This monthly update is published by the City of Poulsbo Planning and Economic Development (PED) Department to highlight news and trends in planning and development. For details on these topics and the department, visit our website.

The Director's Chair

ADU Open House: Learn, Plan, Build

September 16, 2025

Poulsbo invites residents to an informative and interactive ADU Open House on September 16, from 5 to 7 pm at The Sip (18801 Front St NE). Drop in anytime, grab some light refreshments, and get your questions answered. We kindly request that interested residents RSVP via email to plan&econ@cityofpoulsbo.com.

The ADU Open House isn’t about presentations—it’s about conversations. Attendees will have the chance to meet directly with experts, including bankers, builders, real estate professionals, legal advisors, and city staff, along with a homeowner who recently built an ADU in Poulsbo. Confirmed participants include:

• Lora Benson, ADU owner and Realtor (Windermere Poulsbo)
• Carl Paulino, Loan Officer (Columbia Bank)
• Chris Kirkley, Chief Lending Officer (Peninsula Credit Union)
• Joey Soller & Stacie Palzer, Realtor (Keller Williams Greater 360 Poulsbo)
• Terrance Wilson, Attorney (Wilson Law Group, Real Estate Development)
• Todd & Cheryl Cain, Wing Point Construction Incorporated
• Robert Baglio, President of The BJC Group, Inc.
• City of Poulsbo Planning, Building, and Engineering Staff

This breadth of expertise ensures that homeowners, curious neighbors, and industry professionals alike will walk away with practical guidance tailored to their needs.

Learn more about our participants below:

Updating Poulsbo’s Critical Areas Ordinance

The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires Washington cities to protect sensitive natural areas like wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, aquifer recharge zones, floodplains, and geologically hazardous areas. Cities must also use Best Available Science (BAS) when writing these protections and update their rules on a regular cycle.

Poulsbo’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), found in Chapter 16.20 of the Municipal Code, was last updated in 2017. The CAO guides how development is reviewed and ensures protection of these important resources.

Two-Phase Update

To balance state requirements with local priorities, Poulsbo is updating its CAO in two phases:

• Phase I (2025): Required Updates. Brings the CAO into compliance with state law and BAS. Key changes include revised stream buffers, updated definitions, and consistency edits.

• Phase II (2026): Local Improvements. Focuses on discretionary changes to improve usability and reflect Poulsbo’s planning goals. Possible topics include buffer averaging, low-impact development, streamlined permitting, and adaptive management strategies. Work is expected to begin in winter 2026.

What’s Next

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on October 7, 2025, to consider Phase I updates. After their recommendations, the City Council will consider the amendments for final adoption later this year.

Check out the website here: https://cityofpoulsbo.com/criticalareasupdate/

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. The following pre-app conferences were held in August:

• Home2Suites. New 3-story hotel in College Marketplace.

Above: Proposed Pinnacle at Liberty Bay Planned Residential Development

In Development

The following projects are currently under construction:

Projects under construction for site work (grading, stormwater vaults, installation of sewer lines, etc.) are managed by the Engineering Department. Please contact them for questions or concerns.

Projects under construction for buildings (vertical construction) are managed by the Building Department. Please contact them for questions or concerns.

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 August PED staff reviewed/responded to:

• 16 Business Licenses
• 6 Public Record Requests
• 1 Tenant Improvement
• 2 New Single Family Residences
• 2 Decks
• 1 Sign
• 1 Certificate of Occupancy
• 2 Tree Cutting and Clearing Exemptions
• 1 Design Review
• 1 Temporary Use Permit

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.

September 9 - Cancelled

September 23 - Cancelled

PED Department Around Town

In August, the Planning Department was out in the community at both National Night Out and the Poulsbo Farmers Market. Staff appreciated the opportunity to connect with residents and visitors, share information about planning initiatives, and hear directly from the community about their ideas and questions for Poulsbo’s future.