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Kitsap staff propose land‑capacity changes to address remand; commissioners continue deliberations
Summary
County planners proposed technical adjustments to the 2024 comprehensive plan — notably reducing assumed future roads/right‑of‑way from 20% to 5% on redevelopable parcels — which staff said yields added housing capacity and resolves employment shortfalls; the board continued the hearing to May 18 for deliberation.
Kitsap County planning staff presented proposed adjustments May 11 to the county’s 2024 comprehensive plan required by a remand from the Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board and comments from the Puget Sound Regional Council.
Long‑range planner Garrett Balu summarized the principal technical change: reduce the assumed portion of redevelopable parcels set aside for future roads and rights of way from 20% to 5%. That single adjustment, combined with UGA‑specific tweaks for Kingston, Port Orchard and Poulsbo, "revealed capacity for 354 single family units and 1,052 multifamily units," Balu said, which would put the county at or above target capacity for the income bands the hearings board flagged.
Balu also said the update includes additional goals and policies in the land use chapter to address multimodal emergency and evacuation routes and adds transportation element language aimed at reducing vehicle emissions. He explained the county has a compliance deadline in June and scheduled adoption for the board’s June 22 meeting to meet Department of Commerce notice requirements.
Speakers at the public hearing raised process and infrastructure concerns. Jack Stanfield noted extensive prior submittals and asked staff to correct perceived errors in record‑keeping; Jamie Clough of the Kitsap Building Association thanked staff for the capacity analysis but warned that capacity alone does not guarantee affordability without design, zoning and financing changes. Robin Salthouse urged attention to water supply and wastewater treatment capacity, citing strain at the Central Kitsap wastewater plant.
After public comment the board voted to continue deliberations to May 18 to allow further review and participation by commissioners. Staff will finalize materials for the next meeting, with adoption planned on June 22 if the board proceeds.
