Happy Holidays to All! 2022 has been a busy year for the Planning and Economic Development Department. This year we made great progress on our 2024 Comprehensive Plan by meeting with our planning commission and city council to determine our growth target and discuss preferred land use scenarios, processed three comprehensive plan amendments, acquired three grants, processed ordinances to update our code regulations, finaled multiple subdivisions, as well as reviewed and processed many other land use and building permits, including the forthcoming MOD/Chipotle. We are looking forward to our work in 2023 and will be sharing our work plan with the Planning Commission in January and the City Council in February.

In November, the Planning and Economic Development Department welcomed a new addition to our team, Ashley Weller. Ashley is a Poulsbo resident that has lived on and off in our city since she moved here from Huntington Beach, CA in 2001. She can’t imagine leaving Poulsbo or ever getting tired of seeing the Olympics peak over Liberty Bay.

Ashley received her undergraduate degree in Archaeology from the University of Washington and her master’s in Museum Studies from John Hopkins. She came to the City from the Suquamish Museum where she served as the Education Facilitator for the last five years. Her free time is primarily occupied raising her busy two-year-old son, James with her husband, Bryan Ransom.

Her years of living in and loving Poulsbo provides a foundation for planning in our city. She is quickly learning the short plat and SEPA process and will be transitioning into reviewing larger projects in the months to come.  

Also in November, the team moved their staff meeting to support our newest restaurant, Denny’s, where we posed in front of a picture of city hall (right). 



Thank you Commissioners and Council members for your thoughtful work and we look forward to our continued work together next year! 

Spotlight on our Planning Team 

On Friday November 17th, three members of the PED Department attended a training titled Customer Service at the Permitting Counter sponsored by Planning Association of Washington and the City of Burien, WA. During this training we saw four jurisdictions depict how they make permitting and customer service easier for their local communities. .

Our very own Senior Planner, Nikole Coleman, presented to the group. She spoke about Code Writing as Customer Service. Her presentation highlighted the benefits that a well written code can bring to the community. She shared that having images, diagrams and tables help residents understand and access the code easier. This can be seen in Poulsbo’s Municipal Code in many locations but especially throughout chapter 18.70.

We are grateful to shine this spotlight on our team through all the hard work they give to the community and willingness to teach ourselves and others. 

Above: Nikole Coleman outside Burien City Hall and Library

Above: Poulsbo Middle School Proposed Addition

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 November PED staff reviewed/responded to:

• 9 Single Family
• 2 Single-Family Decks
• 1 Commercial Tenant Improvement
• 17 Business Licenses
• 5 Public Record Requests

2024 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 communities they serve, 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. The 2024 Update will plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth through the year 2044.

The Planning Commission completed an initial review of the Introduction, Community Character, Natural Environment, and Economic Development Chapters in 2022. In 2023 they will review the Capital Facilities, Utilities, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, Housing, Land Use, and Transportation Chapters. In addition to a new Health and Human Services chapter. The public is invited to participate in Planning Commission workshops and review the materials, which can be found here. 

A public participation plan and calendar for 2023 is now on the website!

If you would like to receive updates and notices regarding the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, you can sign up for the email list here.

Planning Commission Calendar -November

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

December 13:

• Religious Properties Density Bonus Discussion
• Economic Development Chapter, 2024 Comp Plan Update

December 27:

• Cancelled

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.

Orchestra brings ‘Comfort & Joy’ to Poulsbo

The Poulsbo Community Orchestra’s free opening concert of the 2022-23 called “Comfort & Joy” will take place at 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at the North Kitsap High School auditorium. Read More…

New Denny’s in Poulsbo open 24 hours

A new Denny’s location recently opened in Poulsbo off Highway 305, and it’s open 24 hours a day. A ribbon cutting was held Nov. 14 at the restaurant known for breakfast. The building has been remodeled and features pictures of Poulsbo inside. Read More…

Employee Appreciation Luncheon

The Planning Department will have special lunch hours on Friday December 16th, from 11:30 to 12:45 all counters will be closed.

New Years Observance

The Planning Department will be closed in observance of New Years on Monday January 2nd.