD, in partnership with local jurisdictions, property owners and stakeholders,
is creating the Ahtanum-Wide Hollow Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan
(CFHMP) to indicate historic problem areas, recommend guidance on development, and
identify potential flood hazard mitigations for existing development. The lower Naches
River is included in the Upper Yakima River CFHMP, adopted in 2007. The Cowiche
Creek portion of the Planning Area is not currently included in a CFHMP.
In addition to FEMA floodplain requirements, Yakima County and the City of Yakima's
Shoreline Master Program and Critical Area Ordinance regulations for floodplains help to
ensure that development in or near these areas does not increase the flood risk to
upstream or downstream neighbors and to maintain natural functions of the floodplains.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 47
Natural Environment
As stated in the Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 (YUACP), "The natural
environment is composed of air, water, soil, minerals, and living organisms, such as
plants, animals, people, fish, birds, insects, and microorganisms. How well these
components interact with each other, as well as good stewardship of the environment,
determines to a large extent the health of the environment." (YUACP, p. X-1)
The Planning Area's natural environment is typical of an Eastern Washington urbanizing
area. A brief description of the components of the Planning Area's natural environment
and the challenges to preserving it and mitigating potential adverse impacts follow:
Topography and Hydrology
Yakima Valley can be viewed as part of a larger geological system underlain with folded
layers of a thick flow sequence of Yakima basalt. The upper layer is composed of
sedimentary rocks called the Ellensburg formation. The majority of the Planning Area is
in the Wide Hollow and Ahtanum Creek drainage basins, while a small portion of the
Planning Area is in the drainage basins of Cowiche Creek and the Naches River. The
long-term floodplains of the Ahtanum and Wide Hollow basins have been filled in by
dense, poorly draining Missoula flood deposits. In addition, the valleys from the Yakima
River to Tampico have been tilted by the rising ridges to the north and south that bound
the watersheds. The result is low channel capacity and multiple overflow paths during
floods.
The Wide Hollow drainage basin includes Wide Hollow, Cottonwood Canyon, and Shaw
Creeks. Wide Hollow Creek within the Planning Area between Hennessey and 80th
Avenues can be described as a dissected plateau of the Ellensburg and Thorp formations,
which consists of weakly cemented gravel. As a small stream, Wide Hollow Creek has a
relatively broad flat floodplain in the "hollows" of the upper watershed. This area's
stream channels generally consist of a low gradient with low banks and are composed of
gravel, sand, and silt with floodplains composed of shallow silt deposits. The natural
flow of Wide Hollow Creek is mainly a result of snow runoff from Pine and Cowiche
mountains. After spring snowmelt, flow rapidly drops during late spring. East of 48th
Avenue, Wide Hollow Creek flows through an area of high groundwater, which supplies
a stable flow to the Creek year-round.
The Ahtanum Drainage Basin includes Ahtanum, Hatton, and Bachelor Creeks. Bachelor
Creek within the Planning Area from approximately Stanton Road to S. 99th Avenue can
be described as a slightly incised and very sinuous stream. In the lower third of Bachelor
Creek, there is contact with shallow groundwater, which maintains stream flow through
the summer. The banks of the stream are composed of wetland soils with expansive
floodplains. The Ahtanum Irrigation District withdraws irrigation water from Ahtanum
Creek and routes water down both Bachelor and Hatton Creeks. The flows in these
creeks are reduced or eliminated after July 10th when diversions from Ahtanum Creek
are required to cease by a 1936 Court Decree that gives the Wapato Irrigation District the
right to the entire flow of Ahtanum Creek.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 48
The Cowiche Creek Drainage Basin, which includes the North Fork and South Fork of
Cowiche Creek, drains into the Naches River near Ackley Road.
Fish Habitat
The Ahtanum, Wide Hollow, and Cowiche Creek Basins have historically contained fish
of ecological and cultural significance. However, within these basins, users upstream use
the streams for recreational uses, and remove water from these streams for irrigation.
Threatened or Endangered Species (Steelhead and Bull Trout) within the Wide Hollow,
Ahtanum Creek, and Cowiche Creek basins continue to be the subject of protection and
enhancement programs implemented by the Yakama Nation, the Washington State
Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Yakima Conservation District, Cowiche Canyon
Conservancy, and other interested agencies and organizations.
Water Quality
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) is responsible for determining
appropriate water quality standards and classifying water bodies. Surface water quality
standards are intended to protect beneficial uses of the waters of the state. Water quality
standards establish water quality goals for lakes, rivers, marine waters, and groundwater.
Under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act [33 USC 1313] and based on the
2002/2004 Water Quality Assessment for Yakima County, the DOE has listed Wide
Hollow Creek as not meeting the minimum water quality standards because it contains
Dieldrin, Endosulfan, and fecal coliform above the levels allowed. It also violates the
water quality standards for maximum temperature. Cowiche Creek does not meet water
quality standards for temperature, fecal coliform, and instream flows.
Air Quality
As defined in the Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025, "an airshed is defined
as a volume of air, bounded by geographical and/or meteorological constraints, within
which activities discharge contaminants." The Environmental Protection Agency defines
the Yakima Basin as the airshed for the City of Yakima and its Urban Area. (YUACP
2025, page X-3)
Parks, Open Space, & Natural Environment
Issues
The following parks, open space, and natural environment issues are identified by the
planning process:
1. Flooding is a major concern along Shaw, Wide Hollow, Bachelor, and Hatton
Creeks. Development standards established by the CAO (YCC Titles 16A and
16C and YMC Chapter 15.27) and International Building Code (YCC Title 13
and YMC Title 11) are intended to minimize flood damage and apply to
developments within the areas mapped as floodplains by FEMA. The Yakima
County -wide Flood Control Zone District (YCFCZD) is currently remapping
these floodplains for this area and mapping Shaw Creek's floodplain for the first
time. This will increase the accuracy of the floodplains' locations and improve the
application of the development standards.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 49
The latest draft floodplain re -mapping is shown in Map 12 (Streams and
Floodplains). It shows that the Shaw Creek floodplain covers developed and
potentially developable lands east and south east of Cottonwood School. A study
being prepared under the direction of the YCFCZD is in the process of identifying
possible ways to reduce the extent of that portion of the floodplain through
alternative configurations for the development of a relocation channel or a high-
flow bypass channel for Shaw Creek.
