Planning and Economic Development Spotlight

Planning and Economic Development

Spotlight

October 2021

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.

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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 are scheduled for November:

Mesford Plat. 88-lot Planned Residential Development and Pre-Plat.
Viking Residential Addition. 19 new residences above existing commercial.

Above: Mesford PRD/Plat Concept Proposal

In the Queue

The following projects are currently under review with the PED Department:

Musick Multifamily SPR: Technically incomplete letter sent 8/11.
Winslow Ridge PRD/Plat: Revision letter sent 7/21.
Oslo Bay Apartments: Application under review.
Ekelmann-Divoky Annexation. City Council Public hearing held 10/6.
Karkainen ADU: NOD issued 9/28.
Jacobellis Building Post Decision Review. NOD issued 9/28.
College Marketplace Apartments Post Decision Review. NOD issued 9/30.
Pacific Eye Center SPR: NOD issued 10/7.

Keep up to date with active land use projects by visiting our website.

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 September PED staff reviewed/responded to:

4 Single Family Remodel/Additions/Decks
2 New Commercial Buildings
2 Commercial Signs
2 Commercial Tenant Improvements
2 Grading Applications
1 Shoreline Exemption
3 Tree Cutting Exemptions
10 Public Record Requests
30 Business License Applications

Under Production (Long Range Planning)

Housing Action Plan (HAP): The City of Poulsbo was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to complete a Housing Assessment/Action Plan (HAP). The HAP will provide detailed information to guide the City’s future actions as we begin to draft the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update. The final draft document has been delivered to the city for staff review. Additional work is being done prior to public release.

Commercial Land Analysis: In mid January, PED staff finalized a contract with Beckwith Consulting Group (and subcontractor E.D. Hovee and Company) to complete a Commercial Land Market Analysis. Once completed, the report will inform key policy decisions for the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update. Staff has provided final comments to the consultant and a final document is expected soon.

Shoreline Master Program Update: The 2021 SMP Update documents were officially released on 2/22 and Planning Commission began their review on 3/2. The joint City/Ecology public comment period ran from 3/17 to 4/16 with a joint PC/Ecology public hearing held on 4/27. Staff submitted the Planning Commission approved SMP update to Ecology for an initial determination on 4/28. The initial determination by Ecology was received on 6/17. City Council approved the SMP update amendments on 7/21, and adopted the ordinance on 8/4. The documents have been submitted to Department of Ecology for final approval. Keep up to date via the project website here!

Best Available Science Update: The City’s environmental consultant, Grette Associates, is finalizing a first draft evaluating updates to Best Available Science and new regulatory requirements regarding environmental protection of Wetlands and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas. The document will provide the technical analysis necessary for a future update to the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance.

Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Update: The Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan provides comprehensive guidance on the development and management of Poulsbo’s parks, recreation and open space system and the services provided by the Parks and Recreation Department. The PROS Plan is updated every six-years and serves as a strategic plan for managing and enhancing our parks and recreation services. Creating the plan is a combination of technical analysis coupled with input from the community, which ensures that a plan is developed that is technically sound and meets the needs of the community we serve. Stay up to date on the project via the website here.

2022 Comprehensive Plan Amendments

It is that time of year again! Applications for the 2022 Comprehensive Plan Amendment cycle are due November 15!

Proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan are considered no more than once per year, as required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA). All proposals are considered at the same time so the cumulative effect of the various proposals can be determined. However, State law does allow some amendments to be made outside of the normal annual amendment cycle. These include actions such as subarea planning or emergency amendments, for which there are criteria. Any person or entity (e.g., private citizens, groups, city departments) may initiate a text amendment, which is a proposal to change the plan text language. Only property owners or their authorized agents may initiate a site-specific amendment.

Additional information and applications can be found here.

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Planning & Economic Development

200 NE Moe Street | Poulsbo, WA 98370-7347

(360) 394-9748 | fax (360) 697-8269