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) . The GMA sets forth that Kitsap County and its cities should review and revise, if needed, their comprehensive plans to ensure the plan complies with GMA requirements. The GMA requires state and local governments to manage Washington’s growth by identifying and protecting critical areas and natural resource lands, designating urban growth areas, preparing comprehensive plans, and implementing them through capital investments and development regulations. This approach to growth management is unique among states. Rather than centralize planning and decision-making at the state level, the GMA is built on Washington’s strong traditions of local government control and regional diversity. The GMA establishes state goals, sets deadlines, and offers direction on how to prepare local comprehensive plans, and sets forth requirements for early and continuous public participation.

Accommodating and Planning for Growth

The periodic update must plan to accommodate a portion of the overall growth (population, employment, and housing) that is forecast for the Central Puget Sound region (i.e. Kitsap, Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties). Growth allocations are determined through a regional process coordinated through the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) and the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC). The City actively participates in both coordination organizations. Within the context of this regional allocation process, local jurisdictions adopt 2044 growth targets that will be used as the basis for their periodic updates.

Poulsbo is required to plan for the following 2044 targets:

Population: 5,646 new residents
Employment: 4,000 new jobs
Housing: 1,977 new housing units

Engagement Opportunities:

April 17: City Council Workshop -Review of Housing Chapter
April 23: Planning Commission Meeting – SR 305 Code Amendment Workshop
May 1: City Council Workshop – Review of Capital Facilities Chapter
May 8: City Council Workshop – Review of Utilities and Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Chapters
May 28: Planning Commission Meeting – Review of Transportation Chapter and SR 305 Code Amendment Public Hearing
June 5: City Council Workshop – Review of Economic Development Chapter

Planning for Housing

Housing for people is the foundation of any community. Most people identify strongly with the community in which they live. Cities that grow in number of people and jobs are the most vibrant—and the most in need of housing. To serve a variety of household sizes, ages, incomes, and preferences, a variety of housing choices are critical.

Poulsbo is a city with many assets that make it a desirable community of over 12,000 residents. While the city has benefited in years past from relatively lower costs compared to King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, rapid population growth coupled with a lack of housing supply has resulted in an increased demand for housing and rising costs. The limited supply of certain housing types and resulting cost pressure is contributing to a displacement of long-term Poulsbo residents, while also presenting a barrier for middle to low-income households to find housing.

Local governments mainly do not provide housing directly. Typically, private developers produce most housing units in a jurisdiction. Local governments set the conditions in place to encourage the market to develop housing affordable to all members of the community. Housing planning and policymaking are integral functions of cities, and essential for supporting inclusive, diverse, and economically vibrant communities. Reviewing, evaluating, and updating housing plans, policies, and associated development regulations can help jurisdictions meet evolving community needs for housing variety and affordability, as well as achieve other planning goals for land use, economic development, transportation, and the environment.

Check out the Planning for Housing Summary Document here.

Project Documents

Chapter Summary Pages

Chapter 1 : Introduction
Chapter 2: Land Use
Chapter 3: Community Character
Chapter 4: Transportation (coming soon)
Chapter 5: Natural Environment (coming soon)
Chapter 6: Capital Facilities
Chapter 7: Housing
Chapter 8: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
Chapter 9: Economic Development (coming soon)
Chapter 10: Utilities
Chapter 11: Health and Human Services (coming soon)
Chapter 12: Participation, Evaluation, and Implementation (coming soon)

Supporting and Informational Documents

EIS/SEPA

Determination of Significance and Scoping

Summary of Policy Changes - All Chapters

Updated March 2024

Chapter 2: Land Use
Chapter 3: Community Character
Chapter 4: Transportation
Chapter 5: Natural Environment
Chapter 6: Capital Facilities
Chapter 7: Housing
Chapter 8: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
Chapter 9: Economic Development
Chapter 10: Utilities
Chapter 11: Health and Human Services (NEW chapter, therefore all policies are new)
Chapter 12: Participation, Evaluation, and Implementation

Introduction Chapter Update

City Council Review

CC Reviewed Introduction Chapter – Strikethrough/Underline Version and Clean Copy Version – April 2024

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

April 3, 2024 City Council Workshop

Planning Commission Review

For information on how to attend Planning Commission meetings go here.