The YCFCZD, in partnership with local jurisdictions, property owners and
stakeholders, is creating the Ahtanum-Wide Hollow Comprehensive Flood
Hazard Management Plan (CHIMP) to indicate historic problem areas, provide
recommendations for guiding development, and identify potential flood hazard
mitigations for existing development. The final draft of the plan will be completed
by the end of 2009 for community discussion and adoption.
The lower Naches River is included in the Upper Yakima River CHIMP, adopted
in 2007. The YCFCZD recently completed remapping the floodplain of the
Naches River, including the portion occurring in the Planning Area. The County
is negotiating with property owners for arrangements that will permanently reduce
the potential for flood damage along this portion of the Naches River.
Capital improvements or property acquisitions identified by the CFHMPs should
be considered for inclusion on the City's and County's capital facilities plans.
Capital facilities plans should also reflect areas where urban service extensions
may not be recommended in areas subject to flooding or where planned
development density is too low to support such services. Any regulatory changes
recommended by the CFHMPs should be considered for inclusion in the
appropriate development regulations of the City and County.
It is important to ensure that areas prone to flooding are developed in a manner
that allows flood waters to flow through while causing minimal damage. Natural
drainage courses should be preserved as opposed to filled in through site grading.
One tool that will assist with this objective is the Yakima Urban Area Zoning
Ordinance's requirement that new lots located in FEMA -designated floodplains
be at least one acre in size21. The Yakima County Zoning Ordinance, which
currently applies to the unincorporated portion of the Planning Area, does not
currently have such a provision. The application of Yakima Urban Area Zoning to
the Planning Area and the incorporation of such urban policies into the Yakima
County Zoning Ordinance, as contemplated by the WVNP, will help minimize
flood damage.
2. No provisions are being made to ensure parks in the Planning Area.
Currently, there are no public parks or trails in the Planning Area. However,
existing recreation and open space locations, shown in Map 11 (Parks and Trails),
include:
21 YCC 15A.05.030(c) and YMC 15.05.030C. (Lots smaller than one acre may be allowed if they have a
buildable area outside the floodplain and a plat restriction prohibits development in the floodplain.)
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 50
• Public schools, Tampico Saddle Club's grounds in Wiley City, and Apple
Tree Resort's golf course.
• County -owned parcels along the Naches River that were acquired in 2009 to
accommodate flooding are shown.
• The floodplain along Wide Hollow Creek is indicated to envision that this
corridor should functionally accommodate flooding while publicly -owned
portions also offering the possibility of a green gathering place that should be
incorporated into the design of the "Village Center" at the intersection of S.
9e Avenue and Wide Hollow Road.
• City- and County -owned rail corridors are indicated for future trails. These
include the City -owned trolley and Cowiche rail corridors, and the County -
owned Naches rail corridor.
• The 2000 WVNP Task Force recommended a system of trails for the Planning
Area. Such a potential trail system is indicated on Map 11 (Parks and Trails)
showing how a trails network could be developed using rail, irrigation, and
drainage corridors together with a few key on -street connections. Such a
network would connect existing trails, parks, schools, and potential trail
corridors, including trails of the Yakima Greenway Foundation, Cowiche
Canyon Conservancy, and William O. Douglas Trails Foundation, as
discussed elsewhere in Section IV (Parks, Open Space, & Natural
Environment Element).
Neither the County nor the City of Yakima has specific plans for parks, nor do the
municipalities have a strategy for ensuring that parks will exist in the future. The
consequence of continuing to have no strategy will likely result in the Planning
Area accommodating a build -out population of 36,000 people22 with few or no
parks.
The existing policies in the YUACP 2025 recognize the need for parks, but no
mechanisms for ensuring their creation are currently being employed. One
potential mechanism is the state's subdivision 1aw23, which requires cities and
counties to determine if "appropriate provisions are made for... open spaces,
drainage ways,...parks and recreation, playgrounds..." when considering
applications for subdividing land. If a proposed subdivision does not provide
adequately for parks, the application can not be approved24.
A review of recent approvals of subdivisions by the City and County found that
both jurisdictions are making findings that adequate parks and recreation are
being provided based on, for example: the potential for playground areas on the
single-family sized lots being created; the proximity of a park three miles away;
the existence of playgrounds at schools that children within the proposed plats
would be attending; and findings that parks are not deemed necessary or that the
5% dedication for parks is not typically invoked25.
22
City of Yakima ri astewrater Facility Plan, February 2004 draft, page 3-2.
23 RCW 58.17.110(2)
2
4 RCW 58.17.110 (2).
YCC 14.28.070 provides that the BOCC may require plats to designate up to 5% of their land area as
either private or public parks and recreational areas and provides that, as an alternative to dedication, the
developer may be required to contribute to the county for park purposes to benefit the area up to 5% of the
developed value of the lots to be sold in the plat. However, case law and RCW 82.02.020 require that such
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 51
To estimate the amount of future park land that will be needed in the Planning
Area at build -out, the County Planning Division used the population and existing
amount of park land within the City of Yakima in 2005 to create a local
standard26. For the Planning Area to have the same level of public park land that
currently exists in Yakima, the following amount of land for parks would need to
be provided:
Table 5: Estimate of the Amount of Park Land Needed
Park Type
Typical Park
Size
Need in Planning
Area at build -out
Estimated cost of land
acquisition in 200527
Mini Parks28
< 3 acres
2.3 acres
$67,500
Neighborhood Parks29
3+ acres
22.5 acres
$144,250
Community Parks3°
20+ acres
83.3 acres
$742,200
Total
-
108.1 acres
$953,950
Potential strategies for providing park land:
The Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC) lists and
provides information on the following funding options for park and open space
acquisition by local governments:
a. Impact fees
b. Real estate excise tax
c. Conservation futures tax
d. General obligation bonds
e. Fee -in -lieu of dedication of parks and open space
f. Grants
g. Purchase of development rights program
The MRSC also lists and provides information on the following non -monetary
options for park and open space acquisition:
dedications can only be made as reasonably necessary as a direct result of the subdivision. Payments in lieu
of dedication must be based on the value of the particular land that would otherwise be dedicated. Without
a clear and consistent policy directive to do so, such dedications or fees in lieu are not likely to be utilized
26 To arrive at a conservative local standard, the acreage of the following parks & green spaces were not
included: golf courses, cemeteries, Yakima Greenway Foundation lands (such as Sarg Hubbard and
Sherman Parks), the Arboretum, Harman Senior Center at Gailleon Park, Central Business District Parks,
and parkways (such as Naches Ave. parkway, Powerhouse Canal Pathway, Walter Ortman parkway,
Fairbrook Addition, N. 44th Ave. parkway, and S. 6t'' Ave. parkway).
