Spring cleaning came early this year for the Planning and Economic Development (PED) Department in the form of a housekeeping amendment to the Poulsbo Municipal Code (PMC). The proposed amendments are part of the PED Departments on-going effort to make land use regulations more usable for residents, developers, and City staff by correcting errors, eliminating text ambiguities, codifying internal policies, and reflecting changes in state law. The proposed amendments do not involve significant changes to the code.

The amendments accomplish the following:

• Responding to federal and state law requirements to amend the definition of household to remove the limitation on the maximum amount of people living together that are not related and building code requirements (IBC 429) for electric vehicle charging.
• Allowing manufactured and mobiles homes to serve as an ADU.
• Modifying the permit type requirements to respond to the demand for home occupations and neighborhood commercial while allowing for exemptions to site plan review for minor activities not listed.
• Replacing existing commercial design images with improved images that better graphically depict commercial design standards.
• Allowing city input on public amenities in Planned Residential Developments.
• Creating consistency in significant tree diameter.
• Ensuring appropriate information is provided for staffs review of landscape plans.
• Specifying the appeal authority for Type III applications.
• Specifying the information needed on notices for neighborhood meetings.

These amendments were first discussed during a workshop with the planning commission on January 10 with a public hearing on February 7 where the planning commission made a unanimous recommendation of approval. They were first discussed with the city council on March 1 where the council made a motion to forward them to a public hearing on March 15.

As a department we strive to do these every two years. If there are code sections you want us to address, please feel free to reach out to staff to discuss if they would be ripe for a housekeeping amendment in 2025. 

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 community, 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. This update will plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth through the year 2044.

Community Survey Results

The Planning and Economic Development Department launched the Comprehensive Plan Update story map and survey on January 23, 2023. The survey closed on February 21, 2023.

Thank you to those who completed the survey! We value your input and appreciate those who took the time to complete it!

Over 400 responses were submitted and you can review a summary of the results here and the full results 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 are scheduled for March:

• Coppertop Storage. RV and boat storage.
• Harborview Infill. Additional apartment building in existing complex.

Above: Harborview Apartments Proposed Infill

Above: Nordic Cottages Perspective

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 February PED staff reviewed/responded to:

• 9 Single Family
• 1 Single-Family Addition/Deck/Remodel
• 1 Sign
• 1 Commercial Tenant Improvement
• 26 Business Licenses
• 4 Public Record Requests

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.

March 07:

• Cancelled

March 28:

• 2024 Comp Plan Update: Health/Human Services Goals and Policies 2nd Review
• 2024 Comp Plan Update: Housing Goals and Policies1st Review

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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