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Kitsap planners outline Comp Plan timeline and proposed urban tree-canopy requirements
Summary
Kitsap County staff presented a timeline for the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update and described proposed urban tree-canopy code that would apply to developments creating four or more lots/units in urban areas, encourage retention of trees over replacement and use arborist-based scoring; staff said specifics will be in an Aug. 30 draft and the Board of County Commissioners will consider adoption in December.
Kitsap County Department of Community Development staff briefed the Planning Commission on the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update on Aug. 20, 2024, and described proposed tree-canopy requirements aimed at preserving urban trees in new development.
Eric Baker, speaking for DCD, said revised draft Comp Plan documents will be published on Aug. 30 and the Planning Commission’s review will begin at its Sept. 3 meeting. Baker outlined a public-hearing schedule (a special PC meeting Sept. 24), an anticipated Board of County Commissioners adoption target of Dec. 2 and a projected implementation date around Feb. 14, 2025. He urged commissioners to submit questions through the clerk so staff can address them at the next meeting.
Why it matters: The draft includes a proposed approach the Board directed staff to develop to ensure trees are part of new development in urban areas. That approach would apply to subdivisions and to single- and multi-family projects that create four or more lots or units, prioritize retention of trees with trunk diameters greater than 18 inches and use arborist-based tree-unit scoring to assess compliance.
Baker described other elements under consideration: tree protection plans during construction, tree-health monitoring, a possible tree-bank system, and protections for isolated retained trees or groves. He said calculations to account for multi-trunk trees had been removed from earlier drafts to reduce confusion but that the Aug. 30 draft will include additional specificity on clusters and groves.
Commissioners raised concerns about the effect on housing supply and cost. Aaron Murphy said narrower lot widths to create tracts for trees can increase development costs; Baker said cost impacts are site specific. Richard Shattuck asked whether the optional code could be delayed given the current housing shortage; Baker confirmed staff can consider a delay. Commissioners also confirmed that the proposed code would be incorporated into the county’s Development Regulations.
Public comment reflected support and concern: Beverly Parksons (Hansville) urged protections for trees and climate measures that apply to all citizens rather than only developers; Bill Palmer earlier questioned tree-preservation proposals in the context of study costs and county priorities.
Next steps: DCD will publish revised drafts on Aug. 30, continue stakeholder discussions and hold the special public hearing on Sept. 24 ahead of Board consideration. The commission did not adopt any code changes at the meeting.