,' Based on 2005 assessed values of representative vacant parcels of appropriate sizes in the Planning Area.
28 The Mini park standard is based on the total acreage of the following parks divided by Yakima's 2005
population of 79,480: Cherry, McGuinness, Portia, Rosalma Garden Club, South 21K1 Ave., Summitview,
and Tieton Terrace.
29 The Neighborhood park standard is based on the total acreage of the following parks divided by
Yakima's 2005 population of 79,480: Larson, Eisenhower, Gardner, Gilbert, Lions, Martin Luther King,
Miller, Milroy, Raymond, and Southeast Community.
31 The Community park standard is based on the total acreage of the following parks divided by Yakima's
2005 population of 79,480: Chesterley, Elks, Franklin, Kiwanis, Randall, Kissel, West Valley, and Perry
Soccer Complex.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 52
a. Parks and/or open space dedication requirements as part of subdivision
b. Density bonus or clustering for preservation of open space
c. Density transfer
d. Development agreements (not involving fee -in -lieu dedication)
e. Transfer of development rights program
f. Less than fee simple - purchase of development rights; conservation
easements
Parks, Open Space, and Natural Environment
Goals and Policies
The Yak/nia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 establishes goals and policies
pertaining to the Yakima UGA, including the Planning Area. The following goals and
policies for Parks, Open Space, and Natural Environment are intended to guide the
application of the YUACP 2025 goals and policies to the Planning Area and address the
issues identified by the planning process.
GOAL 4.1: Provide for a system of trails
Policies:
4.1.1 Designate an interconnecting pathway system along corridors (trolley and rail
corridors, canals, and creeks) that connects with adjacent jurisdictions. See Map
11 (Parks and Trails).
GOAL 4.2: Provide for an adequate level of Parks & Open Space
Policies:
4.2.1 Establish a task force and/or work with the City's Park & Recreation Commission
to make recommendations concerning:
• Establishing a standard for neighborhood and community park acreage and
indicate general locations for new parks.
• Identifying possible tools for acquiring, developing and maintaining new
parks/open space, such as fee in lieu of providing land for parks.
• Establishing an upper Yakima County park and recreation district or
metropolitan park district.
• Establishing a City/County partnership to finance and acquire park land before
vacant land is scarce and expensive.
4.2.2 Give high priority to lowlands for parks/open space to provide dual function as
flood storage and habitat protection.
4.2.3 Ensure that large developments provide adequate recreation space.
4.2.4 Define "Community Open Space" to include any parcel or area of land or water
essentially unimproved and set aside, dedicated, designated, or reserved for public
or private use, enjoyment, as well as the use and enjoyment of owners, occupants,
and their guests of land adjoining or neighboring such open spaces. Community
open space may include neighborhood and community parks, commons, plazas,
community green or lawn, landscaped buffers, or other areas, decorative
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 53
plantings, formal and informal gardens, pedestrian walkways or paths, and active
or passive recreation areas (swimming pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, etc.).
Community open space shall not include street rights-of-way or any area within a
residential lot.
4.2.5 Provide incentives to developers that allow for additional lot coverage and/or
additional density in exchange for community open space. Allow non -developable
critical areas to count as a portion of the required community open space area
when proposed in exchange for additional density or lot coverage.
4.2.6 Designated critical areas and dedicated community open space located within a
proposed subdivision should be included in density calculations.
GOAL 4.3: Maximize the benefit and protection of Critical Areas
Policies:
4.3.1 Maintain/restore open space buffers along rivers and creeks for priority species
and habitat, passive recreation, and flood storage.
4.3.2 Support implementation of recommendations of the YCFCZD's Ahtanum/Wide
Hollow Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan.
4.3.3 Develop a programmatic CAO/SMP/SEPA approach for selected reaches of flood
prone creeks and streams to improve conveyance capacity of channels consistent
with CAO and SMP requirements.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 54
V. Capital Facilities & Utilities
Element
Introduction
The Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A) requires local comprehensive plans to
include a Capital Facilities Element that: (1) inventories existing capital facilities owned
by public entities, (2) forecasts the future needs for such capital facilities, (3) indicates
the proposed locations and capacities of any future facilities, and (4) includes a financial
plan for at least six years identifying sources of public money for financing
improvements. The capital facilities element must be coordinated and consistent with the
land use element, consistent with adjacent local jurisdictions' plans, and integrated with
relevant County -wide planning policies.
Where the GMA requires, or local government opts to have, certain capital facilities in
place with development, the concept known as concurrency (also called "adequate public
facilities") applies. If the costs exceed the revenue in circumstances where concurrency is
required, the local government must reduce its level of service, reduce costs, or modify
the land use element to bring development into balance with available or affordable
facilities. The Growth Management Act and the Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive
Plan 2025 require concurrency only for transportation facilities. Plan 2015 establishes
concurrency requirements for transportation, wastewater collection and treatment, water
supply and delivery, and stormwater management.
The Growth Management Act also requires local comprehensive plans to include a
Utilities Element that indicates the general location, proposed location, and capacity of all
existing and proposed utilities. The Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025
provides this information for the entire urban growth area. This element summarizes
information concerning utilities within the Planning Area.
Current Conditions
The Yakinia Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 includes a Capital Facilities Plan for
2007-2012 that depicts the existing capital facilities and associated services provided by
the City of Yakima, and presents a financing plan for future capital and operating needs.
Likewise, Plan 2015 includes a capital facilities element that includes the current plan for
County -provided capital facilities in the Planning Area. A detailed description of the
analysis, criteria, and results for the County's capital facilities plan is found in Plan 2015.
A summary of capital facilities and utilities concerning the Planning Area is presented
below.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 55
Wastewater (Sanitary Sewer)
The Regional Wastewater System31 currently provides sanitary sewer services to portions
of the Planning Area. The City of Yakima operates the Regional Sewage Treatment Plant
and collection system within the Yakima UGA west of the Yakima River. In 2004 the
City adopted a wastewater facilities plan that includes extending service to the entire
Planning Area. Map 15 shows the location of existing sewer lines as well as the proposed
major lines that will be built to serve the several drainage basins in the Planning Area.
The sewer service area is coterminous with the Urban Growth Area (UGA), and adjusts
automatically whenever the UGA is amended.
In the spring of 2010 the City initiated a planning process to update its 2004 Wastewater
Facilities Plan. This planning will consider stormwater sewers as well as sanitary sewers.
The initial planning by staff and a consultant consider such issues as system capacity, line
locations, etc., and is expected to take 18-24 months. Following this technical analysis,
the public involvement process will occur.
