Notice:
A Planning Commission Public Hearing is Scheduled for May 21st at 5:30pm. See details under the "Upcoming Events" banner on the right hand side of this page.
A preliminary draft version of the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) is available for public review as of March 8, 2024. The Code Change Matrix and Proposed Code Amendments are linked below.
Public Comments
The initial public comment period on draft code amendments will run through April 26, 2024. Comments received by that date will be reviewed by staff, compiled, and summarized for the Planning Commission.
The full public comment period extends through the date of the Planning Commission public hearing, which is tentatively scheduled for May 21, 2024. Written testimony may be provided at any time up until that date to be included in the record.
Comment form
Overview:
The Department of Community Development is conducting a periodic review of the County's Critical Areas Ordinance, Kitsap County Code (KCC) Title 19, as required by RCW 36.70A.130. The Critical Areas Ordinance, KCC Title 19, was last reviewed and updated in 2017. Critical Areas Ordinances must be evaluated and, if needed, revised every ten years per the schedule provided in RCW 36.70A.130. The Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) will be reviewed and updated to ensure compliance with state mandates, maintain consistency with local regulations and the Comprehensive Plan, and provide predictability and clarifications.
The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires all cities and counties in Washington to adopt regulations protecting "critical areas in order to preserve the natural environment, wildlife habitats, and sources of fresh drinking water". Critical areas regulation ensures public safety by limiting development in areas prone to natural hazards like floods and landslides. The Critical Areas Ordinance will be updated with the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, with adoption planned for September 2024.
To learn more, view our online book below
Phase Schedules
March 20, 2023
| Project Kick Off Notification & Working Group Invitations
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May 17, 2023
| Virtual Public Participation Meeting #1
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June 1, 2023
| Release of Best Available Science (BAS) Report
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June 28, 2023
| Board of County Commissioners Work Session: Best Available Science & Project Scope
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July 18, 2023
| Planning Commission Briefing & Work Session: Best Available Science & Project Scope
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July 20, 2023
| Working Group Meetings Begin
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July 2023
| Community Consultation Meetings with Community Groups as Needed/Requested
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August 2023
| Project Presentations to County Community Advisory Committees
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Aug. - Mar. 2024
| Updates to BoCC & Planning Commission as Needed (TBD)
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Aug. - Mar. 2024
| County Staff Preparing Draft Code Amendments
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March 2024
| Draft Amendments Available
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March - April 26, 2024
| Public Comment Period
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April 2 & April 16, 2024 | Planning Commission Work Study Sessions
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May 21, 2024
| Planning Commission Public Hearing
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June 18, 2024
| Planning Commission Findings of Fact
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July 24, 2024
| Board of County Commissioners Work Study
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August 26, 2024
| Board of County Commissioners Hearing(s)
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September 2024
| Target Adoption
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*Tentative dates, subject to change.
The CAO Update Working Groups are advisory groups only. Groups assembled to review, comment on, and make TECHNICAL recommendations related to the Critical Areas Ordinance. All recommendations developed through the Working Group will be presented to the Department of Community Development, the Kitsap County Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners, as the County works to draft an update to the CAO.
The five critical areas under review are wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas, and critical aquifer recharge areas. There are five working groups comprised of standing members and technical experts for each critical area. Standing members are representatives from local Tribes and community organizations with expertise in planning and critical areas. Technical experts are technical staff from appropriate state agencies with training and expertise in the critical area topic being discussed.
Each meeting will be virtual via Zoom and open to the public, however, public comment will not be taken during the meetings. Comments and questions regarding the working groups and/or the CAO update should be sent to codeupdates@kitsap.gov.
Written summaries for previous working group meetings are provided in the table below. Details and access links for upcoming meetings will be available in the table below as dates are confirmed.
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December 12, 2023
| Fish & Wildlife Conservation Areas #2 | Written Summary
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November 30, 2023
| Wetlands #2 | Written Summary
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November 6, 2023
| Frequently Flooded Areas #2 | Written Summary
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October 31, 2023
| Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas #2 | Written Summary |
October 10, 2023
| Geologically Hazardous Areas #2
| Written Summary
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July 27, 2023
| Geologically Hazardous Areas #1
| Written Summary
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July 27, 2023
| Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas #1
| Written Summary
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July 26, 2023
| Frequently Flooded Areas #1
| Written Summary
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July 25, 2023
| Wetlands #1
| Written Summary
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July 20, 2023
| Fish & Wildlife Conservation Areas #1
| Written Summary
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Working Group Member List
Sign-up to receive text or email notifications, including project announcements, information about outreach events, surveys, and other public participation opportunities. Select "Kitsap County Code Update Announcement" from the list of topics.
Send us an email at
codeupdates@kitsap.gov to let us know what you think or contact project staff.
Attend a meeting, listed on the right, when there are scheduled upcoming public events.
If you would like the CAO Update team to give a presentation to your community, please reach out to
codeupdates@kitsap.gov
More opportunities to participate will be added throughout the process.
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Team Roles and Responsibilities
David Kinley
| Kitsap County
| DCD Interim Director
| Program Management
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Scott Diener
| Kitsap County
| Planning Manager
| Program Management
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Mark Daniel
| Watershed Co.
| Consultant - Project Manager
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Dan Nickel
| Watershed Co.
| Consultant - Project Manager
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Colin Poff
| Kitsap County
| Planning Supervisor
| Project Management
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Kirvie Mesebeluu-Yobech
| Kitsap County
| Environmental Planning Supervisor
| Project Management
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Kathlene Barnhart | Kitsap County
| Planner
| Project Lead, Public Engagement
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Jim Rogers
| Kitsap County
| Planner
| Public Engagement, Events
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Brittany Gordon
| Kitsap County
| Natural Resource Coordinator
| Technical Support, Environmental Programs
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Cindy Read
| Kitsap County
| Technology Analyst
| Website, Information Services |