Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

We'll go ahead and call the September 1st Planning Commission meeting to order. If you'll all please join me.

Recording in progress.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, one nation under God, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right, we will go ahead and do, I don't see it on the agenda, but we'll do introductions. I'm Tyler McCloskey, the Chair, go to my left.

Annette Stewart, Planning Commissioner.

Paul Fontenot, Planning Commissioner. Jim Bisk, Principal Planner.

Connor Dahlquist, Associate Planner.

Ethan Walker, Assistant Planner. All right, and we'll go online, I see Wayne.

Wayne Wright, Planning Commissioner.

joe joe morrison planning commissioner and i see nick nick bond community development director all right welcome everyone um we're gonna do the approval of the agenda working off the new agenda are there any additions or changes to the agenda all right do we have a second I'll second that. All in favor of the agenda as it stands?

Aye.

Any objections? All right, we'll move forward with the agenda. Public hearing, we do not have one, so we will open and close that. Audience comments, do we have anybody online? There are no attendees online. All right, and there's no one in the room with us, so we will move on to the approval of the minutes from the July 7th, 2026 meeting. Any additions or corrections to the minutes? Okay. Is there a motion to accept the minutes?

I make a motion to accept the minutes as written.

I'll second.

All right. All in favor of the minutes as written? Aye.

Aye.

All abstained. All right. Joe and Annette are abstaining. All right. On to 6A, the Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park presentation.

