Keyport Community Plan gets green light
Published 10:12 am Saturday, April 26, 2008
PORT ORCHARD — The product of one community’s hard work was brought to fruition with a round of applause Monday night when the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the Keyport Subarea Plan, a document formed by the Department of Community Development and copious hours of volunteer citizen assistance.
The DCD began working to create the plan in February, detailing issues of importance including land use, economic development, transportation, public facilities, infrastructure, arts and sustainability. The plan outlines Keyport’s status as a “limited area of more intensive rural development,” or LAMIRD, which under the Washington State Growth Management Act, helps prevent urban-type sprawl.
With the commissioners’ approval, the plan is now effective, and will remain so in the absence of an appeal, which must be submitted within 60 days of the motion.
Commissioner Steve Bauer said after attending a community meeting on the subject this summer, he had some concerns the process would be a divisive one.
“There were some real issues and differences of opinion,” he said. “I’m just very pleased… You all have a plan you’re proud of and want to live with.”
Bauer added of project manager James Weaver the community had just one complaint: “That you haven’t bought a house there,” he joked.
Weaver said some of the first elements from the plan to see implementation will be the creation of a master plan for port improvements, traffic and pedestrian improvements and sewer infill, a benefit the community will reap with the LAMRID classification.
He said the plan will continue to function as a foundation for an overall improvement process that will take about five years to implement. It could also serve as an example for other towns and rural villages.
“We used a lot of tools we hadn’t used before,” Weaver said. The Internet being a major one of those tools, he said meeting recordings were available as MP3s and online surveys were conducted.
“It’s been a privilege to work with the residents and stakeholders in this community and a pleasure to create this plan,” he said. “It’s been actually quite fun.”
The planning process did have its downsides, including an extensive debate regarding the inclusion of waterfront building height restrictions, which was ultimately unsupported and left out of the plan.
“The process was fair and equitable for everyone who attended our meetings,” said waterfront resident Richard Culley. “ It’s a wonderful township… people know each other, shake hands, say hello.”
Keyport Community Club president Milt Meeds presented Weaver a plaque on behalf of the KCC, acknowledging his dedication, help and skill and thanking him for his hard work.
“I don’t think anybody’s opposed to the plan as it’s written now,” Meeds said. “We struggled with the plan in the early stages … James has done an outstanding job. We feel he’s one of the community now.”
To see more of the Keyport Subarea Plan, visit http://www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/community_plan/subareas/keyport/default.htm.
