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3.7.4 Subarea B Land Use Plan <br />Like Subarea A, Open Space is the predominate land use designation in Subarea B. The area is <br />entirely within King County and is designated as Forest Production. Existing land use and <br />ownership in a small portion of the subarea, however, does not meet the descriptive criteria for <br />Forest Production districts . Rural home sites, such as those, which are present, are more <br />compatible with the recreational and environmental assets of this valley than would be the <br />harvesting of the forest resource. The Snoqualmie Pass Comprehensive Plan therefore <br />recommends that the privately owned lands which lie between the westbound and eastbound <br />lanes of Interstate 90 be designated as Residential with a maximum density of one unit per five <br />acres of land area. <br />Other privately owned land in the most southern part of the subarea is designated as Open <br />Space. Lack of access, topography, and visibility from Interstate 90 are the criteria for this <br />designation. <br />Most of this area is below the visual level of 1-90. Pursuant to applicable state and/or local <br />requirements, vegetative buffers will be required along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River . <br />A density of one unit per five acres, with clustering, should be considered where feasible. <br />3.7.5 Subarea C Land Use Plan <br />Subarea C is the community and recreational hub of the Pass and the Comprehensive Plan <br />reinforces this role and capitalizes on the existing recreational assets. <br />The overall plan identifies two activity centers (or nodes) at Summit West and Summit West, <br />where hotels, conference facilities, restaurants and other commercial activities are envisioned . <br />The plan recommends that these areas be designed as much as possible in a "village" style, <br />which promotes pedestrian accessibility and discourages sprawling, automobile oriented <br />development. Because Highway 906 presents a lineal orientation, it is recommended that <br />developments be planned to provide perpendicular movement, connecting the base of the ski <br />areas to the commercial activities and lodging across the highway. <br />Along Highway 906, at the base of the ski slopes, areas designated for Commercial Lodging could <br />provide accommodations for recreational visitors year around. Additional Commercial Lodging is <br />proposed east of the freeway near Exit 53. <br />As the recreational hub of the Pass, the summit is also the logical first stop for visitors to the <br />area. The plan recommends that the U.S. Forest Service expand their present activities and <br />hours of operation in a new, larger visitor center which could include, in addition to recreation <br />information, such things as a display on Pass history, information regarding available lodging, <br />picnic areas, and a message center for hikers on the John Wayne/Pacific Crest Trail. <br />In addition, the Forest Service should provide enhanced public facilities for travelers in the Pass <br />area, together with adequate safe parking. This could be incorporated in the new visitor center <br />or in a stand-alone facility . <br />Kittitas County <br />Comprehensive Plan <br />December 2016