The Director's Chair

As your Planning Director, I understand how crucial land use decisions are for our city. Every day, our team at city hall handles inquiries and actively engages with the community to ensure our information is accessible and understandable. We recognize that, like any profession, we often use specialized terminology and assume everyone is familiar with our language. That’s why we work hard to present our information in clear, bite-sized pieces.

We make a point of attending local events, such as the farmer’s market and summer nights at the bay, to be available for discussions, questions, and comments. Additionally, this monthly newsletter is a key way we communicate with you.

Our city website is another vital tool, serving as a hub for all city information, and we are continually improving how we share information.

We’re excited to announce an improved land use project review webpage, thanks to Senior Planner, Nikole Coleman. On this page, you can find detailed information about projects under review, under construction, and approved but not yet started. Each project listing includes a file number linked to the project documents portal for easy access.

Check out the updated Land Use Project Review page!

We're also simplifying land use permit information into a one-page "Quick Facts" sheet. This will be featured at the top of our Land Use Applications Under Review page for each project, providing essential details such as location, number of units and parking spaces, building height, how to comment, and who makes the decision.

And there’s more to come! Next month, we will discuss with the Planning Commission (Tuesday, August 27, 6 pm, Council Chambers) the possibility of posting properties proposed for land use with this same detailed information. Our goal is to keep you informed and help you actively participate in the projects shaping our beloved community.

Do you have suggestions, feedback, or ideas for more improvements? Let us know by sending an email with the subject Quick Facts. Your input is invaluable as we strive to serve you better. 

Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit Plans

The cities within Kitsap County and Kitsap County itself have come together to address the housing crisis through a powerful partnership. Supported by the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council and our elected officials, Kitsap County, Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Bremerton and Port Orchard are seeking a qualified architect to create up to eight pre-approved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) plans.

These pre-approved plans will expedite the development process for builders and homeowners, fostering efficiency, consistency, and regulatory adherence. The streamlined process translates into reduced housing costs that can be passed on to homebuyers, facilitating the rapid introduction of this essential housing type.

This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of our communities to innovative solutions, making housing more accessible and affordable for all residents. RFQ deadline ends Monday, August 19th. Based on the proposed scope of work, each jurisdictions intends to have eight plans sets available by March, 2025. Here’s a peak at the variety of units that should be available:

• Accessible ADU (measuring up to 650 square feet)
• Small ADU (measuring up to 400 square feet)
• Medium ADU (measuring 401 - 650 square feet, inclusive)
• Large ADU (measuring 651 - 900 square feet, inclusive)
• Extra Large ADU (measuring 901 - 1,000 square feet, inclusive)
• Small Carriage House ADU (measuring 400 square feet or less over a 2-car garage)
• Medium Carriage House ADU (measuring over 400 square feet over a 2-car garage)
• Large Carriage House ADU (up to 650 square feet over a 3-car garage

Public Hearing: Viking Ave/C-2 Code Amendments

The Viking Avenue corridor is mostly occupied by the Commercial/C-2 zoning designation, with residential zoning adjacent, city limits to the west and south, and Liberty Bay to the east. According to the 2021 Buildable Lands Report (BLR), the C-2 zoning district has the capacity for 602 jobs. During the BLR process, staff did not assume a mixed-use development pattern. However, with mixed-use development, the C-2 zoning district has the capacity for 453 jobs and 603 population.

A Market Analysis and Feasibility Study was done in June of 2023 by Leland Consulting Group (LCG) for the SR305 corridor. Given the size of Poulsbo, LCG stated that the market study could be applied to other commercial areas within city limits. The study found that most of the demand in the study area is for housing. The retail market is active in existing buildings but with less demand for new developments, and office demand has dropped significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, since much of the study area is steeply sloped and the area contains streams, wetlands, erodible and hydric soils, and geohazard areas, the city should consider a number of regulatory changes to encourage development in the area.

The proposed amendments focus on Poulsbo Municipal Code (PMC) 18.80.070, Infill and redevelopment standards in C-2 (Viking Avenue) zoning district. This code section, adopted in 2013, provides alternative development standards for mixed use buildings or stand-alone residential structures (in the interior of the development) in the C-2/Viking Ave commercial zoning district. The amendments include an increase to height and lot coverage, and a reduction in setbacks and landscaping requirements when housing units are included in a proposed project.

Viking Avenue has seen a renaissance over the last several years and by amending PMC 18.80.070 and not the general development standards for the C-2/Viking Ave zoning district, it will allow for that to continue while also encouraging the creation of needed housing units.

Also included is an amendment to PMC 19.50, Public notices, to require public notice signage for all Type II and III applications.

