Council approves night work, road closure for Front Street sewer connection at Vanheimer site

Poulsbo City Council voted to allow nighttime construction and a temporary closure on Front Street to accommodate a sewer connection for the Vanheimer apartment project.

The 9 p.m.–to‑5 a.m. night-work window with up to 8‑hour shifts was approved after the council and staff agreed to a later start time to reduce effects on downtown restaurants and evening customers. Engineering advised the location — the corner of First Avenue and Hostmark Street — is constrained by utilities and will be difficult and unsafe to complete during daytime traffic hours.

Engineering staff told the council the work was originally approved in February 2023 but utility and site conditions have changed. The contractor will keep access to Third Avenue from Hostmark and access to the Eliasson parking garage as needed. Message boards and advance notifications to nearby residents will be deployed and a detour will be in place during closures.

Council members asked about resident notification and whether the contractor or the city would lead the work; staff said the work will be led by the developer’s contractor with city engineering coordination. Council also discussed whether to start work at 8 or 9 p.m.; the contractor agreed to begin at 9 p.m. per council direction and that limiting start times would be added as a permit condition.

The motion to approve the road closure and night-work request passed unanimously. Voting recorded: Newell — aye; Crow — aye; Taber — aye; Eckert — aye; McVeigh — aye; Libdahl — aye; Stern — aye.

Council directed staff to place the contractor’s hour restriction into the permit conditions and to maintain communication with affected downtown businesses as the job proceeds.