Land within the Planning Area is expected to eventually become part of the City and be
served by the sewer system. However, on-site septic systems can be used in the interim
for properties that are not currently near a sewer line. For existing parcels, the
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) regulations allow the Yakima Health
District (YHD) to permit such systems when the parcel is more than 200 feet from a
sewer line or within 200 feet when the cost of connecting to the sewer line is cost
prohibitive. On-site septic systems discharging up to 3,500 gpd are permitted by YHD
and large on-site septic systems discharging 3,500 to 100,000 gpd are permitted by DOH.
Many residents are concerned about existing homes on failing septic systems that would
be required to connect to the regional sewer system rather than being able to install a
replacement septic system. Meanwhile, other residents, notably in the community of
Ahtanum, are hopeful for having sewer service extended to their neighborhood and have
worked with the County and City to procure a Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) to make the cost of extending the service affordable. In 2007, Yakima County
submitted a CDBG application to the state for a sewage collection system in Ahtanum.
However, it was not funded because additional funding sources were needed to make the
project ready to proceed. A subsequent change in the CDBG program that allows a higher
grant amount per home may make a re-application more likely to be funded.
When creating new lots within the Planning Area, the Yakima County Zoning Ordinance
(YCZO, YCC Title 15) allows individual septic systems to be used on parcels 2.5 acres
and larger, subject to Yakima Health District (YHD) approval. Interim on-site
community sewer systems, which would allow lots as small as 7,200 sq. ft., are possible
by using the clustering option of the Yakima County Zoning Ordinance. The clustering
option allows half the parcel to be developed with interim community sewer if the other
31 The Regional Wastewater System was created in 1976 by an interlocal agreement among City of
Yakima Yakima County, Terrace Heights Sewer District, and Town of Union Gap. Entitled "Agreement
for Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Service" (also known as the "Four Party Agreement'), this
agreement establishes the responsibilities of the parties for sewage collection and treatment, including
financial arrangements, within the Urban Growth Areas of Yakima and Union Gap. The Agreement
continues in effect for a period of years established by the treatment and disposal facility bonds, and may
be renewed thereafter by mutual agreement.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 56
half remains undeveloped. On-site community systems must be owned and operated by a
public entity and Yakima County is currently the only provider of such service. Yakima
County currently operates one such wastewater collection and treatment system32 in the
Planning Area and developers may propose this arrangement when subdividing other
properties.
When creating new lots within the Urban Growth Area, the Urban Area Zoning
Ordinance (UAZO, YCC Title 15A and YMC Title 15) allows new lots served by
individual septic systems to be created as small as approximately one-third acre (14,500
sq. ft.), subject to YHD approval. On-site interim community sewer systems (which could
allow new lots to be created as small as new lots connected to the regional sewer system)
are not as easily accomplished under the UAZO as under the YCZO. This interim
community systems feature of the Yakima County Zoning Ordinance should be
considered for incorporation into the Urban Area Zoning Ordinance, so that it can
continue to be utilized after the UAZO is applied to the Planning Area.
Potable Water Supply
The City of Yakima provides potable and fire -fighting water to the SR 12 and lower
Powerhouse Road areas. Information about the City's water system may be found in its
most recent Water System Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in 2004. Its next
WSP is scheduled for adoption in 2010.
The balance of the Planning Area is served by the Nob Hill Water Association, a private
non-profit organization. Map 14 (Water Utilities) depicts the location of Nob Hill Water
Association's and Yakima's water lines. Written agreements between the City and Nob
Hill Water establish their respective service areas (also shown on Map 14), although
these agreements have required clarification in the past. Currently, the parties have
verbally agreed to maintain the status quo.
Nob Hill Water has a designated service area that includes almost the entire Planning
Area. However, one small area within the Planning Area, located west of Wiley City and
south of Ahtanum Road, is outside of the service area of Nob Hill Water.
Nob Hill's system includes five operational wells and a sixth well that has been drilled
but not yet producing water pending a water right certificate. Hydrants and storage that
allow for fire protection are available throughout the system. Water is chlorinated at each
well site. The policy of Nob Hill Water is to extend its lines only where developers are
willing to pay for them. Nob Hill Water's most recent 6 -year Water System Plan (WSP)
was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Health and
adopted in 2008. Highlights of the WSP include:
• To ensure ability to meet Maximum Day Demand, Nob Hill was equipping one
well and plans to either upgrade another well or drill a new well within the 6- year
planning period.
• Nob Hill has sufficient water rights for the 20 -year planning period.
32 Mountain Shadow Estates, located northwest of Summitview Avenue and Pear Avenue, is an 11 -lot
subdivision served by a community sewer system. Built by the developer, the system was conveyed to
Yakima County for perpetual maintenance, which is paid for by fees from the property owners. The system
is designed to be able to connect to and become part of the regional system when the trunk lines are
extended.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 57
• Nob Hill has sufficient storage to meet 6 -year planning requirements.
Improvements to existing reservoirs are planned for the 20 -year planning period.
• With recent improvements, including tablet chlorinators at each well site and the
installation of a new telemetry system, Nob Hill Water reports no deficiencies for
providing service for the foreseeable future.
• Other improvements contemplated during the 6 -year planning period include
retasking an existing Booster Pump Station, installing a new Booster Pump
Station, up-sizing and extending distribution mains, and replacing aging
infrastructure as finances allow.
• Nob Hill's 6 -year Capital Improvements Program in the WSP totals $3,050,000.
Financing these improvements will primarily come from rates, membership fees,
developers, and loans from private lending institutions.
Further information on the City of Yakima's or Nob Hill Water Association's water
systems may be found in their most recent Water System Plans.
Irrigation Water
Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District (Y-TID) serves the northern and western portions of
the Planning Area and the Ahtanum Irrigation District (AID) serves the southern portion.
A large portion in the middle of the Planning Area is not located within an irrigation
district, but is served by the private Yakima Valley Canal Company (Congdon Canal).
As urban development converts land uses in agricultural and rural areas, there is a shift in
the usage of irrigation water. Retention of these irrigation waters for use in developed
landscapes will reduce the need for potable water supplies and facilities. In recognition of
this, a Memorandum of Understanding was entered into in 2008 by Y-TID, Yakima
Valley Canal Company, Nob Hill Water Association, City of Yakima, and Yakima
County to require that determinations concerning irrigation water be made when
developments are proposed. The MOU requires the parties, by consensus, to determine:
• the irrigation water needs for a development;
• the water sources available for irrigation use;
• which water resource is best suited to provide the development's needs;
• the most cost effective method to deliver water to the development;
• the scope of work necessary to deliver irrigation water, and
• the feasibility of installing a separate irrigation delivery system.
