Port funds permits for expansion of liveaboard slips

The Port of Poulsbo has spoken plenty about increasing the number of boat slips for liveaboards for more than a year. Now it’s putting money toward the effort. The port’s three-member commission approved funding for its permit application fees with the City of Poulsbo, March 5. The money will go toward permit fees as the city considers the port’s request.

POULSBO — The Port of Poulsbo has spoken plenty about increasing the number of boat slips for liveaboards for more than a year. Now it’s putting money toward the effort.

The port’s three-member commission approved funding for its permit application fees with the City of Poulsbo, March 5. The money will go toward permit fees as the city considers the port’s request.

“They approved the expenditure, so we will be moving forward,” Port Manager Brad Miller said. “I’ve been given the green light to submit the application.

“We’re looking at an expenditure along the lines of $35,000 for impact fees and application fees. [Commissioners] approved more, around $40,000. They approved more than enough to cover it.”

Miller will submit the application within two weeks, he said, and it could take until the end of summer to get a final decision about increasing the number of liveaboard boat slips from 12 to 25. Liveaboards are residents who live aboard their boats full-time. The application will be checked by both the city and the state’s Department of Ecology.

Miller is waiting for two pieces of paperwork before submitting the application. First, the North Kitsap School District will outline the impact fees it will charge as part of the permitting process. Second, the city must approve an interlocal agreement.

The interlocal agreement was pivotal for the port to move forward with permitting. The city’s main concern with the increase in liveaboard slips was with limited downtown parking. The port has worked out a plan to alleviate the city’s concerns.

“It’s pretty simple,” Miller said. “We will provide vehicle information for each liveaboard to the police department. As they do their regular parking enforcement, if they issue a ticket to one of our liveaboards, then they will inform us.”

“Then we would take care of disciplinary action on our end,” he said. “We would review the liveaboard status of that person and possibly revoke that status, depending on how often they are getting tickets.”

The port will provide its liveaboards free parking at its downtown parking lot on Jensen Way.