Planning and Economic Development

Spotlight

May 2023

This monthly update is published by the City of Poulsbo Planning and Economic Development (PED) Department to highlight news and trends in planning and development. For details on these topics and the department, visit our website.
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The Director's Chair

Amendments to the development regulations within the Poulsbo Municipal Code (PMC) can be requested by individual citizens or driven by initiatives of the mayor or city council and as required by state legislation. This year, the Washington State legislature passed several bills that will require amendments to the PMC and comprehensive plan specific to how we plan for and accommodate housing and plan for climate change.



The 2023 Legislative session came to a close on April 23, 2023 after commencing on January 9, 2023. The session began with upward of 50 bills specific to housing, land use planning, transportation, and climate change. The City has identified four notable bills that will require amendments beginning in January 2025: 

  • House Bill (HB) 1337 will require the city to increase the amount of accessory dwelling units per lot from one to two, with some exceptions. It also precludes the city from limiting the size of the unit below 1,000 square feet. This bill is aimed to address the housing affordability crisis of 1.1 million homes the state is predicted to need in the next 20 years.


  • Additionally, HB 1042 will require the city to readily allow existing buildings zoned for commercial or mixed use to create additional housing beyond current development regulations and to be exempt from certain standards such as setbacks and parking.


  • To produce housing more expeditiously, permit review timelines are expected to shorten. Permit timelines are mandated by state law and the time allowed to review and approve a permit (without modifications from the applicant or the city) has customarily ranged from 90 to 120 days. The state passed Senate Bill (SB) 5290 that is expected to shorten review timelines. This bill is contingent on grants to consolidate and expedite permit reviews and is required to take effect by January 1, 2025.


  • Finally, SB 1181 will require the city to include a new element in our comprehensive plan specific to climate change, targeted at reducing greenhouse gases and vehicle miles traveled. Additionally, this bill focuses on resiliency to climate change and natural hazards by requiring a natural hazard mitigation plan that prioritizes actions that benefit overburdened communities.  

2024 Comprehensive Plan Update

The City of Poulsbo is undertaking a periodic review and update of its comprehensive plan, as required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), RCW 36.70A.130(5). This is an opportunity to revise population and employment growth forecasts with the most up to date data, review existing policies to ensure they make sense for the community, write new policies that reflect the priorities of the community, and confirm that all federal, state, and local requirements are met. The next update of the Comprehensive Plan is due December 30, 2024. This update will plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth through the year 2044.


EIS Scoping Notice


The Poulsbo PED Department has determined that the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update is likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement is required under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c) and will be prepared. 


Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS. You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant adverse impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required.


Scoping comments may be submitted in the following ways:


  • plan&econ@cityofpoulsbo.com
  • Poulsbo Planning Department | 200 NE Moe Street | Poulsbo, WA 98370


***The deadline for scoping comments is May 29, 2023, by 4 p.m. ****



Pop Up Event - Farmers Market


Thank you to those that visited us at the April 15th Poulsbo Farmers Market! We enjoyed meeting community members and discussing the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update. Find us at the market on June 3rd!

Above: Senior Planner Coleman and Planning Commissioners Kipps and Newell answering questions at the Poulsbo Farmers Market on April 15.

New Handout - Poulsbo Facts (see below)

Get to Know the Code - Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging

An Electric vehicle (EV) charging space is a parking space specifically for the use of an electric vehicle while charging at an electric vehicle charging station. These charging spaces are a requirement of the International Building Code (IBC) Sec 429.


The City of Poulsbo recently passed amendments to the municipal code related to EV Charging, including more robust design standards to ensure compatibility with the surrounding built environment. See the new handout here.

Sign Sweep

On Monday May 1, at the direction of the mayor, a temporary sign sweep was conducted and all removed signs have been placed at the Public Works Yard located at 22097 Viking Avenue NW.


Before retrieving your sign, please contact the Planning and Economic Development (PED) Department to determine the applicable regulations and if a permit is necessary.


  • If you have an A frame sign or Sandwich board sign, please view the “Sandwich Board Signs” handout.


  • If you had a sign you intended to be temporary, please view the “Temporary Sign” handout.


  • If you have another type of sign that is not intended to be temporary, please see the “Sign Standards” handout.


A few helpful notes:


  • Temporary sign means any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display intended to be displayed for only a limited amount of time.


  • Feather signs cannot exceed 9 feet in height and are temporary and shall not be displayed more than 14 consecutive days.


  • A temporary sign advertising a special event, sale, promotion, opening/closing of a business or opening of a business under new management shall not be displayed for more than 14 consecutive days.


  • Sandwich board signs intended for permanent display (more than 14 days in a calendar year) are required to obtain a sandwich board sign permit from the city. The annual permit is valid for the calendar year and expires on December 31st of each year.


  • No more than one sandwich board sign shall be permitted for any business, organization, or use.

 

If you have any further questions, email at information@cityofpoulsbo.com, visit us at the counter on the 2nd floor (M-F, 8 to 4:30, closed from 12:15 to 1:15 for lunch) or call the PED Department at 360-394 -9748.


Signs will be stored at the public works yard until Thursday, June 1.

In the Queue

The following projects are currently under review with the PED Department:


  • Eliason Phase II. Public comments due 5/11. Revisions requested.
  • Pacifica Medicine ACUP. Under review.
  • Stockton Short Plat. Technically complete review underway.
  • Nordic Cottages. Revisions requested.
  • Hawks Landing Duplex. Revisions requested.
  • Audrey Estates Plat. Revisions requested.
  • Plateau at Liberty Bay. Revisions requested.
  • Musick Multifamily SPR. Prepping staff report.
  • Blackmore Multifamily SPR. Under review.


Keep up to date with active land use projects by visiting our website.

Above: Nordic Cottages Design Perspective.

The Many Roles of PED Staff

Did you know? On top of the larger land use applications, the PED Department staff also responds to public records requests, business license applications, sign permits, tenant improvements, deck permits, grading permits, and code enforcement requests.


For the month of April PED staff reviewed/responded to:


  • 15 New Single Family Homes
  • 2 Sign
  • 1 Commercial Addition
  • 18 Business Licenses
  • 6 Public Record Requests

Planning Commission Calendar

See below for agenda items for Planning Commission meetings. Please note that agenda items are subject to change. Check the website for the official agenda.


May 9:

2024 Comp Plan Update

  • Introduction Full Chapter Review
  • Community Character Full Chapter Review
  • Participation, Evaluation and Implementation Full Chapter Review


May 23:

Joint Planning Commission/City Council Meeting. Discussion of SR-305 Market Analysis.



Planning Commission meetings are held as a hybrid - virtually via zoom webinars and in-person at the City Hall Council Chambers. Please check the agenda for meeting information.

Planning & Economic Development
200 NE Moe Street | Poulsbo, WA 98370-7347
(360) 394-9748 | fax (360) 697-8269
www.cityofpoulsbo.com | plan&econ@cityofpoulsbo.com