Flood Hazard Management
There was extensive flooding in the Planning Area in 1974, 1995, and 1996. The flooded
areas included the communities of Ahtanum, Wiley City, the south side of the
intersection at Wide Hollow Rd. and S. 96th Ave., and the intersection at Wide Hollow
Rd. and S. 80th Ave.
The Yakima County -wide Flood Control Zone District (YCFCZD), in partnership with
local jurisdictions, property owners, government agencies, and stakeholders, is creating
the Ahtanum-Wide Hollow Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan (CFHMP)
to indicate historic problem areas, recommend guidance on development, and identify
potential flood hazard mitigations for existing development. A citizen advisory group has
met over the last three years to develop the plan. The draft of this plan will be completed
in late 2009 for community discussion and adoption. Recommendations from the
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 58
CFHMP will include non-structural measures, including zoning preferences in the
floodplains. The CFHMP includes the WVNP Planning Area, except for northern -most
areas that drain into Cowiche Creek and the Naches River.
A portion of the Planning Area is located adjacent to the Naches River, which was
included in the Upper Yakima River CFHMP adopted in 2007. The Cowiche Creek
portion of the Planning Area is not currently included in a CFHMP.
Storm Water Management and Drainage Improvement Districts
The Yakima Urban Growth Area, as well as particular adjacent lands, recently fell under
the jurisdiction of a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit that
requires compliance with state and federal laws. The permit requires regulatory measures,
including ordinances, to ensure compliance. The preference for these areas is to reduce
costs by retaining stormwater on site. This approach, where followed, will reduce
stormwater impacts and flooding levels. Due to inundation, this approach will be less
effective within the floodplains.
Drainage Improvement Districts (DIDs) were installed in agricultural areas where
irrigation water was applied to allow surface and subsurface drainage. The poorly
draining soils were assisted by subsurface French drains that travelled continuously
through the area and drained the waters to Wide Hollow and Ahtanum Creeks and
tributaries. With the urbanization of this area they are now carrying stormwater drainage
through direct interconnections. They were not designed to convey the capacity required
by surface flows during floods. As they were located along the lowest portions of the
valley, the old surface channels that would convey floods have been filled in through
farming practices, leaving future urban redevelopment susceptible to high frequency
flooding without re-establishment of the conveyances.
Also of concern are illicit connections to the DIDs, including sanitary connections that
transmit pollutants to creeks. The location of future sanitary sewers next to the drains will
transmit sanitary flows to the creeks and must be avoided. Minimum distances between
sanitary sewers and surface channels should be established.
Solid Waste
Residents and businesses in the Planning Area are served by Yakima Waste Systems,
Inc., which has a franchise from the County to provide curbside collections of solid
waste. As the City annexes property, it may assume collection services after a 7 -year
period. Yakima Waste Systems provides limited recycling services for a fee within the
City of Yakima and within the UGA.
Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services
The Planning Area is served by three rural fire districts and the City of Yakima. Gleed
Fire District provides service in the Ackley Road area and along the Naches River.
Fruitvale Fire District contracts with the City of Yakima to provide service to the area in
the vicinity of Powerhouse Road, Cowiche Canyon Road, and Peck's Canyon Road.
West Valley Fire District provides service to the majority of the Planning Area from five
fire stations at the following locations:
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 59
Station #1 — 7707 Tieton Drive (shared with the City of Yakima Fire Department)
Station #2 — 9102 Ahtanum Road
Station #3 — 14901 Tieton Drive
Station #4 — Tampico
Station #5 — 10000 Zier Road (District Headquarters)
Stations #2 and #5 are located within the Planning Area. Station #5 is the headquarters
for the West Valley Fire District with paid staff and volunteers.
As Yakima expands through annexation, it assumes the obligation to provide fire
protection and emergency medical services and receives the property tax revenues that
were formerly collected by the fire district for such services.
Law Enforcement
The County Sheriff's Precinct 2 serves the Planning Area in addition to the remainder of
northwest Yakima, Tampico, Naches, Tieton, and Cowiche. As the City of Yakima
expands into the Planning Area through annexations, it assumes the primary obligation of
providing police services.
Schools
Small portions of the Planning Area along the Naches River and Cowiche Canyon Road
are within the Yakima School District and Naches School District.
The majority of the Planning Area is within the West Valley School District, which
completed construction of a new high school in 2009. Replacement of some elementary
schools is planned but first needs voter approval to implement.
Yakima Valley Regional Library
The Yakima Valley Regional Library Board operates or supports 19 library branches in
Yakima County. None are located in the Planning Area. However, several are located
nearby. The Summitview Branch is the closest, located within the Yakima city limits at
5709 Summitview Ave. The next nearest branches are located within the City of Union
Gap, the Town of Tieton, and in downtown Yakima.
Electricity
Pacific Power provides electrical service within Yakima County, and service is generally
available throughout the Yakima Urban Growth Area. The provision of new services is
provided according to the policies of Pacific Power. Under the terms of PP&L's franchise
agreement with the County and City, distribution lines are not required to be put
underground.
Natural Gas
Cascade Natural Gas Corp provides service to portions of the Planning Area and has its
own policies for extending new service to unserved areas.
Telecommunications
Qwest provides landline and cellular telephone, Internet access, and satellite TV services
within the Planning Area. Telecommunications regulations require that Qwest provide
adequate telecommunication services on demand. Therefore, construction planning and
growth is driven by customer need. As communities grow, facilities are upgraded to
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 60
ensure adequate service levels. Facilities are also upgraded with new technology to make
additional/enhanced services available. Other companies providing cellular phone and/or
wireless Internet access include Sprint, Nextel, Verizon, AT&T, T -Mobile, US Cellular,
CREDO Mobile, Clearwire, and Cricket.
Cable TV
Charter Communications provides cable TV, Internet access, and telephone services
within the Planning Area. Satellite cable is provided by DISH Network and DIRECTV.
Increasingly, "TV programs" are also available through broadband Internet connections.
Capital Facilities and Utilities Issues
The following capital facilities and utilities issues are identified by the planning process:
General
1. The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that development regulations be
consistent with and implement comprehensive plans. Therefore, an area -wide rezone
of the entire Planning Area that is consistent with and implements Map 4 (Future
Land Use) is recommended concurrently with the adoption of the West Valley
Neighborhood Plan.
