The City Council on Wednesday approved Ordinance 5,513 to implement market-based parking citywide, eliminating most minimum off-street parking requirements and allowing applicants to provide parking based on market demand rather than a city-set formula. The motion passed 6-1 (Council President Younger cast the lone "no" vote).

Planning Manager Garrett Jackson summarized the state direction and the local approach: recent state legislation limits local mandatory parking minimums and encourages market-based determinations; the planning commission unanimously recommended that Bremerton transition to market-based parking. Jackson told council that design standards (layout, landscaping, safety) would remain in the code even if minimums were removed, and he warned of some potential unintended consequences — for example, in areas without transit or sidewalks parking demand could shift on-street and require enforcement or street-management responses.

Supporters at the hearing included developers, the Kitsap Building Association and housing advocates who said parking minimums raise construction costs and reduce housing feasibility. Multiple speakers said structured or surface parking can add tens of thousands of dollars per stall; one presenter cited a commonly used planning figure of about $40,000 per stall for structured parking. Saint Vincent de Paul, Habitat for Humanity and affordable-housing providers said lower parking requirements make it easier to build shelters and affordable projects.

Opponents argued the city lacks the transit infrastructure to sustain low-parking developments and worried about spillover parking on neighborhood streets. Mica Ayla Stahl and Marwan Cameron urged at least a one-space-per-unit minimum, saying many families rely on private vehicles for daily needs in a county without frequent transit.

The ordinance removes minimums in favor of market-based parking but retains parking design standards and exemptions for certain housing types defined in state law. The council debated the change at length; Council Member Coughlin summarized the policy rationale, saying long-standing parking rules had become a barrier to housing and small business. The final vote was 6 in favor, 1 opposed. Staff will publish guidance for developers and monitor neighborhood impacts, and the city retains tools such as parking management programs should localized problems arise.