The Director's Chair

“What’s Your Favorite Building in the City?”

That is the ice breaker question that the planning staff asked of our newest council members and planning commissioner at their orientation to planning, building, engineering and public works departments meeting at the end of January. Of all the buildings shared, and likely selected by you, the most surprising was Firestone in College Market Place. Why may you ask? Because Senior Planner, Nikole Coleman, is proud of the design review process the project went through. Unlike many jurisdictions where design review involves a committee, in Poulsbo it is conducted entirely in-house by staff. Having only served here two years, it was impressive to reflect on the diligent efforts of the planning staff in guiding projects to seamlessly integrate within our community’s character. 

The purpose of design review is to assess and evaluate proposed building designs. By scrutinizing architectural and aesthetic aspects, design review strives to enhance the overall quality of life by creating functional, aesthetically pleasing, and resilient spaces for present and future generations.

Here’s a glimpse of a few noteworthy examples of efforts by planning staff:

Vanaheimr Before Design Review

Vanaheimr After Design Review

Fairfield Before Design Review

Fairfield After Design Review

Firestone Before Design Review

Firestone After Design Review

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.

February 2024 Project Update:

• The Planning Commission is continuing their review of Comprehensive Plan Chapters. You can review previous meeting videos, minutes, and documents here.

• 2023 Community Participation Year in Review. Presentation given to City Council on January 17, 2024. You can watch the video here.

Legislative Changes - Housing and Racially Disparate Impacts

In 2021, the Washington Legislature changed the way communities are required to plan for housing. House Bill 1220 (HB 1220)1 amended the GMA to require local governments to “plan for and accommodate” housing affordable to all income levels. This significantly strengthens the previous goal, which was to “encourage” affordable housing. In addition, new changes require local jurisdictions to examine racially disparate impacts, displacement, exclusion and displacement risk in housing policies and regulations and adopt policies to begin to undo the impacts.

Specifically, the new requirements in RCW 36.70A.070(2) state that jurisdictions must now adopt a housing element that:

• Identifies local policies and regulations that result in racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in housing, including:

• Zoning that may have a discriminatory effect;
• Disinvestment; and
• Infrastructure availability.

• Identifies and implement policies and regulations to address and begin to undo racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in housing caused by local policies, plans, and actions;

• Identifies areas that may be at higher risk of displacement from market forces that occur with changes to zoning development regulations and capital investments; and

• Establishes anti-displacement policies, with consideration given to the preservation of historical and cultural communities as well as investments in low, very low, extremely low, and moderate-income housing; equitable development initiatives; inclusionary zoning; community planning requirements; tenant protections; land disposition policies; and consideration of land that may be used for affordable housing.

Retail Cannabis - City Council Public Hearing

During revenue and budget discussions in the spring and fall of 2023, the City Council affirmed their desire to allow retail Cannabis sales and requested that the Planning Commission make a recommendation on the locations that the City of Poulsbo may allow cannabis retail.

On Tuesday, November 28, the Planning Commission discussed the state requirements and considerations, including the buffer standards and impacts on our commercial and light industrial zoning districts. Following a recommendation from staff, the Planning Commission supported limiting the total amount of licenses to two and allowing a maximum of one retail establishment on Viking Way (within C-2 zoning district) and one on SR 305 (within C-3 zoning district). On December 12, 2023, after a duly noticed public hearing, the Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council allow retail cannabis in the C2 and C-3 commercial zoning districts, with limitations. 

The City Council Public Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 5:00 pm, or soon thereafter. Public hearings are being held as a hybrid virtual/in-person meeting at the web address and call-in number noted below and at Poulsbo City Hall Council Chambers, 200 NE Moe Street, Poulsbo, Washington. This call-in number: 1-253-215-8782 and meeting id: 898 4841 6447 are provided for virtual attendance, in addition to this webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89848416447. Oral comments can be made in-person. Please state your name and limit your comments to 3 minutes unless additional time is granted by the Council. As a rule, the Council will not respond to citizen comments. Written comments can be emailed to cityclerks@cityofpoulsbo.com by 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting, and they will be distributed to the Council before the meeting. Written comments will not be read into the record.

• Notice of City Council Public Hearing
• Project Documents can be found here

Land Use Code Amendments - City Council Review

The proposed amendments to the Poulsbo Municipal Code (PMC) are presented in 3 categories – Housekeeping, State Mandates, and Housing Diversity.

• Housekeeping amendments are part of the Planning and Economic Development Departments on-going effort to make land use regulations more usable for residents, developers, and City staff by correcting errors, eliminating text ambiguities, codifying internal policies, and reflecting changes in state law. The proposed amendments do not involve significant changes to the code.

• State mandates refer to directives or requirements imposed by the state government on local jurisdictions or municipalities regarding how they plan and regulate land use within their boundaries. Mandates typically come in the form of laws, regulations, or policies that outline specific criteria, standards, and procedures that local governments must follow when making decisions about land development and zoning.

• Housing diversity refers to the variety of housing options available and encompasses a range of housing types, sizes, styles, and price points to accommodate the diverse needs and preferences within the community. The concept of housing diversity recognizes that individuals and families have varying lifestyle preferences, income levels, and household sizes. By providing a mix of housing options, a community can better meet the needs of its residents and create a more inclusive and dynamic living environment.

The Planning Commission, in its role as the City’s primary land use advisory committee, held workshops on the proposed amendments on December 12, 2023, January 9, 2024, and January 23, 2024. Following a duly noticed public hearing, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the code amendments.

A City Council workshop is scheduled for February 21, 2024, with a tentative public hearing date of March 6, 2024.

• Project Documents can be found here

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 January PED staff reviewed/responded to:

• 4 New Single Family Homes
• 1 Commercial New
• 1 Multifamily New
• 4 Public Record Requests

2023 Single-Family Housing Report

2023 multifamily housing report coming soon!

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.

February 13:

• History of the Olhava Master Plan

February 27:

• Comprehensive Plan Update: Transportation Full Chapter

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.

February Holidays

City Hall will be closed on February 19th for the Holiday Observance.