Good evening Commissioners. Today I'll be sharing an overview of the Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park. This includes the outreach we've done so far, what we've heard from the community, and our recommended direction moving forward. This effort was led by the Department of Community Development. All right, so to provide some context on what this project is and who has been involved. Our steering committee was formed in 2024. That includes the Mayor, Council Member Cianeri, Director Bond, Director Ryan, Principal Planner Fisk, and myself. The steering committee's role is to review public input, feasibility studies, concept plans, and provide direction to the planners assigned to the project. The committee has met twice to discuss site conditions, help form survey questions, and adopt the public participation plan. For some site context, the city purchased the 30-acre property on Sherman Avenue to support a regional stormwater facility, pedestrian improvements, and the future neighborhood park. This site is identified in the PROS Plan, or the Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan, as both a resource conservancy area and a neighborhood park. In 2024, we adopted a public participation plan to begin gathering input for the conceptual design. In April 2025, with the help of Public Works clearing portions of vegetation to navigate the overgrown site, the steering committee visited the site to better understand the environmental conditions, access points, and opportunities for future recreation and conservation elements. Staff and committee members got a better understanding of the steep slopes towards Blackjack Creek, the old fruit trees that residents spoke about, and was able to realize the buildability of the level areas closer to Sherman Avenue. As briefly mentioned earlier, in August 2024, we adopted the Public Participation Plan. This defined our outreach objectives, target audiences, methods of engagement, and overall schedule. The plan ensures that the process is inclusive and representative of community perspectives at each stage. The full plan is linked at the project webpage. So our engagement began in late 2024, as mentioned, with widespread outreach. We delivered 636 door hangers, mailed 852 postcards, and posted 30 informational posters in local businesses. In September 2025, we hosted workshop number one, where we presented background information, summarized survey inputs, introduced three initial design, and introduced three initial design alternatives. And then from May to July, 2026, we held workshop number two, launch the second survey, gather in-depth feedback, which included hosting a table at the Saturday farmer's market. And for some ongoing community engagement, we continue to engage with the community through a project-specific email list, our project web page, summaries of previous outreach efforts, the timeline of the process, and ongoing social media posts. These tools have helped us share updates and gather feedback continuously. Again, you can find all these on the city's website by searching Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park on the website search bar. So although all outreach activities were open to the public, certain mailers and posters were targeted specifically toward the neighborhood residents surrounding the park site to ensure that the closest to the project had multiple opportunities to participate. Our general guide was south of Tremont Street, west of Black Jack Creek, and east of Highway 16. Then our digital outreach efforts included a detailed project webpage, two online surveys, multiple social media announcements, and various sign-up opportunities to stay informed and involved through our email list. These activities have helped us collect a broad range of feedback. So covering survey one, we received 80 responses and directly helped shape the three initial park design alternatives, which is the trails and conservation park, Family Nature Park and Community Recreation Park. Their survey created the foundation for our path forward as we analyze community preferences, amenity wishes, concerns, and local neighborhood context. The three alternatives formed were presented to community members during workshop number one. As you can see in some of the graphics, the project got unique branding for printed and digital material. This pattern and design was consistent over the course of the two years of shared materials, with only slight adjustments such as color scheme to indicate fresh material to catch the public eye. The alternatives formed from the survey included trails and conservation park, which was a focus on habitat preservation, soft trails, and low maintenance. Valley Nature Park, a balanced design with nature play, picnic areas, and looped walking paths. And lastly, the community garden and recreation park, which featured garden plots, courts, and gathering spaces that focus on social connection. So diving into alternative one, this alternative places the highest emphasis on natural areas, soft surface trails, viewing points, and habitat protection. This option reflects a low maintenance conservation first focus. The site in this concept offers varying types of pathways from firm gravel to softer natural trails that weave through the trees and native plantings. These trails are intentionally simple and low maintenance, allowing the landscape to remain the focal point. One of the signature features is the elevated boardwalk to offer an opportunity to rest and observe. Interpretive signage along the pathway offers educational moments throughout the park, and the design emphasizes conservation, restored habitats, and native plantings. Alternative two includes more family-oriented amenities. such as interactive play features, picnic areas, and looped paths while maintaining a strong connection to nature. At the heart of the design is the nature-inspired playground shown in the renderings. Kids can climb and balance, explore tactile play elements, and move through the organic structures that feel more part of the landscape rather than something placed on top of it. It's playful but still grounded in the natural character of the site. Open lawn spaces surrounding play amenities offer flexible space for running, tossing frisbee, or spreading out on a blanket. The looped walking paths ties everything together, giving families a safe, continuous route to stroll, push strollers, or bike at a relaxed pace. Picnic shelters are also a key element in this design. The shaded structures create natural gathering points for birthday parties, family dinners, or community events. They're positioned to overlook both the playground and surrounding landscapes so adults can relax while still keeping an eye on the activity. This alternative blends nature with recreation, and a park that feels welcome, lively, and family-oriented, while still maintaining a strong connection to the environment. Alternative three emphasizes recreation and social gathering. So this incorporates community garden spaces, small sports courts, areas meant for groups and community activities. The experience here shifts toward community connection and an active recreation with an alternative three. The community garden is the heart of the design, a place where neighbors can tend to raise beds, learn about growing food, and share the harvest. It's both a productive landscape and a social one, with seating areas and small gathering spots woven between the plots. But this concept also brings a higher level of activity. The sports courts, including pickleball and basketball, represented on the site plan, create a lovely hub for friendly competition, exercise, and socialization. These courts are placed near the open lawn areas and a small Frisbee golf loop, giving visitors multiple ways to stay active. Whether you're practicing your serve, shooting hoops, or playing a casual round of disc golf, the park supports a wide range of recreation. Together, the garden and active spaces create a dynamic environment, part community hub, part wellness space, part outdoor classroom. All right, so diving into what the workshops and surveys told us, or the next workshops did. So following the first survey, workshop number one was hosted September 2025 to present the first looks at the park alternatives. The designs at this stage were much more conceptual than what was just shown. The majority of feedback shared consensus that these alternatives were on the right track based upon the survey feedback given. Attendees expressed a strong preference for the trails in natural conservation spaces. Many favored combining trails with select amenities. Habitat preservation, especially near Black Jack Creek, was ranked highly, along with desire for low maintenance features. And there were also concerns of sound that were shared, wildlife safety, pedestrian accessibility to the park, and cost. There were about a dozen attendees at this workshop. So moving to workshop two, this was the next step in the engagement process. So this was hosted in May of this year. And at this stage, the three design alternatives were taken to another level of detail based on previous workshop feedback. Our goals were to confirm whether the designs reflected earlier feedback, help identify any missing elements that we may have not included, and understand community priorities at a deeper level. So what was shared during this? In workshop number two, the community shared verbal and written feedback through the poster boards that were presented, as well as the open presentation. THEMES INCLUDED DESIRE FOR THE BLENDED ALTERNATIVE, EIGHT FOR A BLENDED ALTERNATIVE, WITH STRONG PREFERENCES FOR CONSERVATION, AND INTEREST IN AMENITIES FOR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY SPACE. THIS SOLIDIFIED THE THEMES STAFF LEARNED ABOUT IN THE PREVIOUS WORKSHOP. CONCERNS WERE ALSO SHARED, WHICH INCLUDED LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE, ENGAGEMENT SAFETY AND INTERACTIONS WITH WILDLIFE. So following this workshop number two was our second survey. So the second survey was open from May until July 12, 2026. This survey received 44 responses. And for alternative one, the top priorities included soft trails and habitat conservation. For alternative two, loop walking paths were overwhelmingly favored. And for alternative three, community gardens, social spaces, and small sports courts ranked highly. Respondents also identified missing elements such as youth recreation areas beyond what was offered in the Family Nature Park, pathways for bikes, bathrooms, and a highway sound mitigation. Regarding the preferred direction, 43% chose alternative one, while 34% preferred combination, typically incorporating trails from alternative one, light family amenities from alternative two, and small gathering spaces or gardens from alternative three. So based on community feedback, staff recommends pursuing a hybrid option centered around alternative one, supplemented with playground areas and community social spaces. This includes a variety of trail types, structured playgrounds, nature play, a community garden space managed with a partner organization, and multiple picnic gathering areas. Depending on the commission recommendation, staff will continue to pursue a final preferred alternative design to then move into next steps. So and with those next steps, the final preferred alternative will then be presented back to the public, a park plan will be adopted, written and adopted, and the proposed plan will be amended to reflect the preferred design. So tonight, staff presented the hybrid and alternative option to City Council on August 11th, 2026 during the regular meeting. City Council shared their support for the plan and offered personal thoughts on wanting to see the community garden, a pavilion, and non-intensive active recreation in a non-intensive active park come to light in the final preferred alternative. Their feedback emphasized the importance of creating welcoming first impression for visitors, including clear and attractive entry sequence supported by visual renderings as the design progresses further. Staff tonight would also like the commission's input to verify support and collect any other comments that were missed by council. And thank you.

