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December 21, 2021
 Submit comments on proposed land exchange at county's Norwegian Point Park
Kitsap County seeks public comment on three alternatives for a proposed conversion of approximately 6,000 square feet of land at its Norwegian Point Park. In exchange for ownership of approximately 4,000 square feet and an easement reconfiguration of about 2,000 square feet, adjacent private property owners have proposed transferring to Kitsap County approximately 1.3 acres to add to Norwegian Point Park. This exchange requires approval by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
The property owners requested a trade because of trespassing issues and a lack of privacy due to their proximity to the park. The property exchange will allow them to construct privacy fencing and install landscaping to more clearly define their property boundaries. The addition of acreage to the park will allow for restoration of Finn Creek, wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Comment Period:
Comments will be accepted from December 21, 2021 through 4:30 p.m. January 21, 2022. Written comments may be submitted to Jennifer Haro, policy analyst in the Kitsap County Commissioners’ Office, at jharo@co.kitsap.wa.us or through the mail (must be postmarked by January 20, 2022) at:
Kitsap County Commissioners’ Office
Attn: Jennifer Haro
614 Division St., MS-4
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Background
Norwegian Point Park was acquired and enhanced with funds from the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC), which is now the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). An Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) grant was used for the project, which was completed in 2008.
ALEA funds may only be used for the acquisition, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for public purposes, and to provide or improve public access to the waterfront. The grant program policy requires RCO approval of a conversion of a funded property.
Kitsap County is requesting a conversion of approximately 6,000 square feet of Norwegian Point Park. Approximately 4,000 square feet would be converted to private ownership and 2,000 to an easement modification for use of adjacent property as a turnaround. The transfer of 1.3 acres to the park allows Kitsap County to follow through on its commitment to restore a stream and wetlands at the site to enhance habitat value, which the county committed to in the original grant application in 2004.
In order to allow the exchange, the County must acquire a replacement property that meets ALEA criteria and is of equal or greater value to the conversion property. In looking for alternative replacement properties, Kitsap County considered other properties adjacent to Norwegian Point Park, as well as properties for sale in the vicinity.
Alternative 1: No action
This alternative would mean that Norwegian Point Park would remain the same size at 5.68 acres and limit land available for the proposed Finn Creek restoration project (RCO grant 20-1018). It would also allow an existing encroachment into the park to continue on the southwest side, in violation of the grant agreement for Norwegian Point Park.
Alternative 2: Preferred alternative
This alternative would transfer approximately 4,000 square feet to the adjacent property owners via a boundary-line adjustment. An 8-foot strip along the northern property line and a 58-by-45-foot section along the western property line will be transferred in exchange for a 1.3-acre portion of a vacant parcel immediately east of the Norwegian Point Park boundary at no cost. The owners would retain the northern 120 feet of the parcel for their septic system.
This alternative would also adjust an existing access easement to allow for construction of an approximately 2,000-square-foot turnaround area, just south of the expanded property line for the three homes that share a driveway.
Lot lines for three parcels will be adjusted in one boundary-line adjustment. Because the property conversion in this preferred alterative results in the County obtaining a larger piece of property and only one private property owner is involved in the exchange, no significant expenditure of public funds will be required.
The exchange would allow Kitsap County to follow through on its commitment to restore Finn Creek and surrounding wetlands, enhancing wildlife habitat, as stated in the ALEA grant application in 2004. Wild Fish Conservancy is applying for additional grant funding for the Finn Creek restoration project in Norwegian Point Park, and the additional acreage to the park will be beneficial to those efforts.
Alternative 2
Alternative 3: Other replacement properties
Kitsap County considered other exchange properties, as required by the RCO conversion process. The properties considered did not have a willing seller (2,3), were not immediately adjacent to the park (1,2), or were cost-prohibitive (all 3).
- Property 1 is currently listed for sale for $179,000. The property is vacant, doesn’t meet ALEA criteria, is not adjacent to Norwegian Point Park, and is cost-prohibitive for the County’s budget on this project.
- Property 2 is vacant. It does provide some opportunity for restoration, but is not adjacent to Norwegian Point Park. This property is not for sale, and would be cost-prohibitive for the County’s budget for this project.
- Property 3 is adjacent to Norwegian Point Park and could meet ALEA criteria. The site contains commercial buildings and is not for sale. While it could be used to tie into plans for the park, it contains a successful local business that relies on its current location. This property is almost completely covered in impervious surfaces, which would greatly increase any restoration costs, and would be cost-prohibitive.
Alternative 3
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