Funding for which the city would become eligible come with to
many “strings,” critics say.
By Chris Henry
chenry@kitsapsun.com
PORT ORCHARD
Members of the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners and other
community members on Tuesday raised a chorus of warning against a
proposal by the City of Port Orchard to seek designation as an
Urban Growth Center through the Puget Sound Regional Council.
Port Orchard would seek the designation as part of its
yet-to-be-approved comprehensive plan update, set to come before
the council Dec. 22.
Becoming an urban growth center would entitle the city to a first
crack at state and federal funding for transportation and
infrastructure overseen by the PSRC, said Development Director
James Weaver at a public hearing on the comp plan update. The
change in status would put Port Orchard in a league with Bremerton
and Silverdale when it comes to accessing certain transportation
funds, he said.
The city could still apply for other federal and state funds and
grants even if it does not become an urban growth center. The
process is highly competitive and would take about three years,
Weaver said. The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council would have to
give its blessing before the matter would move on to the PSRC.
Port Orchard is eligible to apply for the designation since its
population grew to more than 10,000 in 2009. Annexations, including
the McCormick Woods development, raised the population from 8,420
to 10,836.
As part of its comp plan update, the city shows future plans to
develop its downtown area as a transportation hub. Key to this is
construction of a parking garage and retail complex known as the
Port Orchard Town Center Revitalization Project . The estimated
cost of the project is $36.6 million.
The city will likely proceed with the transportation hub plan, even
if it doesn’t become an urban growth center, but funding
administered through the PSRC represents a significant source of
money for this and other capital projects on Port Orchard’s
horizon.
But those who testified about the proposal said seeking the title
of urban growth center would make the city beholden to the PSRC, a
regional body made up of representatives from a four-county area,
including King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Critics cited goals
of the PSRC’s Vision 2040 as having the potential to dictate
quality of life in South Kitsap.
“Make no mistake,” said KAPO’s Executive Director Vivian Henderson.
“Once you get tangled up in the strings attached to PSRC grants,
you have sold your political soul to the devil.”
“I would suggest you resist this siren song and, instead, consider
helping Kitsap leave the PSRC in 2012,” said Silverdale resident
and KAPO member Bob Benze.
“To me the PSRC is trying to change what our community is all
about,” said Port Orchard resident Gerry Harmon. “If you don’t jump
through their hoops, you’re not going to get the money. Everything
we do will be to get those funds. Those funds will only come when
we are running through those hoops.”
Mayor Lary Coppola asked Weaver to clarify requirements of being an
urban growth center. Weaver said, as far as Port Orchard’s comp
plan is concerned, the PSRC would be able to comment on it, as they
have in the past. But the designation would give the PSRC no
additional authority to dictate details of comp plan
regulations.
After the meeting, Coppola, who has written blog posts critical of
Vision 2040, said, “I heard all the people who spoke about it (the
proposal) loud and clear last night, and I understand their fear,
but this is a council decision. This is not my decision, and I
think there’s pros and cons on both sides of it.”
Tag Archives: KAPO
Commish Candidate Matthes Resigns as KAPO VP
Lack of time — and not the desire to distance his candidacy from the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners’ strong stand on property rights — was the driving reason for Tim Matthes’ recent resignation as vice president of KAPO. But the need to appeal to a broader base did play a small role in his decision, Matthes said today.
A Republican, Matthes is running against Democrat Charlotte Garrido in the race for South Kitsap Commissioner. The two survived the top two primary Aug. 19. Democrat Monty Mahan failed to make the cut.
Matthes said his run for commissioner is demanding more time than he had expected. Last week, he missed the Kingston Chamber of Commerce forum at which Garrido was present.
“I believe I underestimated the amount of time a viable candidate puts in for the general election,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is going to be hard, but I’ll have the time.’ It was brought home last week. I made two mistakes and one (missing the Kingston forum) was horrible.”
The other event, nearly missed, was a KAPO meeting, Matthes said.
Besides stepping down from his post with KAPO, Matthes has arranged to have his seat on the Kitsap County Board of Equalization covered for the next two months. The volunteer board hears challenges to property tax valuations.
Asked if his decision was, in any way, a strategy to reach voters who may define him solely by his membership in KAPO, Matthes said, “probably a little bit.”
KAPO is known for its advocacy of individual property rights and interest in local land-use issues. Matthes remains a member and said, “I still feel strongly about property rights.” But he added that, as a candidate, he has been trying to connect with voters of all persuasions.
“I think an commissioner needs to have an open mind, not an empty head,” he said. “You meet so many people and get so many different ideas, you can’t help but broaden your perspective.”
Vivian Henderson, executive director of KAPO, supports Matthes’ decision.
“I think he’s doing a very responsible thing,” she said. “He needs to concentrate on his campaign. It’s critical.”
Matthes’ post with KAPO will be filled by Jackie Rossworn, who was voted on by its board of directors. She will serve through February, the end of Matthes’ term, when KAPO will elect new officers.
