POULSBO — It was an event filled with display boards and documents, informational data and maps. But at the City of Poulsbo’s Comprehensive Plan Draft open house, the Post-it note was king.

Residents and city representatives gathered at the Poulsbo Fire Station Tuesday to take a detailed look at what has been called the most “critical document” in a decade to cross Little Norway’s radar.

Info packets were made available to attendees, who at their leisure toured displays on growth and development goals, policies and guiding principles. At each of several display boards, Post-it pads were at the ready for citizens to leave their comments, for both planners and other citizens to see.

Some used the pencil space to ask questions, others to remark on observations of problems they perceive.

Affordable housing, building height restrictions, the protection of Liberty Bay and infrastructure fees were a few of the Post-it topics.

“There don’t seem to be open areas and places for wildlife,” one read.

Jim and Shari Hagey of Port Ludlow, who own property in Poulsbo’s Urban Growth Area, said they came to the open house to get a sense of the city’s direction in regard to zoning and residential growth. They’ve made the commute to city council meetings for some three years, as they wait out the possibility of their land being annexed.

They, too, contributed Post-it note sentiments.

Jim called the Comprehensive Plan “terribly important,” as its effects are wide-reaching.

Resident Gene Bullock had a similar take. He came to the meeting in order to further develop an informed opinion on the issues — something he called a “personal obligation to understand.”

The Hageys and Bullock were just a few of a dozen people who arrived at the open house before it even began; after its official start a steady stream of visitors entered.

City consultant for the Comprehensive Plan Karla Boughton said residents with comments and suggestions were just the people the city was hoping to see. Already some emails have been submitted in response to the plan since its release last month.

“We’re hoping that a lot of folks tonight provide us written comment,” she said. Once written comments are given, she explained, they are immediately sent to members of Poulsbo’s Planning Commission and are also compiled for members of the city council.

Often, Boughton noted, comments come in the form of questions.

The Comprehensive Plan “is big, it seems overwhelming,” she described. She pointed out the three main ways the ‘how to manual’ will be implemented, thus explaining its weight.

Through development regulations (zoning ordinances, critical areas ordinances), function plans and projects (city roads, utilities) and the city’s budgetary ability to pay, the Comprehensive Plan is a policy document that “sets the framework for what the city does.”

The process will last most of the year, and will eventually end in a decision by the city council.

To learn more, visit www.cityofpoulsbo.com.