KINGSTON — The Kingston Citizens Advisory Council on Jan. 4 reviewed the progress made in addressing streetscape and stormwater solutions for the Kingston downtown area.

Peter Brachvogel, AIA, of BC&J Architects, and 20/20 Engineers of Bellingham led the second in a series of presentations and workshops on the topic.

The focus of the study and resultant engineering springs from nearly a decade of design and master planning work performed by the Brachvogel and members of his Bainbridge Island firm.

“We initially worked on a grassroots level with property owners on a weekly and monthly basis to garner consensus for a direction for the town,” Brachvogel said. “The results included, among many things, a unified agreement to combine streetscape improvements with overall stormwater management.”

In 2009-10, BC&J developed conceptual streetscape hierarchies funded by Kitsap County. The design work resulting from that effort was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission. Shortly thereafter, a Kitsap County Public Works initiative to improve the stormwater systems of many of the communities in the county was commenced.

In the case of Kingston, a number of design markers already explored has allowed the broader 20/20 team to move smoothly through the public process.In future presentations, the design team will present design refinements backed by engineering based on runoff loads. The refinements will include a variety of streetscape designs tailored to suit specific areas of the Kingston core. Enhanced parking and bicycle and pedestrian paths are key features.

Brachvogel said these components will be designed into a network of planting areas that clean run-off prior to eventual arrival into Puget Sound and offer a more pleasing and naturally lush environment.