April 15, 2024
Comment Period on Kitsap County's Draft Critical Areas Ordinance Open through April 26, Planning Commission Hearing to Follow in May
The Department of Community Development is conducting a required periodic review of the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance, Kitsap County Code (KCC) Title 19. The comment period on the Preliminary Draft is still open through April 26, 2024. See below for links to the draft documents!
Code Change Matrix
Proposed Code Amendments
A Planning Commission public hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 21, 2024. All are welcome to provide written testimony through that date or provide oral testimony at the hearing. Further opportunity for public comment will be available throughout the summer before proposed adoption this September.
The CAO (Kitsap County Code, Title 19) is the portion of local code which provides development standards for protecting the environment and minimizing risk to human safety. Critical areas include:
- Wetlands;
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (streams);
- Geologically Hazardous Areas;
- Frequently Flooded Areas; and
- Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas.
The Washington Growth Management Act (GMA) requires local jurisdictions to:
- Designate and protect critical areas;
- Review and evaluate their CAO during the periodic update to their Comprehensive Plan;
- Use “best available science” in developing regulations to protect critical area ‘functions and values’.
Based on these GMA requirements, the proposed draft code includes various changes to be aware of such as increased buffers around streams, mitigation requirements for impacts to critical areas, special report requirements, and others
LEARN MORE, COMMENT & ENGAGE! Visit the CAO project website for more information about the periodic review process, Preliminary Draft and supporting documents. Comments may be submitted using the form below or sent to codeupdates@kitsap.gov.
CAO Comment Form
STAY INFORMED! SUBSCRIBE NOW to ensure you receive future digital announcements regarding the Critical Areas Ordinance periodic review process. After you enter your contact information, scroll down to Community Development, and select Kitsap County Code Update Announcements!
CONTACT INFORMATION! We invite you to reach out to the Critical Areas Ordinance team throughout the review process. If you have questions, please contact:
Kathlene Barnhart, Planner
Department of Community Development
Planning & Environmental Programs
KBarnhar@kitsap.gov
(360) 337-5777 (Kitsap1)
Mailing Address
614 Division Street - MS36 Port Orchard, WA 98366
NOTE: Kitsap County is committed to providing accommodations to people with disabilities per the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and actively working to make online resources accessible to the visually impaired. Individuals who require accommodations should contact the ADA Coordinator at (360) 337-5777 (voice).
IMPORTANT DATES
Important dates, upcoming events, and milestones can be viewed at the project webpage:
kcowa.us/cao
Additional notifications will be sent out prior to public hearings, with information on how to attend or submit comments.
The Critical Areas Ordinance is targeted for adoption in September of 2024.
KITSAP COUNTY Kitsap County government exists to protect and promote the safety, health, and welfare of our citizens in an efficient, accessible and effective manner.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The mission of the Department of Community Development is to foster the development of quality, affordable, structurally safe and environmentally sound communities.
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