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As the Comprehensive Plan was adopted by our city council last month, I wanted to take this opportunity to focus on the project lead, Nikole Coleman, Planning Manager. Over the past three years, Nikole has been at the helm of the Comprehensive Plan Update. More than just a state-mandated document, this plan sets the vision for how our city will grow, change, and thrive over the next 20 years. And behind every chart, chapter, and community meeting was a woman balancing policy, math, design, and heart. From community engagement to growth modeling, from policy writing to graphic design, Nikole’s fingerprints are on every page of the plan. Learn more about how Nikole managed this multidepartment and agency project in her responses below:
You led the City of Poulsbo through the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update—a significant and multi-year effort. What was your overarching vision for this plan, and how did it evolve over the course of the project?
Throughout the update process, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to respect the thoughtful planning that’s shaped Poulsbo over the years. The existing plan gave us a solid foundation — one that really captured our community’s identity, values, and goals. I didn’t want to rewrite that legacy, but rather build on it with care and purpose. At the same time, I knew that Poulsbo is changing. We’re facing new challenges — like housing affordability and shifting demographics — and we needed policies that offer more choices in how people live. I spent a lot of time thinking about what makes Poulsbo feel like Poulsbo — our neighborhoods, our scale, our sense of place — and worked to make sure the updated plan helps us grow while holding on to what we love most. This plan isn’t just about where we’ve been — it’s about where we’re headed, together.
You managed the work plan for the Comp Plan every year. Can you walk us through your approach to setting priorities, timelines, and milestones for such a complex and evolving body of work?
Managing the Comprehensive Plan work plan meant juggling priorities, setting clear timelines, and staying flexible. A project this big can get overwhelming fast, so I focused on breaking it into smaller, manageable pieces and always keeping an eye on what needed to come first. Personally, I do best when I know my priorities and have a timeline to work from — even if it shifts, having a general roadmap keeps me grounded.
Of course, things would’ve been a lot simpler if the Comp Plan was the only thing on my plate — but it definitely wasn’t. Balancing it with everything else made it even more important to stay organized, not just to keep the project moving, but to keep myself sane. I set clear milestones at the start of each year, checked in on them often, and made sure there was room for collaboration, adjustments, and community input. That structure helped carry me through all the inevitable twists and turns.
One of your standout contributions was the Racially Disparate Impacts Report. What inspired this work, and what impact do you hope it will have on future planning and policy decisions in Poulsbo?
The Racially Disparate Impacts Report came out of a growing awareness — both across the country and right here in Poulsbo — that land use decisions haven’t always impacted everyone equally. Like many communities, planning and zoning choices made decades ago shaped who had access to housing and who didn’t, often creating patterns of exclusion that still affect us today, especially for communities of color and lower-income households.
This report wasn’t about placing blame. It was about creating space to reflect and learn. The only way we can do better moving forward is by understanding how we got here. That means taking a hard look at our current policies and recognizing where they may have unintentionally contributed to disparities — and then doing the work to change that. My hope is that this report becomes a meaningful reference point for future planning and policy decisions in Poulsbo. It’s a reminder to be intentional, inclusive, and honest in how we shape our community. If we want everyone to have the opportunity to thrive, our land use policies need to support housing choice, affordability, and access — not just for those who’ve always had a voice, but for everyone.
You often referred to “doing the math” to understand population growth and its impacts. What were some of the most challenging calculations or projections you had to make, and how did they influence key decisions—particularly around utilities and infrastructure?
Yeah, “doing the math” wasn’t just a catchphrase — it was a key part of making sure our planning was grounded in reality. We started with our growth allocations — how much population, jobs, and housing units Poulsbo is expected to plan for over the next 20 years. Those numbers come from the state and are distributed through PSRC and then Kitsap County, and they’re a big deal. They basically set the bar for how much growth we are required to accommodate in our Comprehensive Plan.
The challenge was taking those big numbers and figuring out what they actually mean for Poulsbo. Where would that growth go? Do we have enough land zoned for housing? Will our infrastructure — like water, sewer, and roads — be able to handle it? But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. To ground it in reality, we brought in staff insights and community feedback about where growth felt right (or didn’t). We also looked at housing trends, what types of units are actually getting built, and where demand is shifting. It was all about balancing big-picture projections with the on-the-ground details that make Poulsbo unique.
Lastly, what’s cool is that by doing all that math, I got to know Poulsbo on an entirely different level.
You redesigned the format and structure of the Comprehensive Plan. What prompted that change, and what goals did you have in mind with the redesign?
This Comprehensive Plan update really felt like a moment to pause, reflect, and rethink how we tell Poulsbo’s story and plan for what’s ahead. The old format had done its job, but it was time for a refresh. I wanted the plan to be more than just a technical document — something people could actually use, understand, and see themselves in. It needed to feel like it belonged to the community, not just the planners.
Looking back, what are you most proud of in this Comp Plan—and what advice would you offer to someone leading a similar effort for the first time?
What I’m most proud of is that we pulled off this entire Comprehensive Plan update in-house — and we did it as a true team. This wasn’t just my project; it was a group effort led by some incredibly smart, dedicated, and passionate people who genuinely care about Poulsbo. Every section, every map, every bit of outreach had someone’s fingerprints on it, and that collaboration made the final plan so much better.
If I had one piece of advice for someone tackling this kind of project for the first time, it would be: trust your team. Build a framework that gives room for both creativity and accountability. Set clear priorities, stay organized, and always keep in mind who you’re doing the work for. There will definitely be overwhelming moments, but if you stay grounded in your values and bring others along with you, the results will show. And don’t forget to celebrate the wins along the way — you’ll deserve it.
How did you balance the technical side of planning with the storytelling and community education that’s necessary for public understanding and trust?
It’s easy in this work to get caught up in the technical side — the rules, the data, the regulations. And while all of that is important, it doesn’t mean much if people don’t see how it connects to their everyday lives. What I’ve really come to understand is that the power — and the trust — comes from storytelling. People want to know why something matters, not just what it is.
Throughout the Comp Plan process, I focused on breaking things down into pieces that felt approachable and clear. That meant translating planning jargon into plain language, using visuals to tell the story, and connecting policies to real-life experiences. It also meant listening — really listening — so I could help tell Poulsbo’s story in a way that felt real and relevant. The goal wasn’t just to inform people — it was to connect with them.
Can you share a moment from a community event that really stood out to you—something that surprised you or reaffirmed your commitment to public planning?
It’s tough to pick just one moment, because what really stood out was the wide range of voices and emotions I heard throughout the process. I talked with long-time residents, new families just settling in, people thinking about moving to Poulsbo, and others considering leaving. I heard frustration, hope, gratitude, skepticism — and everything in between. What stuck with me wasn’t any single conversation, but the constant reminder that planning is deeply personal. Every comment and question came from someone who cares about this place.
For me, it was about really listening — and also making sure people could see that there are real people behind the process. That there’s a face and a heart behind the work of the Planning and Economic Development Department. We do this because we care. We love Poulsbo. And even the hard conversations reminded me that this work truly matters — and that the only way to do it right is with empathy and intention.
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