Poulsbo’s comp plan nears adoption

Published 5:21 pm Monday, November 30, 2009

The Poulsbo City Council is scheduled to adopt the city’s new growth plan at its regular meeting Wednesday.

The Comprehensive Plan, required by the state’s Growth Management Act, lays out a city’s road map for development.

The plans, known by their shorthand, “comp plan,” give developers and residents clear expectations for transportation, housing and other land use issues.

Interest in the sometimes dense process, described on the city’s Web site as a reflection of the “community’s desires, needs and aspirations for the future,” drew minimal interest from residents. Public meetings did become lively over the summer, however, when outgoing Mayor Kathryn Quade’s administration proposed rezoning portions of a city park. That proposal resulted in the Torval Canyon neighborhood organizing in opposition and requiring a larger venue for normally sparsely attended Planning Commission meetings.

It also resulted in a proposal to establish a new land use designation for city parks to add an additional step if any future administration attempted to sell park land.

Quade attempted to clarify the intent was to reformat Betty Iverson Kiwanis Park at Scandia Knolls to connect with other public open space, but ended up withdrawing the proposal.