Bremerton planning commission backs market-driven parking, forwards multiple zoning changes to council

The Bremerton Planning Commission on May 19 recommended that the City Council adopt a package of development regulations implementing the 2024 comprehensive plan that removes most minimum off‑street parking requirements citywide and forwards several other zoning changes for council consideration.

The recommendation — approved 6‑0 — moves a set of code amendments including removal of parking minimums (market‑driven parking), boundary line adjustment clarifications, family daycare provisions required by state law, co‑living housing rules, allowances for conversion of nonconforming commercial buildings to housing, and residential cluster development standards. The commission voted separately to continue discussion of a proposed neighborhood‑scale commercial provision for more staff work and public review.

Planning staff Garrett Jackson opened the hearing and framed the primary change as adopting “market based parking” by removing minimum parking standards from Bremerton Municipal Code Title 20 and multiple sub‑area plans. Jackson said the packet presented two motions: one that would preserve a minimum of one parking space for single‑family homes in low‑density residential (LDR) zones (the LDR exception), and a second that would remove that exception and apply market‑driven parking citywide. Jackson also summarized related state law cited in the presentation, including Senate Bill 5184 and provisions allowing gravel parking retention and grass pavers under SB 6015.

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