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Residents and tribe urge stronger tree‑retention protections during Kitsap County code updates hearing
Summary
At a June 16 public hearing on 2026 administrative code edits, multiple speakers — including residents and the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe planner — criticized a proposed tree‑retention replacement approach and asked the commission to better align edits with the 2024 comprehensive plan and to retain or strengthen master planning provisions.
The Kitsap County Planning Commission heard public testimony June 16 on proposed 2026 administrative code updates, with several residents and an environmental planner for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe urging stronger protections for mature trees and better public engagement.
"You're much better off retaining existing trees than trying to replace them," said Joe Lubisher of Indianola, criticizing a provision (item 8 in the matrix) that allows wholesale tree removal followed by minimal replanting. April Ryan of Kingston similarly said the proposed tree‑retention ratio "does not comply with no net loss and actually encourages the removal of all trees with simple one‑to‑one replacement by replanting non‑comparable trees."
Why it matters: Commenters argued new language could permit removal of mature canopy with only small saplings replacing them, losing ecosystem functions such as shade, habitat and water management. The Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe's environmental planner, Marla Powers, thanked staff for adding commercial applicability to retention rules but asked the commission to request a tree canopy audit in January 2027 to evaluate the code's first year in effect.
Staff presentation and responses
April Gasman, DCD long‑range planner presenting the package, said the department is not moving forward at this time with a proposed removal of the county’s master planning code and that two director's interpretations (covering cellular leaseholds and replacement allowances for nonconforming manufactured homes) are included in the update. She told the commission the SEPA comment period closed June 10 with no SEPA comments and that the public comment form period closed earlier the day of the hearing.
Beverly Parsons of North Kitsap said the staff report quoted vision statements from the 2016 comprehensive plan instead of the 2024 plan and urged the commission to use code changes to better reflect the 2024 plan’s emphasis on local input and environmental safeguards.
Next steps
Gasman told commissioners that deliberations and findings of fact are scheduled for July 21, 2026, a date when commissioners will consider any proposed amendments and formal motions. The commission took no final action at the hearing; the record remains open only as outlined by staff (SEPA and the public comment periods noted), and staff will circulate the comment matrix for commissioner review.
