By Ed Wolfe

This is in response to the recent letter to the editor about concerns relating to smart growth principles in the Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan update and, in particular, the future of housing and transportation options in Silverdale.

Change is inevitable and local governments and industry must adapt to shifts in demographics and the preferences of those who live here. The County’s population is just over 258,000 residents within 395 square miles. That equals 636 persons per square mile, making Kitsap the third most densely populated county in the state. More growth is coming. By 2036, the population of Silverdale alone is expected to grow from 17,000 people to 26,000. Alongside that growth, employment opportunities will increase and market preferences will continue shifting. Between the Baby Boomer, Generation X and Millennial generations, there are nuances about preferred housing types and transportation options that continue to evolve as they age.

People continue coming to Kitsap County to live, work, seek educational opportunities and enjoy the amenities of the outdoors. These are the same reasons why most of us moved here, built a life and proudly call Kitsap home. But with change and generational shifts also come higher expectations for efficient services, positive social experiences, a variety of housing choices and a transportation infrastructure to support a growing population in the 21st century. Our challenge in Kitsap County and within our local communities is how we manage this growth in a balanced, sensible and financially sustainable way for taxpayers and all of our residents, now and for generations to come. Meeting the challenge requires us to learn from the past, preserve what we have and rethink how best to provide services and infrastructure to accommodate the unavoidable growth. All of this is managed while living within our means, understanding changing preferences and using tools provided to local governments at the federal, state and regional levels.

The desire for Silverdale to reinvent its suburban shopping center identity and improve limited transportation network has been a topic of discussion for many years. However, pressure to diversify and make strategic improvements in the downtown core are here now. This transformation is evident today through multiple public and private investments in the Silverdale core. Examples include Harrison Medical Center’s expansion of its primary acute-care facilities, the opening of The Trails shopping center, Kitsap Mall’s reinvestment efforts, fundraising for a new library and community theater and the recent voter support to reinvest in Central Kitsap schools.

Over the next six years, the County is also making significant infrastructure investments in our roads, parks, sewer systems and stormwater management throughout Silverdale. The Bucklin Hill Bridge Project, for example, is a $19 million public investment with $6.8 million leveraged from competitive funding sources at the regional level. This project wouldn’t have happened without this funding and it serves as a good indicator of where future funds will be focused. These efforts, along with many others, are drivers for economic growth necessary to meet demands of the future.

Transformation while balancing the needs of today and those of the future comes with costs — not just for new structures but also for their long-term maintenance obligations. Urban infrastructure financing in the 21st century requires multiple funding sources, most tied to denser, urban-oriented housing choices that incorporate pedestrian, bicycle, transit and other transportation options. Herein lies an opportunity for the Silverdale area without negatively impacting the larger Central Kitsap community. This denser, transit-oriented development does not preclude varieties of housing options. Instead, it can ensure there are many choices to accommodate our residents in the Silverdale area, housing options to meet the needs of differing lifestyles, accessibility and affordability.

As a former businessman who believes in working to make positive changes today and setting a strong foundation for future generations, my energy is focused on strategically positioning Silverdale for economic transformation in a competitive and evolving climate, while protecting our environment.

Edward E. Wolfe is District 3 Commissioner for Kitsap County.