I can tell a lot of work has gone into this. It's really cool to see it all come together. All right, Annette, any thoughts, comments, questions?

I'm sorry if I missed it, but can you, how much acreage or land is there?

Yeah, the total site's 30 acres. I'm blanking on what this catchment area is. I was just looking at that the other day, but it's about the south side of the entire neighborhood. Well, that kind of V-shaped.

And does it go, like, towards McDonald's, like,

The property? Yeah. Kind of eccentric right there. Across the street, yeah. There's kind of that vegetated area just west of it on the west side of Blackjack Creek, yeah.

Yeah. So, I mean, the public feedback that we've seen I think reflects what I was in favor of when we first started to see this plan kind of come together or the options come together, which was trails and conservation, especially being so close to Black Jack Creek. And I'm glad to see that the public largely agrees with me on that. I think it's a pretty good compromise to have some of the structured playgrounds in there for this alternative. And I do share one input that was put, I believe, for, was it survey two? Yeah, for survey two, that there should be a looped path. I think that's a good opportunity to give people a chance to really ingratiate themselves into a nature trail there. I'd also like to push in favor by saying that there aren't a lot of public spaces that local schools have to get into near river, near creek wetland areas for exploration. I think one of the really purpose-built ones closest around would be the Teller Wetlands and Belfair, but that's pretty far out. So I think it's pretty cool that they would have access to Blackjack Creek, not on private land, and actually in a built-out accessible area like a trails and conservation park for school trips and whatnot. It's a general way for us to kind of take forth these conservation efforts that have gone into Blackjack Creek in general and kind of put them into a purpose-built place, which I think is a positive. So I'll leave it there.

Thank you. Joe, online.

Thank you for the great presentation, Connor, and to the staff for their hard work along with the steering committee for this park. I support the direction you're going and I look forward to seeing this amenity for our community.

Thanks, Joe. Wayne.

I agree. Bonner, you did a great job on the graphics. I think people don't know it, but you did all that yourself. And that's a skill I really am so glad to see in the Port Orchard Planning Department. So kudos to you, my friend. Well done. My comments are more in the details and I'll wait until the engineering comes out. But the things that I'd like to see blossomed in this is the education components. Paul touched on it. Wetlands, streams, stormwater management and treatment. These are all hot topics that kids need to learn about. So proper placards or educational signage would be really helpful on something like this. Even plant labels. When we plant native species, a little tiny sign with the common and scientific names along the pathways goes so much farther to helping people understand what's going on. So I got a lot of details, so I'm not going to, you know, I'm giving you a lot of boredom on that, but when the engineering comes in, I'd be curious to have a good look at the engineering stuff. I have a lot of questions about volume of water, how the water's going to get there, what you're going to do with it, but the concept is great. I really love it.

Thank you, Wayne. I can also share those. I got some high-level answers from Public Works earlier today to the questions you'd emailed in earlier, so I'll share those with you. but they're very definitely high level. So just warning. We're still in the design phases for all that.

Excited to see what's next. All right. Number seven, the director's report.

I've got nothing to report tonight unless Jim had something that he was intending to share.

Floor is yours, Nick.

Nothing to report.

All right, we'll move on to number eight, good of the order. Anybody have anything for the good of the order?

Yeah, I'd like to mention something. I don't think it's on the city's radar quite yet, but I've heard a lot of public comments throughout, you know, in Gracie and myself in the Port Orchard community that people are concerned about potential influence of flock cameras that have been put up on the Mullinex exit and on Loll exit. That's not a city of Port Orchard. Currently, Port Orchard City, from my knowledge, doesn't have any flock cameras and doesn't use them. But that's just been a real big worry amongst the Port Orchard community is those cameras being set up anywhere on public property. Of course, there's one over in Lowe's parking lot, but that's private property itself. But I've had more than a few people mention to me that they're kind of nervous about that idea.

I'd encourage you to reach out to the Port Orchard Police Department to have additional discussion.

We'll do. Anything else? All right. Well, our next meeting will be October 6th, and I will see you all there. We'll go ahead and adjourn. Have a good night, everybody.

Thanks, guys. Bye-bye. Bye.