Planning Commission unanimously recommends Kitsap Transit North Base maintenance facility to hearing examiner

The Poulsbo Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the hearing examiner of Kitsap Transit’s proposed North Base maintenance facility and operations offices, planning file P-724-24-2.

Planning staff presented details of the proposal and recommended conditions before the commission. Edie Berghof, Poulsbo planning staff, told commissioners the project site lies on the north end of Viking Avenue and is in a light-industrial zone where a maintenance shop is allowed with a conditional use permit. The project would add a maintenance shop, a storage structure and an operations office, with primary bus access from Viking Avenue and an emergency access to Veteran’s Road, Berghof said.

Staff noted several conditions that must be satisfied before building permits are issued: completion of a roadway vacation/dedication sequence tied to Ruth Haines Road, a boundary line adjustment, and building permits for the foundation slab under a generator and for a storage structure and an east boundary noise/security wall. Berghof said the project includes design elements intended to match an existing 10-foot concrete noise wall and that the emergency and other gates would be designed to be compatible with the wall.

Michael Bateman of the city engineering department said engineering staff reviewed the stormwater report and found it compliant with the Western Washington stormwater manual (February 2019 edition). Bateman said the project’s trip generation memo estimates 36 new daily trips, below the 300-trip threshold that would require a traffic impact analysis, and engineering recommends approval.

Berghof described parking, noting the site proposes about 150 spaces to serve current staff, shift changes and anticipated future growth. City code generally requires parking in excess of 40% above minimum to be under-building or in a structured lot; staff and the applicant examined whether under-building parking or a structure would be feasible given subsurface constraints including an on-site storm vault and a well area. Staff concluded the proposed surface parking would be allowed under a SEPA condition specific to this site.

A neighborhood meeting was held June 13, staff said, and after notice was issued the application comment period closed in mid-September 2024 with no public comments on the record. The SEPA threshold determination was issued April 14; the appeal period ends April 28, the staff presentation said.

Commission discussion covered groundwater and wells. Staff said geotechnical and hydrogeologic reports concluded the site sits on glacial till and that groundwater recharge to a shallow aquifer at the site is unlikely; required hazardous-material storage and handling would be controlled through building and fire-code processes. Staff also confirmed one on-site well will be decommissioned as part of the project.

A commissioner moved that the Planning Commission recommend approval to the hearing examiner and authorize the chair to sign the Commission findings of fact, conclusions and recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

The project record cited planning conditions, engineering review, and SEPA documentation; the recommendation sends the application to the hearing examiner for a final land-use decision subject to the appeal period and any hearing proceedings.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the motion to recommend approval of Kitsap Transit North Base maintenance facility (planning file P-724-24-2) by voice vote with no recorded nay votes. Earlier in the meeting commissioners also approved the minutes of March 25, 2025, by motion and voice vote.