Happy New Year!

In late 2022, our Senior Planner Nikole Coleman took the initiative to learn ArcGIS Story Map. Story Map is a tool that quickly builds useful and attractive information that is easy to read and digest. Story Map can integrate maps, legends, text, photos and videos and provides functionality, such as swipe, pop-ups and time sliders that helps users explore content.

Our first project to use Story Map will be the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update. 

We hope that this tool will help to keep our public better engaged and informed. We will launch this tool along with a survey within the next two weeks. The survey is seeking input on how and where the City of Poulsbo should plan to accommodate growth to inform future chapters of the comprehensive plan.

Note: A Spanish language Story Map and Survey are in the works and are scheduled to launch within the next two weeks as well.

2024 Comprehensive Plan Update

Public Participation Plan

At our first meeting of the new year, January 10, PED staff provided the Planning Commission an overview of the Comprehensive Plan Update Public Participation Plan for 2023. The plan specifies how the city will engage and inform its citizenry during efforts to update the comprehensive plan. Public participation is an integral part of the planning process, and we look forward to engaging our public throughout the year via our surveys, pop up events, community group presentations and planning commission meetings. We will also ensure communication and outreach to our underserved and underrepresented populations.

To stay informed on these items, please sign up for the email list here and check out the project website here.

Pre-Production

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. Dates, fees, and application forms for pre-application conferences can be found here. 

The following pre-app conferences were held in December and January:

• Lincoln Mixed Use Building. 6,000 square foot of commercial space and 156 residential units.

Above: Plateau at Liberty Bay Proposed Subdivision

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 December PED staff reviewed/responded to:

• 19 Single Family
• 1 Single-Family Addition
• 1 Commercial Sign
• 1 Commercial Tenant Improvement
• 14 Business Licenses
• 3 Public Record Requests

Planning Commission Calendar -November

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

January 10:

• Housekeeping Amendments
• 2023 Comp Plan Work Plan
• Economic Development Chapter of Comp Plan (2nd Review)

January 24:

• Review of Capital Facilities Chapter Goals and Policies
• Review of PROS Chapter Goals and Policies

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

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