2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments

Pursuant to the Comprehensive Plan amendment regulations in Port Orchard Municipal Code Section (POMC) 20.04, the Community Development Director has compiled a recommended Comprehensive Plan amendment docket, based on a preliminary evaluation of the need, urgency, and appropriateness of the suggested amendments, as well as the staff and budget availability to accommodate the public review process.

Comprehensive Plan amendment applications were required to be completed and submitted to the Community Development Department by 4:00 pm on January 31, 2025, to be considered during this year’s amendment process. The Department initiated applications for a set of text amendments consistent with POMC 20.04.050(1).

Consistent with the requirements of POMC 20.04.060, the Port Orchard City Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Docket at the March 11, 2025 City Council meeting. Following introduction of the docket at the March Planning Commission meeting, and additional discussion at the April Planning Commission meeting, the City of Port Orchard’s SEPA Responsible Official issued a SEPA Determination of Non-Significance on April 10, 2025 and submitted the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments to the Washington Department of Commerce for review in anticipation of a public hearing before the Planning Commission meeting scheduled for May 6, 2025.

Comprehensive Plan Amendments for Consideration in 2025:

City-Initiated Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment

• Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park Master Plan: Adds the Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park Master Plan to Appendix B – Plans Adopted by Reference, ensuring consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and supporting stormwater management, park improvements, and community development. Inclusion facilitates grant applications, impact fee eligibility, and funding opportunities for design and construction, advancing the City’s goals for water quality, flood mitigation, and public amenities.

• Updates to the Capital Facilities Element: Updates the Capital Facilities Element to incorporate new projects and funding sources for transportation, utilities, parks, and public facilities, ensuring alignment with evolving infrastructure needs, community priorities, and Growth Management Act requirements. These updates enhance financial sustainability, support impact fee and grant funding eligibility, and guide the City’s capital improvement planning and budgeting processes. Both the City of Port Orchard and the developer recognized the need to correct the expenditure values and submitted separate applications requesting the amendment—one City-initiated and one applicant-initiated. This dual application process reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the Comprehensive Plan accurately represents the planned infrastructure investments. See Applicant-Initiated Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment, Capital Facilities Element Text Amendment below.

• Updates to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Updates the TIP to incorporate new roadway, transit, and active transportation projects, along with additional funding sources, to enhance mobility, safety, and connectivity. These amendments align with Comprehensive Plan goals, support sustainable growth, improve multimodal infrastructure, and ensure compliance with the Growth Management Act.
Applicant-Initiated Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment

• Capital Facilities Element Text Amendment: Proposes revising the “Expenditures” table in Chapter 9 to reflect updated cost estimates due to inflation and anticipated changes in project scope and priorities. The amendment ensures alignment with current infrastructure needs and financial planning as the City reviews relevant water system elements. Both the City of Port Orchard and the developer recognized the need to correct the expenditure values and submitted separate applications requesting the amendment—one City-initiated and one applicant-initiated. This dual application process reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the Comprehensive Plan accurately represents the planned infrastructure investments. See link in City-Initiated Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment Updates to the Capital Facilities Element above.

Applicant-Initiated Comprehensive Plan Map Amendments

• SW Old Clifton Industrial Properties Redesignation of Land Use Classification and Zoning Designation: A Comprehensive Plan Map and Legislative Zoning Map amendment for thirteen (13) parcels located approximately 0.22 miles southwest of the intersection of SW Old Clifton Rd and Lloyd Pkwy. The amendment would change the Comprehensive Plan Land Use designation from Industrial to Medium Density Residential (MDR), and the zoning designation from Light Industrial (LI) to Residential 3 (R3). APNs : 032301-2-101-2009, 032301-2-071-2005, 032301-2-070-2006, 032301-2-087-2007, 032301-2-090-2002, 032301-2-089-2005, 032301-2-088-2006, 032301-2-061-2007, 032301-2-060-2008, 032301-2-059-2001, 032301-2-092-2000, 032301-2-091-2001, and 032301-2-094-2008.

How to Get and Stay Involved

The City will use several modes of communication to continuously inform the public and encourage participation in the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process, including:

Sign up for the City’s email notification list: Members of the public can sign up to receive email notifications about public meetings and other aspects of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process.

Public comments: Members of the public can provide in-person comments by testifying to the Planning Commission and City Council, or by providing written comments submitted to the City by letter or email. All comments will be documented, retained, and available for public.

Website: The City will maintain this Comprehensive Plan Amendment page on its website with updates, important dates, background materials, and drafts.

Public notification. The City will publish notifications about public meetings and hearings in Kitsap Sun and on the City’s webpage.

Contact Information for Comprehensive Plan Amendment

To sign up for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment email notification list or to submit an email comment:

destination2044@portorchardwa.gov

To submit a comment by regular mail:
City of Port Orchard
Department of Community Development
216 Prospect St
Port Orchard, WA 98366

To view documents in person:
City of Port Orchard
Department of Community Development
720 Prospect St
Port Orchard, WA 98366