Here are some topics to consider when composing your own comments to the Commissioners for the Public Hearing on October 28, 2024, 5:30pm.

1) Add Natural Character to the 2025 Year of the Rural focus: We are pleased that the County did not rezone in rural areas this year and plans to address both rural rezoning and farmland issues in 2025. Please expand the 2025 focus to include attention to nature as a whole to make significant strides in protecting our environment in both rural and urban areas.

In 2024, progress was made in addressing changes to the Critical Areas Ordinance and introducing a Tree Canopy regulation. However, in their current form, these regulations do not adequately represent the importance of the tree canopy or adequately address protecting nature. The lack of completion of the PROS plan in 2024 with attention to protecting nature is also of concern. We suggest that the 2024 Comp Plan Update specifically state that in 2025, these documents are expected to be further reviewed to give greater attention to protecting nature.

We must preserve and protect our most valuable assets—our forests, critical areas, and water supply—to develop climate resilience and a sustainable future for our residents. Rural Kitsap and open spaces are not just “vacant undeveloped lands.” They have definable qualitative and quantitative value to the residents of Kitsap County, and once gone, cannot be replaced. They are the habitat of many species, provide essential ecological functions that support the whole county and its residents, and contribute to the quality of life and defining character of Kitsap County.

2) Require use of Best Available Science: For the past 15 months, KEC has warned the county leaders about DCD’s disregard for Best Available Science. The WA Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has also presented their concerns and clearly states that DCD is disregarding Best Available Science and WDFW’s recommendations. (ref: messages 520-526 on the Matrix of Comments on the FEIS)

3) Prioritize the needs of existing residents and their future generations while attending to the protection of nature: The 2024 Comp Plan Update and Preferred Alternative call for addressing both the expected population increase and the need for more diverse housing. More diverse housing is in contrast to the momentum of the past that has created a pipeline of single-family housing that is not affordable to the majority of current Kitsap residents. Priority should be given to the people who already live here by providing housing that is both attractive and affordable within urban areas before vesting more single-family high-end developments. Developers should not be granted extensions under old codes, allowed variances, or given a nearly automatic Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) that undermine our natural environment.

4) Meet Level of Service Standards and resident needs: WSDOT has identified shortcomings in KC’s transportation Level of Service (LOS) standards. If left unmitigated, these shortcomings will create serious traffic problems within the County. It is imperative to resolve these issues. Prioritize the development of dependable public transit and infrastructure for non-motorized transportation, including shared-use paths in urban areas and bike lanes, over projects designed to encourage tourism.

5) Align resource allocation with Preferred Alternative, including protection of nature: Allocate county resources to prioritize the protection of nature and the Preferred Alternative 2. End previously approved projects of the past if they don’t reflect those new priorities and current financial realities.  Free up resources to deal with new priorities.

We look forward to the County’s implementation of its new vision, which calls for an engaged, connected, safe, healthy, livable, resilient, vibrant, and well-governed community.