A new year dawns, and it brings with it new opportunities as well as new challenges.
Welcome to 2012. Here are some pressing issues that need our attention this year.
Branding and vision for Viking Avenue: With Courtesy Ford’s closure, the auto row era is officially over. A thoroughfare that was a major economic force in Poulsbo for three decades — and has received millions in public dollars for street improvements — is now grasping for a new vision.
And yet, no other area of the city has more potential. Street improvements were completed to the city limits. All necessary infrastructure is installed — curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street lighting, and utilities.
There are established businesses here: Ag-related services, a bank, brewery, children’s clothing store, grocery, home services, movie theater and restaurants, and historical resources such as the Martinson House Museum, Nelson Park, and the County Road 50 Walking Trail. Viking Avenue is a great alternative route to Silverdale.
Viking Avenue needs a new brand and a new vision. Businesses and the city began that discussion in October; from it emerged the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. It was a good start; let’s take the discussion further.
An organization of businesses and property owners similar to the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association could help identify services missing in Poulsbo that can be accommodated on Viking Avenue. Some city officials would like to see Viking Avenue’s vacant commercial space redeveloped with village-like mixed uses, with street-level stores and cafes and upper-level apartments and homes (Courtesy Ford’s John Hern helped lure Regal Cinemas to Viking Avenue when cars and RVs were king of the thoroughfare). Viking Avenue’s proximity to Liberty Bay and marine-related uses should be considered.
The city should be involved in the discussion. Mayor Becky Erickson believes the city could start a fund which can make zero-interest loans to businesses so they can make visual improvements to their businesses and properties.
Even in hard times, Poulsbo’s other business districts have pulled through. All but a few Front Street spaces are rented. Poulsbo Village is fully occupied. Safeway has announced plans to build a store, pharmacy and gas station on 305 and Lincoln. New homes are being built.
Viking Avenue is an important part of the city’s economy. We are confident that it can be a vibrant thoroughfare once again.
Expansion of the Poulsbo Port District boundaries: Voters created the Port of Poulsbo in 1951 to operate marine- and recreation-related facilities and help bring economic development — investment and jobs — to the community.
But as the city boundaries have grown, the port district boundaries have not. As a result, only half of the city’s commercial and residential property owners pay a property tax to support a port district that benefits the entire city.
The Poulsbo Port District’s boundaries should be enlarged to match the city’s boundaries.
The benefits: All voters in Poulsbo would be able to vote for port commissioners; currently, only port district residents can do that. All residents of Poulsbo would have a voice in port matters. The enlarged port district would generate significant tax revenue that can be used to replace the breakwater and its creosoted pilings; improve the seaplane dock and the marina, so it can accommodate larger tour vessels; and prevent further erosion at the foot of Anderson Parkway.
Larger port district boundaries would also empower the commission to look beyond the waterfront for economic development. Under state law, the port district could play a major role in economic revitalization in Poulsbo through the acquisition of property for commercial, ecotourism and recreational uses.
The commission should put annexation on the 2012 ballot.
Count residential units in commercial areas: Residential units in commercial areas should be counted in density allocations. Residents in commercial areas use resources, generate visitors, drive vehicles and contribute to local traffic. Their presence has an impact that is not adequately measured under current standards.
Case in point: the Edward Rose & Sons’ neighborhood development at State Route 305 and Bond Road. The neighborhood was adopted under the master plan process, which gave the city considerable input on building setbacks, wetland buffers, and stormwater handling. In addition, the developer will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in impact fees and will make road and traffic improvements. In exchange, the developer was allowed to build more units per acre.
The 55-acre property was zoned medium residential, or 10 units per acre. The City Council rezoned nine acres commercial; 46 remained medium residential.
The developer proposes building 540 apartments and 160 senior care apartments. That’s more than 700 units — not including a to-be-determined number of apartments above stores in the commercial area. Those apartments won’t be included in the overall number of units being developed because they are in a commercial zone.
While the senior care apartments and commercial-area apartments don’t count toward the total density allocation, they are, as stated earlier, apartments occupied by people who use resources, generate visitors, drive vehicles and contribute to local traffic.
Apartments in commercial zones must be counted so that their impacts on resources and traffic can be adequately measured. The council should make appropriate changes to the zoning code in 2012.
Heed traffic warning signs on Little Boston and Hansville roads: Of five fatal crashes in North Kitsap in 2011, three were on Little Boston or Hansville roads.
On Nov. 10, a man was killed and another airlifted to the regional trauma center after their car crashed on Little Boston Road between Hansville and Cliffside roads, about six miles north-northwest of Kingston.
On Sept. 23, a 21-year-old motorcyclist died from injuries sustained when his motorcycle collided with a Jeep Cherokee at Hansville Road and Three Berry Lane.
On Sept. 9, the driver of an SUV was killed when his vehicle left a section of Little Boston Road near Hood Canal Drive and crashed into some trees.
Each of those killed had families, careers and ambitions that were cut short. One man was a student at the University of Washington. One man was engaged to be married the next weekend.
Let 2012 be the year when there were no serious accidents on those roads. We can help by paying attention to appropriate warning signs.Slow down. Watch your speed limit. Curves ahead. Road dangerous when speeding. The county and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe should team on adding more signs as well.
The North Kitsap Herald wishes everyone a healthy, prosperous and safe 2012.