May 10, 2022 Planning Commission Workshop
May 24, 2022 Planning Commission Workshop
May 9, 2023 Planning Commission Workshop
June 13, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting

Land Use Chapter Update

City Council Review

CC Reviewed Land Use Chapter – Strikethrough/Underline Version and Clean Copy Version – April 2024

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

April 3, 2024 City Council Workshop

Planning Commission Review

August 8, 2023 Planning Commission:

January 23, 2024 Planning Commission:

Agenda Item
Meeting Video
Meeting Minutes

Community Character Chapter Update

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

CC Reviewed Community Character Chapter – Strikethrough/Underline Version and Clean Copy Version – April 2024

April 10, 2024 City Council Workshop

Planning Commission Review

June 28, 2022 Planning Commission:

July 12, 2022 Planning Commission:

May 9, 2023 Planning Commission Workshop

June 13, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting

Transportation Chapter Update

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

July 3, 2024 City Council Workshop
- Agenda Packet
  - Summary Cover Page
  - Clean Copy of Chapter
  - Strikethrough and Underline Version
- Meeting Minutes
- Link to recording of meeting

Planning Commission Review

October 24, 2023

November 14, 2023

Agenda Packet
Meeting Video
Meeting Minutes (coming soon)

Natural Environment Chapter Update

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

July 10, 2024 City Council Workshop
- Agenda Packet
  - Summary Cover Page
  - Clean Copy of Chapter
  - Strikethrough and Underline Version
- Meeting Minutes
- Link to recording of meeting

Planning Commission Review

July 26, 2022 Planning Commission:

September 26, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting

January 23, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting

Capital Facilities Chapter Update

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

May 1, 2024 City Council Workshop
- Agenda Packet
- Meeting Minutes
- Link to recording of meeting

Planning Commission Review

January 24, 2023 Planning Commission:

February 7, 2023 Planning Commission:

February 28, 2023 Planning Commission:

Capital Facilities Overview Presentation

August 29, 2023 Planning Commission:

Housing Chapter Update

City Council Review

CC Reviewed Housing Chapter – Strikethrough/Underline Version and Clean Copy Version – April 2024

April 17, 2024 City Council Workshop

Planning Commission Review

March 28, 2023 Planning Commission:

April 11, 2023 Planning Commission:

November 28, 2023 Planning Commission:

December 12, 2023 Planning Commission:

Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Chapter Update

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

May 8, 2024 City Council Workshop
- Agenda Packet
- Meeting Minutes
- Link to recording of meeting

Planning Commission Review

January 24, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting:

August 29, 2023 Planning Commission:

Economic Development Chapter Update

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

June 5, 2024 City Council Workshop
- Agenda Packet
  - Summary Cover Page
  - Clean Copy of Chapter
  - Strikethrough and Underline Version
- Meeting Minutes
- Link to recording of meeting

Planning Commission Review

August 23, 2022 Planning Commission Meeting:
- Meeting Minutes
- Meeting Video
December 13, 2022 Planning Commission Meeting:
January 10, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting:
- Meeting Video
- Meeting Minutes

June 13, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting

Utilities Chapter Update

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

May 8, 2024 City Council Workshop
- Agenda Packet
- Meeting Minutes
- Link to recording of meeting

Planning Commission Review

February 7, 2023 Planning Commission:

August 29, 2023 Planning Commission:

Health and Human Services Chapter - NEW

City Council Review

For information on how to attend City Council meetings go here.

June 12, 2024 City Council Workshop
- Agenda Packet
  - Summary Cover Page
  - Clean Copy of Chapter
  - Strikethrough and Underline Version
- Meeting Minutes
- Link to recording of meeting