Calls for revitalization of Bay Street and concerns over permitting issues dominated public comment during the Port Orchard City Council meeting April 8.

Stan McKenzie, a longtime resident, said he has lived in Port Orchard for seven years and has seen few improvements to Bay Street despite ongoing discussions of upgrades.

“Throughout living here for seven years, we have heard that there are plans to upgrade Bay Street,” McKenzie said. “Since the theater rebuilding and the large condo buildings, nothing else has changed. The vacant and recently torn-down buildings signify a dying town to tourists.”

McKenzie suggested the city adopt a Cape Cod-style nautical theme for downtown facades to enhance visual appeal and draw in visitors, likening the aesthetic to tourist-friendly destinations like Poulsbo, Leavenworth, and Langley.

“Our town hall has just upgraded to a Cape Cod look, and the rest of Bay Street could follow suit,” McKenzie said. “Some may say painting buildings is just putting makeup on a pig, but it’s the cheapest way to avoid losing revenue while we wait for full upgrades.”

He recommended forming a committee to explore revitalization ideas and proposed a 20-year strategic planning session to guide future development.

Business owner Rick Boston shared frustrations with the city’s permitting process, detailing a months-long delay in securing an occupancy permit for his commercial property at 1460 Sedgwick Road. Boston said the city’s code enforcement and building requirements have burdened small business owners.

“The city has people I would call bureaucrats that are taking action that is kind of killing the dreams we have,” said Boston, who has owned the building for 20 years.

Boston described how replacing six-foot room dividers with taller, non-loadbearing panels and covering a damaged door led to permit issues. He said the city required architectural drawings, costing $2,000, and has threatened fines of $250 per day.

“There’s no structural, fire, or safety issue,” Boston said. “My tenant now wants to abandon Port Orchard. That means one less service for our citizens and me with no income. The property will become a dump site.”

Boston said Councilmembers Heidi Fenton and Eric Worden had toured the property and urged the rest of the council and the mayor to visit and consider changes to policies.

Nick Bond, the city’s community development director, provided an update on school impact fees. The city adopted new rates in compliance with a state law passed in 2023, which requires fees to be proportional to a home’s square footage, number of bedrooms, or trips generated.

The South Kitsap School District recommended a new rate of $0.56 per square foot, resulting in a minimum fee of $542.62 and a maximum of $2,009.27, depending on the housing unit size. The updated fees will replace the flat rates previously in place since 2008.

Bond also announced that the city has adopted parking restrictions for Saturdays in downtown Port Orchard. Previously, parking enforcement did not occur on weekends or federal holidays. The changes impact city lots 2, 3, and 4, as well as sections of Bay Street and several adjacent streets.

The revenue from parking enforcement will go into the city’s general fund.