Port Townsend Development News
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Development News from the latest meeting
City Council Advances Cappy's Trails Right-of-Way Vacation to Preserve Open Space and Trails
The council held a public hearing to consider the vacation of street right-of-ways in the Cappy's Trails area. Staff presented the process, which involves setting a hearing, holding the hearing to set conditions, and finally, bringing forward an ordinance to finalize the vacation. The request aligns with the city's comprehensive plan to preserve Cappy's Trails as a future park area and avoid roads in that location. Utility easements for water and sewer lines will be retained. Conditions of approval include securing grant funds before bringing back an ordinance, obtaining legal descriptions, retaining utility easements, and establishing an agreement between the city and the Land Trust, including a deed restriction for public access. Vacating these rights-of-way is intended to allow for more cohesive management of protected properties and preserve contiguous blocks of open space and existing public trails.
Chetsamoka Park Undergoes Multiple Upgrades: Shelter Rebuild, Historic Building Removal, and Playground Enhancements
The city presented an update on multiple ongoing projects at Chetsamoka Park, including the rebuild of the kitchen shelter, the abatement and removal of the caretaker house and Golden Age Club, and the replacement of universal play equipment and swing sets. Site prep for the kitchen shelter rebuild began today, with concrete pouring expected in July and a September ribbon-cutting ceremony. The caretaker house and Golden Age Club are deemed uninhabitable and beyond repair, with future plans including expansion of the dog park and an RV caretaker site. The playground equipment replacement is scheduled for September with an anticipated October ribbon-cutting. Funding for these projects comes from the 2022 Bank Capacity Project, park donations, and an accessible community advisory committee grant.
City Council Adopts Ordinance to Facilitate Building Conversions and Increase Housing Units
The council considered an ordinance (3366) to implement House Bill 1757, which requires modifications to development regulations to facilitate building conversions and the addition of residential units. The ordinance aims to increase housing stock by allowing conversions, with specific exemptions from design review, change of use permits, and dimensional requirements, though height maximums and critical areas ordinances still apply. New units can exceed underlying zone density by 50% (up to 150% total) or a set number of units, whichever is greater. Requirements for conversion include the building having a certificate of occupancy at least three years prior and being located in a zone allowing multi-family use, while maintaining the existing building envelope with some exceptions for features like ADA ramps. Ground floor commercial requirements are relaxed under certain criteria, and energy code applicability is specified based on unit size and building type. Amendments to various code chapters, including transportation concurrency, were also discussed, clarifying that studies are not required for these conversions. The ordinance was approved with amendments to include Title 12 and Title 17.
City Council Approves Support for Multiple Transportation Improvement Board Grant Applications
The city presented several potential projects for funding through the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) grant programs, including the Tripsiel, Urban Arterial, and Complete Streets programs. Proposed projects include upgrades to 19th Street, Blaine, Kearney, Discovery Road, Lawrence Street, and Washington Street, focusing on sidewalks, bike lanes, and road reconstruction. The city has been successful in securing state funding but has limited remaining funds, necessitating careful prioritization. Discovery Road and Lawrence Street are identified as larger projects that have previously received funding. The city plans to apply for multiple grants and is seeking council's support for these applications, acknowledging the competitive nature of the funding. The council moved to support the TIB grant applications, committing up to $600,000 combined.
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Planning Commission Meeting
Parks Recreation Trees and Trails Advisory Board
Equity, Access, and Rights Advisory Board
Library Advisory Board
Special Session Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Council Finance and Budget Committee
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