Bremerton planners direct staff to draft code removing minimum parking requirements

The Bremerton Special Planning Commission on Feb. 24 directed city staff to prepare draft municipal-code language that would remove or substantially reduce minimum off‑street parking requirements citywide, with commissioners signaling majority support for elimination and some members urging a temporary moratorium instead.

The commission's guidance follows a staff presentation that summarized current local requirements (Bremerton Municipal Code Chapter 20.48), pending state restrictions and several alternative tracks commissioners could recommend: (A) goal‑based local reductions informed by neighboring Kitsap jurisdictions; (B) a modified local approach that adopts portions of the pending state bill while keeping some local exemptions; or (C) adopting the pending state proposal verbatim. The presentation noted recent state restrictions on parking for certain housing types and referenced proposed legislation described in the packet as “SB 51 84.” City planning manager Garrett Jackson told the commission staff would return with legislative markup if the commission wanted a specific code amendment to consider.

Why it matters: minimum parking rules affect the cost and feasibility of development, particularly small and affordable housing projects, downtown redevelopment and how public right‑of‑way and stormwater are used. Commissioners and public commenters described opposing effects: developers often build parking to meet market demand, while advocates and housing providers said minimum requirements can make otherwise feasible affordable housing financially impossible.

Discussion highlights - Staff framing: Garrett Jackson summarized state law, local code and three primary tracks for amendments. He noted the city already has downtown reductions and that Kitsap jurisdictions vary. He asked for direction to produce draft legislative language. "If that sounds acceptable to the planning commission, staff will work on what it might look like to remove parking requirements from the municipal code," Jackson said near the end of the meeting. - Public testimony: Joseph Crane, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul in Bremerton, said his agency uses public transit heavily and that required parking stalls at one shelter are rarely used: "Housing is a huge need," Crane told commissioners, urging rules that make affordable housing more feasible. Dean Kelly, principal and housing lead at Rice Fergus Miller, said parking requirements are often the first constraint in feasibility studies: "Providing parking is very often the initial limiter that we look at when evaluating the potential of a site." James Klein, president of the Charleston Business Association, urged caution for older business districts where on‑site parking is hard to add. - Commissioners: Commissioners Mike Miller, Peterson, Jack Powell and Chris Browning each voiced support for removing minimum parking requirements. Several commissioners preferred a permanent removal; others recommended a temporary moratorium or waiting until the state legislative session concluded. Commissioner Peterson said developers typically build the parking they expect to need and favored elimination, arguing it would help housing supply. Commissioner Tift and others asked for more data about impacts on Naval Base Kitsap employees who use downtown parking. - Stakeholder input: Staff reported receipt of a letter from the Kitsap Building Association recommending removal of all minimum parking standards.

Next steps and staff direction Staff said they would prepare draft legislative markup showing what municipal code would look like without minimum parking standards, including any carve‑outs (for example ADA parking), and return the draft at a future workshop before a public hearing. Jackson said the planning commission could decide whether to recommend a temporary moratorium or a permanent code change when it forwards a recommendation to the city council.

The planning commission did not adopt a final ordinance at the Feb. 24 workshop; the meeting provided direction to staff only. The commission expects additional workshops and a public hearing before any formal recommendation to the Bremerton City Council.