The GMA also states33 that urban growth should be located:
• first in areas already characterized by urban growth that have adequate
existing public facility and service capacities to serve such development;
• second in areas already characterized by urban growth that will be served
adequately by a combination of both existing public facilities and services and
any additional needed public facilities and services that are provided by either
public or private sources; and
• third in the remaining portions of urban growth areas.
It must be noted that the planning for all capital facilities and utilities required to
support the WVNP has not yet been updated. This situation could result in
developments being proposed prior to the availability of adequate capital facilities
and services. When such developments are proposed, they will be handled in
accordance with adopted plans and policies of the city, county, and service provider.
Wastewater
2. Failing septic tanks in the community of Ahtanum have galvanized some residents to
seek a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to make connections to the
regional sewer system affordable. Other funding sources and areas could also be
considered for such assistance.
3. The rules of the Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance (YCC Title 15A and YMC
Title 15) allowing individual septic systems on lots as small as one-third acre do not
promote extensions of area -wide sewer service and should be modified. The rules in
the Yakima County Zoning Ordinance (YCC Title 15) have a similar effect.
33 RCW 36.70A.110(3)
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 61
4. The 1976 "Agreement for Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Service" ("Four Party
Agreement") may need to be renewed when the time period established by the facility
bonds has elapsed.
Fire Protection
5. Without adequate coordination, large annexations by the City of Yakima could have a
disruptive effect on the budget of the West Valley Fire District.
Potable Water
6. One small area south of Ahtanum Road and west of Wiley City is adjacent to but
outside of the Nob Hill Water Association's service area.
Utility Wires
7. Above -ground utility wires are unaesthetic and interfere with tree growth. They are
not currently required to be installed underground, but would be preferred.
Focused Public Investment Corridors
8. The County's capital facilities plan provides for public facilities in various locations
in the County. "Focused public investment" targets capital improvements
expenditures in designated public investment areas to produce "fully -served land" for
development. Focused public investment maximizes the use of limited public funds
by coordinating government expenditures and focusing development first in some
areas, then in others. Such targeted pubic investment is an incentive for development
to occur where the public's capital investments are focused. In order for public
investment to be focused, the County and other service providers will need to jointly
determine: (1) what criteria should be used to prioritize public investments, and (2)
the areas to be selected for targeted investment.
Public Schools
9. The majority of the Planning Area is within the West Valley School District34, in
which elementary schools are currently approximately one mile apart. Based on
experiences reported by the West Valley School District, as urbanization occurs
schools have had to be located 1/2 mile apart. Site acquisitions by the school district
may need to occur soon before sites with the required minimum acreage are no longer
available.
34 The Naches School District serves the portion of the Planning Area adjacent to Cowiche Canyon Road
and SR 12. A small portion of the Planning Area adjacent to the Naches River lies within the Yakima
School District but has no residents.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 62
Capital Facilities & Utilities Goals
The Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 establishes goals and policies
pertaining to the Yakima UGA, including the Planning Area. The following goals and
policies for Capital Facilities and Utilities are intended to guide the application of the
YUACP 2025 goals and policies to the Planning Area and address the issues identified by
the planning process.
GOAL 5.1: Provide adequate capital facilities and utilities as the Planning Area is
developed.
Policies
General
5.1.1 When development is proposed in areas where adequate capital facilities and
services are not yet provided:
• The city and county should first discourage proposed new development
until adequate services and facilities are available;
• The city and county will approve such developments only when property
developers provide the capital facilities, including streets & utilities, in a
manner consistent with adopted plans and policies. For example, water
and sewer lines may need to be designed and installed to enable future
service to lands in the vicinity, rather than to serve only the proposed
development. This may require, for example, over -sizing the lines and/or
installing them at greater depths.
5.1.2 Ensure that providing capital facilities and utilities for proposed developments is
done at the expense of the property developers, when done prior to the service
providers' plans to do so. Provide for cost recapture (such as latecomers
agreements) and for interim systems (such as when clustering is proposed).
Wastewater
5.1.3 Promote the formation of LIDS and the utilization of Community Development
Block Grants and other funding sources to finance area -wide extensions and
connections to the regional sewer system, especially in situations where the lack
of such services pose a risk to public health.
5.1.4 Amend the Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance and Yakima County Zoning
Ordinance to provide for minimum 5 -acre lots in areas not served by regional
sewer and to allow new smaller lots only with clustering and interim community
sewer systems.
Fire Protection
5.1.5 Ensure on-going dialog between the City of Yakima and the West Valley Fire
District to address budget impacts of future annexations.
Potable Water
5.1.6 Nob Hill Water Association should consider expanding its water service area to
include the area west of Wiley City that is within the Planning Area.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 63
Utility Wires
5.1.7 Install new utilities lines underground where feasible.
Flood Control and Storm Water Management
5.1.8 Implement appropriate recommendations from the Yakima County -wide Flood
Control Zone District's planning process for the Ahtanum/Wide Hollow
Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan.
5.1.9 Establish minimum distances between sanitary sewers and surface channels to
minimize the transmission of pollution to creeks.
Focused Public Investment Corridors
5.1.10 Determine the appropriate locations for Focused Public Investment Corridors.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 64
Appendix 1
Goals, Objectives, & Policies from City of Yakima's Parks & Recreation
Comprehensive Plan 2006-2011 most applicable to the Planning Area.
Goal: Establish and implement a long-range plan for the development of parks,
open space, green belts and pathways within the City of Yakima and the
greater Urban growth area.
Objective: Establish a priority for future land acquisition and park
development based on neighborhood as well as the overall
City's needs.
Policy: Draft a city standard for public open and green space.
Policy: Develop and maintain an up-to-date park land acquisition
plan that targets and sets priorities for future park
acquisitions.
Policy: Identify potential sites and plan for a series of
neighborhood parks in Yakima's Urban Growth Area.
Policy: Establish a Parks Fund dedicated to the acquisition of land
for future neighborhood and community parks within the
City of Yakima.
Objective: Create a unique and positive image for the City through
establishment and development of green belts and pathways
within the City of Yakima.
Policy: Work with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway Committee
to use existing irrigation canal rights-of-way and Yakima
Valley Transportation (YVT) corridors for pathways.
Policy: Develop interpretive signage, trailheads and connections to
pathways and trails extending beyond the urban area.
Policy: Incorporate, whenever possible, greenbelts and pathways
into all future residential, commercial and industrial
developments and keep these trails, as much as possible,
separate from streets and arterials.
