POULSBO — The Port of Poulsbo is concerned the city’s Shoreline Master Program update will hinder existing and future water-dependent uses, facilities and public access.
The city is in the midst of overhauling its 35-year-old shoreline program, and will present its second draft for public review on Tuesday. A public hearing will be held Nov. 15 before going to the City Council for review and possible adoption.
Port Manager Kirk Stickels said the port had a number of concerns with the changes, first released in July. The main concern is the shoreline program would require Conditional Use Permits for the majority of future improvements to the marina and private property along the shore. Currently, conditional use permits cost $750, plus hearing examiner costs if a hearing is necessary.
When drafting the shoreline program, the city will take three elements into consideration: public access, environmental restoration and water-dependent uses.
Like a three-legged stool, said Stickels, if one weighs too heavily on one leg the stool will fall over. By falling over, Stickels is referring to the restrictions the first draft puts on certain port activities. For example, there are fishermen who regularly sell their catch from their boats in the slips. In the changes to the Shoreline Use Table, which indicates appropriate shoreline uses through environmental designations, those commercial activities would require a conditional use permit. Stickels is afraid the lengthy application time and cost would deter those fishermen from coming to Poulsbo.
Keri Weaver, associate planner with the city’s planning department, said the changes are not that drastic.
“A marina is a conditional use anywhere you put it,” she said.
Planning Director Barry Berezowsky added that while the shoreline plan hasn’t been updated, the Critical Areas Ordinances are, which affect much of the same areas. This plan is shifting some of the changes made to the city’s Critical Areas Ordinances, updated in 2006, to the shoreline plan, he said.
The city is accepting public comment on the proposed shoreline master program changes.
