Comprehensive Plan Update


Why is the Comprehensive Plan Being Updated?

Kitsap County's Comprehensive Plan includes a 20-year blueprint for local policies, planning and capital facility investment and it is required by Washington State's Growth Management Act (GMA) to be updated periodically.

This is an opportunity to revise population and employment growth targets with the most up to date data, review existing goals and policies, write new policies that reflect the priorities of communities in unincorporated Kitsap County, and confirm that all federal, state, and local requirements are met.

The next update of the County's Comprehensive Plan is due in December of 2024. The 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update will plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth through the year 2044.

Project Overview and Schedule

The purpose of the Comprehensive Plan Update is to comply with the requirements of the GMA in RCW 36.70A.130:

  • Plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth.
  • Review and revise the comprehensive plan and development regulations to ensure they comply with the requirements of the GMA.

The final deadline for adoption of any updates is December 2024.  

Get Involved​
​​There are several ways to be involved in the Comprehensive Plan Update.

  • Sign up to receive text or email notifications, including project announcements, information about outreach events, surveys, and other public participation opportunities. Select "Comprehensive Plan Announcements" from the list of topics.

  • Send us an email at compplan@kitsap.gov to let us know what you think or contact project staff.

  • Attend a meeting, listed on the right, when there are scheduled upcoming public events.

  • If you would like the Comprehensive Plan team to give a presentation to your community, please reach out to compplan@kitsap.gov.

  • More opportunities to participate will be added throughout the process.

ow Can I Get Involved?

​   Past Events

February 28, 2023 Planning Commission Deliberations
Recording

February 22, 2023 Comp Plan Alternatives In-Person Open House

February 21, 2023 Planning Commission Public Hearing
Recording

February 15, 2023 Comp Plan Alternatives Open House
Presentation Slides

February 9, 2023 Comp Plan Alternatives Open House
Presentation Slides

December 7, 2022 CKCC Meeting
Presentation Slides

November 17, 2022 Comprehensive Plan In-Person Open House

October 25, 2022 Captital Facilities and Transporation Meeting

October 15, 2022 League of Women Voters Presentation

October 11, 2022 Environment and Climate Change Meeting

Achieving the Vision
The Plan identifies a shared vision and sets Guiding Directives, Goals, and Policies.

The elements include Land Use, Environment, Housing, Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, Capital Facilities, Utilities, Transportation, and Subarea Plans.

Please explore and make comments on each of the Plan elements vision, guiding directives, goals, and policies here.



What is a Comprehensive Plan?


What is Zoning?



FAQ

   WHAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?

The Comprehensive Plan will be the 20-year blueprint for local policy, planning, and capital facility investment through the year 2044. This plan is used as a guide for local governments through the establishment of vision statements, goals, objectives, policies, and implementing actions. This framework is intended to guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and local government staff.

The State's Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that Counties and Cities update their Comprehensive Plan every 10 years. The Comprehensive Plan is also revised on an annual basis.

   WHY DO WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?

Every community needs a vision. Historically, growth in Washington State has led to issues of urban sprawl, loss of farmland, natural resource degradation, and uncoordinated capital facilities. In 1990, the Growth Management Act was passed, which required us to plan for the future. The Plan will guide where housing and business growth should occur, how that growth is served by transportation and other infrastructure, and how we can enhance the natural environment and community character.

   WHO DECIDES WHAT THE PLAN SAYS?

County Staff will engage with the community to develop a vision based on community goals and state and regional requirements. A draft plan will be developed, and public meetings will be held to collect public comments. The Planning Commission will recommend to staff, who will forward a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, who approve the final plan. 

   WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?

A Comprehensive Plan has mandatory and optional elements. Each element has its own goals and policies. Mandatory elements are:

  • Land Use 
  • Housing
  • Capital Facilities Plan
  • Utilities
  • Economic Development
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Rural Lands 
  • Transportation

In addition, Kitsap County will have various Subarea Plans within the Comprehensive Plan, which focus in more detail on the specific areas of Kingston, Silverdale, Suquamish, and Manchester. 

   HOW WILL THIS AFFECT LAND USE?

The Kitsap Comprehensive Plan assigns land use and zoning designations for every parcel within unincorporated Kitsap County. Land use designations provide sideboards on the use of land, whether for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, or institutional purposes.

 

The County must maintain a certain amount of residential and commercial growth capacity in certain areas of the County. The County-Wide Planning Policies (CPPs) provide growth targets for different areas of the County, and the Comprehensive Plan must be consistent with these goals.   

   WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF I WANT TO CHANGE THESE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS?

Starting in June 2022, anyone may initiate a request for a land use reclassification. See more information on the process here.  All requests will be reviewed holistically by the Board of County Commissioners and evaluated on their consistency with the final Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. Those requests that move forward will be included in the preliminary alternatives in 2023 for Environmental Review. 

   WHAT CHANGES WILL BE IN THE FINAL UPDATE?

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will evaluate three different growth alternatives. The EIS will include an analysis of potential impacts associated with amendments, and the public is given an opportunity to comment on the EIS. Ultimately, a "preferred alternative" will be selected to move forward through the public process. 

  IS THIS THE SAME AS A ZONING CODE?

No, the Comprehensive Plan is a framework for what land uses are allowed where. A zoning code regulates development, such as rules about height, density, and setbacks. Per State Law, a zoning code must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, and the zoning code and other development regulations will be updated as part of this process in order to implement the Comprehensive Plan. Other development codes need to stay consistent as well, such as the Critical Areas Ordinance (Title 19), Shoreline Master Program (Title 22), and Subdivision Regulations (Title 16).






 Upcoming Events

​February 1, 2023

PUBLIC COMMENT OPEN UNTIL APRIL 14
To provide comment on the alternatives or any other aspect of the Comprehensive Plan update, please email compplan@kitsap.gov. All comments received will become part of the update record and available to the Board of Commissioners. 


April 10, 2023 5:30 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Public Hearing, Hybrid, Commissioner's Chambers
619 Division Street, Port Orchard

Maps and descriptions tentatively scheduled for Board of Commissioner deliberation and approval April 19, 2023.

CONTACT

Department of Community Development

Planning and Environmental Programs

(360) 337-5777 (Kitsap 1)

compplan@kitsap.gov


MAILING ADDRESS

614 Division Street - MS36
Port Orchard, WA 98366

Office Location 

619 Division Street
Port Orchard, Washington


STAY INFORMED


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RELATED LINKS:

Current and Past Comprehensive Plans

Home for current and past Comprehensive Plans

2016 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update

PDF 13MB

Code, Code Updates, and Director's Code Interpretations

​Links to the complete Kitsap County Code, the code update process, and Director's interpretations of the code.

Community Maps / GIS Data

Home for all the planning and regulatory maps for Community Development.

Subarea and Community Plans

Subarea plans are a type of long-range planning for a limited geographic area within a community.  Here you will find Subarea plans, Limited Areas of More Intense Rural Development, and Community Plans.

Buildable Land Program and Land Capacity Analysis

The Buildable Lands Report is a "look back' to review consistency between actual and planned densities.  It answers if development is occurring as envisioned by the Comprehensive Plan and if there is sufficient land supply for population and employment growths.


Countywide Planning Policies


Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council - Land Use Planning


Washington State Department of Commerce


Hearings Board


Washington Administration Code


Regional Planning for a Sustainable Future | Puget Sound Regional Council


Growth Management Act