Objective: Develop innovative approaches to creating new park facilities.
Policy: Promote private, public and private non-profit partnerships
for capital improvements to parks.
Objective: Create and implement a long-range plan and program for the
preservation of prime open space areas in or adjacent to the
City of Yakima.
Policy: Advocate incorporation of greenbelts into future
residential, commercial, and industrial development to
minimize the impacts of locating less than incompatible
land uses next to one another.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 65
Policy: Preserve open space though means other than ownership,
such as transfer of development rights, tax obligation relief
and land donations to non-profit open space preservation
organizations.
Long Range Objectives: Facilities
Objective: Develop New Mini -Parks
• Size: up to three acres.
• Locations throughout the city but particularly in areas
where population density is the greatest.
Objective: Develop New Neighborhood Parks
• Minimum size: three acres. Recommendation: three to five
acres.
• Locations north central, south central, northeast and west
Yakima.
Objective: Develop New Community Parks
• Size: 20 acres or more.
• Potential locations: west of 40th Avenue, south of Nob Hill,
Terrace Heights, north of Barge -Lincoln School, south of
Washington Avenue
Objective: Bike and Walking Pathways — Abandoned Yakima Valley
Transportation (YVT) corridors, as well as recently covered
irrigation canals, provide a natural system for development of
pathways throughout the City with the following objectives:
• Linking new pathways with existing city bike routes.
• Linking major city parks where possible.
• Beginning or ending city pathways with links to the
Greenway.
• Establishing greenbelts in conjunction with city pathways.
• Connecting with trails and pathways that extend beyond the
urban growth area.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 66
Appendix 2
Policies from the Parks & Open Space Chapter of Yakima County's Comprehensive
Plan, Plan 2015, most applicable to the Planning Area.
POS -PA 2.3 Encourage and assist local communities in their development of
park and recreation services to meet incorporated populations' needs and facilitate
connections with nearby recreation opportunities.
POS -PA 2.6 Consider regulations that require developers to meet a minimum
standard for on-site recreational facilities or equivalent alternative provisions.
POS -PA 2.10 Be active in pursuing alternative funding sources, bequests and
endowments.
POS -PA 2.11 Investigate new and innovative methods of financing facility
development, maintenance and operating needs.
POS -RF 3.4 Facilitate a County -wide network of open space and greenbelts to
protect sensitive lands (such as stream corridors, wetlands, steep slopes, etc.) to
serve as urban connectors and dividers, to retain some wildlife habitat, and for
passive recreation (where compatible).
POS -RF 3.7 Develop trails to accommodate multiple uses and sign accordingly.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 67
Appendix 3
Illustration from the Yakima Greenivay Master Plan Update 1995 (adopted by
reference in the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025) showing the loop
trail connection using 66th Avenue between Ahtanum Road and the Cowiche
Canyon. This trail alignment would also use Prospect Way, North & South 65th Avenue,
and South 64th Avenue, which is located in the West Valley Neighborhood Planning
Area.
YAKIMA GREENWAY 7
Recreational Trail
An eXtension of the Greenway along the Naches River could lead to a reaTeationat trait
through a portion of the Cowiche Canyon. A turn south at 666 Avenue and east along
Ahtanum Road would complete an outer circulation Loop.
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 68
Maps
West Valley Neighborhood Plan • Adopted • February 2011 • Page 69
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*Floodplain & Floodway shown for Cowiche Creek and the Naches
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Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025 into
the West Valley Planning Area and amends
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classifications in Map VI -4 of the Yakima Urban
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Adopted • February 2011
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West Valley
Neighborhood Plan
Proposed Truck Route Map
Proposed Truck Routes
(Yakima Urban Area Transportation Plan 2025,
Map 7-1)
CICCO Through Truck Routes
_1 Primary Truck Routes
Secondary Truck Routes
Indicates New Road
West Valley Neighborhood Planning Area
City Limits
Tax Lots
Urban Growth Boundary
All Roads
This map extends the proposed truck
routes on Map 7-1 of the Yakima Urban
Area Transportation Plan 2025 into the
West Valley Planning Area.
0 0.2 0.4
Adopted • February 2011
Miles
MAP 7
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A/ All Roads
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West Valley Neighborhood Planning Area
City Limits
1 Tax Lots
This map extends the facilities indicated by
Map VI - 1, of the Yakima Urban Area
Comprehensive Plan 2025 into the West Valley
Planning Area.
A
0.5
1
1.5
Adopted • February 2011
2 Miles
MAP 8
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•
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0
West Valley Neighborhood Planning Area
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This map extends the facilities planned by
Map VI - 2 of the Yakima Urban Area
Comprehensive Plan 2025 into the West
Valley Planning Area.
0.4
0.8
N
A
1.2
1.6 Miles
Adopted • February 2011
MAP 9
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West Valley
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6 -Year Transportation Improvement
Program
County 6 -Year TIP (2011-2016)
2011
2014-2016
City of Yakima 6 -Year TIP (2011-2016)
Projects
Intersection Projects
Locations not known or shown:
- West Side Transit Center
- West Yakima North/South Connector
West Valley Neighborhood Planning Area
City Limits
Tax Lots
i*s♦ Urban Growth Boundary
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Board of Yakima County Commissioners
Ordinance No. 5-2011
IN THE MATTERS OF AMENDING THE YAKIMA URBAN AREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ADOPTED BY YCC 15A.00; AMENDING THE YAKIMA URBAN AREA BOUNDARY
DEFINED BY YCC 15A.01.020(b); AND AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FOR
THE YAKIMA URBAN AREA ESTABLISHED BY YCC 15A.03.040
WHEREAS, the Growth Management Act (GMA) requires cities and
counties to adopt comprehensive plans for land use under their jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, in April 1997 the City of Yakima (City) and Yakima County
(County) adopted the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan (YUACP) as the
comprehensive plan for the Yakima UGA; and
WHEREAS, the YUACP, upon adoption, did not include detailed land use
and related planning for the western portion of the UGA then known as the West
Valley Urban Reserve and now known as the West Valley Planning Area; and
WHEREAS, the YUACP stated that land use planning within the West Valley
Planning Area would be conducted in the future as a coordinated effort by
Yakima County, the Cities of Yakima and Union Gap, and area residents; and
WHEREAS. Policy G10.9 of the YUACP tasked Yakima County with
establishing "a mechanism for designating zoning categories within the urban
reserve area, to allow for an appropriate transition to urban area zoning"; and
WHEREAS, the YUACP was updated in 2006 and anticipates the adoption
of the West Valley Neighborhood Plan; and
WHEREAS, concurrent adoption of an area -wide rezone should occur with
the adoption of the WVNP because the GMA requires development regulations
to be consistent with and to implement comprehensive plans; now therefore
BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED by the Board of Yakima County Commissioners:
Section 1. Findings. The Board hereby finds as follows:
. The Board and Yakima City Council conducted two joint study sessions on
September 28, 2010 and October 12, 2010 to review the findings and
recommendation of the Yakima Urban Area Regional Planning Commission
(RPC), attached hereto as Exhibit A, which provides the Reasons for Action,
Findings of Fact, Factors Considered at and After the Hearing, Analysis of
Findings Considered to be Controlling, and Recommendation;
Ordinance No.5-201 I Adopting West Valley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone
Page 1 of 4
2. The Board and Yakima City Council held a joint public hearing on October
26, 2010 to receive public comments on the RPC's recommended West
Valley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone, and a staff -
recommended proposal for Urban Area Street Standards;
3. The Board and Yakima City Council conducted joint deliberations on
November 22, 2010 and December 13, 2010 concerning the RPC's
recommended West Volley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone, and
a staff -recommended proposal for Urban Area Street Standards;
4. Said joint deliberations considered all comments presented at said public
hearing and the documents listed on "Exhibit List" attached hereto as Exhibit
5. The Board hereby adopts by reference paragraphs #1 through #54 of the
Regional Planning Commission's June 23, 2010 findings and
recommendations, attached hereto as Exhibit A;
6. During said joint deliberations the Board arid Yakima City Council made the
decisions described in "Summary of Decisions", attached hereto as Exhibit C,
concerning the RPC's recommended West Valley Neighborhood Plan and
Area -Wide Rezone, and a staff -recommended proposal for Urban Area Street
Standards.