The Planning Commission Public Hearing is scheduled for Tuesday August 27, 2024, at 6:00 pm or soon thereafter. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council. Meeting procedures are available from the PED Department and City Clerk’s office and are conducted based on Roberts Rules of Order. Public Hearings are being held as a hybrid virtual/in-person at the web address and call-in number noted below and at City Hall Council Chambers, 200 NE Moe Street. This call-in number: 1 253 215 8782 and meeting id: 813 4761 3119 are provided for virtual attendance, in addition to this webinar link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81347613119.

Project documents can be found here: https://cityofpoulsbo.com/development-regulation-amendments-2/

A Pre-Application Conference is a meeting between a project team and staff conducted prior to the submission of a detailed application. Nearly all projects change after the pre-application conference and prior to application submittal. Typically, projects at this stage are very preliminary. The following pre-app conferences are scheduled for August:

• Valvoline Oil Change at College Marketplace

Under Construction

• Oslo Bay Apartments. North of Bond Road NE and State Route 305. 468 multi-family market rate residential units including 244 one-bedroom, 208 two-bedroom, and 16 three-bedroom units on three levels within 13 buildings.

• Liberty Landing. 19872 Hamilton Court NE. 8-lot single family development on 1.03 acres. Two driveways, each serving 4 homes, include on-site guest parking.

• Eliason. 1880 Front Street NE. The Eliason building is an existing 3-story commercial building. After construction, the existing structures will provide a total of 14,119 interior gross square feet, of which 9,397 is commercial space and 4,722 is residential. New construction will expand the existing Eliason building to the east with a 3-story, 27,266 square foot residential addition.

• Winslow Ridge. 22180 Rhododendron Lane. 86 single family lot Planned Residential Development and Preliminary Plat. Includes 1.89 acres of open space, recreational amenities, tree retention, and road/sidewalk, utility, and stormwater facilities. 

• Lincoln Cottages. 1431 NE Lincoln Road & 19174 12^th Avenue. 21 single family lot Planned Residential Development and Preliminary Plat.

• CMP Apartments. Dauntless Dr NW. 90 apartment units, parking, recreational amenities, site landscaping, and utilities.

Comprehensive Plan Update

The City of Poulsbo is undertaking a periodic review and update of its comprehensive plan, as required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), RCW 36.70A.130(5). This is an opportunity to revise population and employment growth forecasts with the most up to date data, review existing policies to ensure they make sense for the community, write new policies that reflect the priorities of the community, and confirm that all federal, state, and local requirements are met. 

The next update of the Comprehensive Plan is due December 30, 2024. This update will plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth through the year 2044.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities:

• August 3: Pop-Up at Poulsbo Farmers Market
• August 6: Pop-Up at Summer Nights at the Bay/National Night Out
• August 7: City Council – Review of Transportation Chapter
• August 14: City Council – Review of PEI Chapter

Above: Nikole Coleman, Senior Planner, and Ashley Weller, Assistant Planner, set up a Planning Department booth at the July 30th Summer Nights at the Bay.

Climate Change Planning

In 2023, House Bill 1181 was passed in state legislature, which requires Poulsbo to add a new Climate Chapter to the Comprehensive Plan by 2029. The purpose of this legislative action is for Washington State jurisdictions to build resilience against increasing climate change impacts and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate future climate change and help to achieve the state goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

The Climate Chapter will contain two sub-elements, Climate Resiliency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Climate Resiliency sub-element will plan to improve climate preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions sub-element will include goals and policies to reduce emissions and vehicle miles traveled in the region.

Poulsbo is currently in the preliminary stages of this process and hopes to begin working on the element in the summer of 2026. The process will include public engagement events, climate studies and assessments, emissions studies, and more.

In terms of our current Comprehensive Plan, Poulsbo has implemented climate policies into multiple chapters of the draft Comprehensive Plan Update. You can review those here.

The Many Roles of PED Staff

Did you know? On top of the larger land use applications, the PED Department staff also responds to public records requests, business license applications, sign permits, tenant improvements, deck permits, grading permits, and code enforcement requests.

For the month of July PED staff reviewed/responded to:

• 29 Business Licenses
• 6 Public Record Requests
• 3 Tree Cutting and Clearing Exemptions
• 4 New Single Family Homes
• 6 Single-Family Addition/Remodels
• 1 Tenant Improvement

Planning Commission Calendar

See below for agenda items for Planning Commission meetings. Please note that agenda items are subject to change. Check the website for the official agenda.

August 13

• Cancelled

August 27

• C-2/Viking and Public Notice Sign Amendment Public Hearing
• Poulsbo Viking Ave Fire Station #76 Conditional Use Permit Public Meeting

Planning Commission meetings are held as a hybrid - virtually via zoom webinars and in-person at the City Hall Council Chambers. Please check the agenda for meeting information.