Poulsbo holds workshop on spring 2025 code amendments and 2024 comprehensive-plan update; public hearing date set

City planning staff presented a workshop June 4 on a package of spring 2025 code amendments and the 2024 comprehensive plan update. The amendments are grouped into three categories: legislative changes to align with state law, housekeeping and code cleanup, and comp-plan-related updates tied to housing and development policy.

Key code items discussed include:

- Changes to application completeness procedures to align municipal application forms with state law timelines. - Making unit-lot subdivisions permanent (an interim ordinance had been in place). - A new state-driven limit on maximum required surface-parking stall width (the state now limits required stall widths to no more than 8 feet wide for certain standards). - A manufactured-home-park overlay to clarify permitted uses in existing mobile-home parks. - Incentives for pitched roofs on some multifamily projects to improve design and neighborhood compatibility. - Clarifications to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in multifamily or townhouse contexts where each dwelling can have an ADU, consistent with state law changes encouraging ADUs. - An incentive to not count an additional unit on corner-lot duplexes toward density as a way to encourage attached, smaller units.

Staff noted a second, larger code amendment package focused on additional housing-choice measures is planned for late 2025. Planning Director Nicole said the city will pursue an update of impact fees after adopting the comp plan and that a critical areas ordinance update (including best-available science on stream buffers) is required later this year.

The planning commission previously held workshops and voted to recommend approval with amendments on May 13. Council set a public hearing for the code amendments on June 18 and agreed not to require an additional workshop this week. Councilmembers asked staff to return with additional proposals later in 2025 to consider cottage courts, setbacks and parking-stall lengths to support varied housing types.

The comprehensive-plan update incorporates the city's functional plans (water, sewer, stormwater, transportation and parks), a housing needs assessment, and a new health and human services chapter; staff noted an environmental impact statement was prepared as part of the 2024 update. Council discussion included potential future work on impact fees and urban-growth-area swaps with Kitsap County to seek more developable land beyond areas with steep ravines and critical areas.