Section 2. Adopting the West Valley Neighborhood Pion. Yakima County Code
Section 15A.00.010 is hereby amended as follows:
15A.00.010 Plan Adoption.
The 1997 Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan*
No. 2 1997 shall consist of the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan 2025,
adopted by Ordinance No. 9-2006 on December 19, 2006, the Terrace Heights
Neighborhood Plan, adopted by Ordinance No. 8-1999 on July 27, 1999, and the
West Valley Neighborhood Pian, adopted by Ordinance No. 5-2011 on February
15, 2011 and attached thereto as Exhibit D, all as subsequently amended by
ordinance.Novembor, 1996 Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan Draft, as
modified by the Yakima Urban Aroa Joint Board Recommendod Changes. The
plan shall be the official comprehensive land use plan for the Yakima Urban
Growth Area, as required by RCW 36.70A.
(Ord. 2-1997 § 1, 1997).
* Editor's Note: A copy of the 1997 Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive Plan is
on file and may be referred to in the offices of the Yakima County panning
Public Services elDepartment.
Ordinance No.5-2011 Adopting Wesi Valley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone
Page 2 of 4
Section 3. Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Yakima Urban Area Zoning
Ordinance. Yakima County Code Section 15A.01.020 is hereby amended as
follows:
15A.01.020 Jurisdiction.
(1) Generally. This title is enacted and administered separately by the city of
Yakima and Yakima County for lands and uses within the Yakima urban area.
The ordinance adopted and enacted by the city of Yakima applies to all land
and uses located within the city limits of the city of Yakima. The ordinance
adopted and enacted by the county of Yakima applies to the unincorporated
portions of the Yakima urban area.
(2) Yakima Urban Area Boundary. Official Boundary and Description. For
purposes of this title, the Yakima urban area is officially declared to be that area
bounded and doscribod: (a) designated as the Yakima Urban Growth Area by
the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan (Plan 2015) as adopted by Ordinance
No. 4-1997 on May 20, 1997 and as subsequently amended, plus on the official
(b)
all additional area in the Yakima urban area legal description attached to this
title as Appendix A and adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this
title. In cases of conflict betwoon the official zoning maps and the official legal
description, the official legal doscription shall control.
(3) Existing Ordinance Superseded. The provisions of this title shall be and are
declared to supersede and replace all existing and future provisions of Title 15 of
this code within the unincorporated areas of the GCounty located within the
Yakima urban area as officially described and adopted in subsection (2) of this
section. The provisions of Title 15 of this code shall, however, continue and
remain in full force and effect in the unincorporated areas of the GCounty
located outside the officially adopted Yakima urban area. The provisions of this
title shall and aro doclarod to supersede and replace tho existing provisions of
Title 12 of this code.
(4) Terminology. Unless the context clearly implies some other meaning,
references to county/city, county (city) or similar terms in this title refer either to
the city of Yakima or Yakima County, whichever entity has jurisdiction over the
particular land use proposal or other item involved or affected. in no event shall
such references be construed to require, directly or indirectly, action by both
entities or their respective officials or agencies. References to legislative body,
administrative official, planning department, hearing examiner or other official or
agency under this title shall mean those officials or agencies of the city of
Yakima or of Yakima County, whichever entity has jurisdiction.
(Ord. 10-1985 § 1 (part), 1986).
teem.
Section 4. Adopting the West Valley Area -Wide Rezone. The Official Zoning Map
for the Yakima Urban Area, adopted pursuant to Yakima County Code Section
15A.03.040, is hereby amended in accordance with the "Proposed Zoning" map,
attached hereto as Exhibit E; provided that no amendment is hereby made to
the Floodplain Overlay District.
Ordinance No.5-2011 Adopting West Valley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone
Page 3 of 4
Section 5. Severability. If any rezone, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence,
clause or phrase of this ordinance or the West Valley Neighborhood Plan should
be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any body or court with authority and
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of any other rezone, section, clause or phrase of this ordinance
or the adopted West Valley Neighborhood Plan.
Section 6. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective at 12:01 AM on
February 28, 2011.
Dated this 151h day of February, 2011.
hey, Chairman
d Elliott, Commissioner
Attest: Tiera L. Girard,
Clerk of the Board
Deputy puty Fr.secting A torney
Michael D. Leita, Commissioner
Constituting the Board of County Commissioners
for Yakima County, Washington
\\N\
':•
• ‘•••••
Exhibits attached:
A - RPC findings and recommendation document (6-23-10)
B - "Exhibit List"
C - "Summary of Decisions"
D - "West Valley Neighborhood Plan"
E - "Proposed Zoning" map
Ordinance No.5-2011 Adopting West Valley Neighborhood Plan and Area -Wide Rezone
Page 4 of 4