Additional Background Information

The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) addresses new Master Planned Resorts (MPRs) at RCW 36.70A.360. An MPR is described in the first section of .360:

36.70A.360 Master Planned Resorts

(1) Counties that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 may permit master planned resorts which may constitute urban growth outside of urban growth areas as limited by this section. A master planned resort (MPR) means a self-contained and fully integrated planned unit development, in a setting of significant natural amenities, with primary focus on destination resort facilities consisting of short-term visitor accommodations associated with a range of developed on-site indoor or outdoor recreational facilities.

Port Ludlow MPR

There is an existing MPR in Jefferson County in the Port Ludlow area that was established under a different provision of the GMA. See the Port Ludlow Master Planned Resort page for more information.

The Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan contains a goal specific to the potential establishment of new MPRs and corresponding policies. Land Use Goal (LNG) 24.0 (excerpted below) and its associated 13 Land Use Policies (LNPs) are found in the Chapter 3 of the Comprehensive Plan, the Land Use and Rural Element (linked below), beginning on page 3-65, as updated in 2004.

LNG 24.0

Provide for the siting of Master Planned Resorts (MPRs), pursuant to the adoption of development regulations consistent with the requirements of the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.360), in locations that are appropriate from both an economic and environmental perspective.
  • Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 - Land Use and Rural Element December 13, 2004
The implementing regulations for the Comprehensive Plan collectively referred to as the Unified Development Code (UDC), which is Title 18 of the Jefferson County Code (JCC).