Action forced

To the editor:

Regarding “Government slows Kitsap affordable home project” published 11/8/2024:

Our Spring Hill Townhomes project in Kingston achieves the environmental protections of Kitsap County’s Critical Areas Ordinance. The other cognizant governmental agencies – US Army Corps of Engineers and WA Department of Ecology – have reviewed wetland reports and inspected the site, and none has indicated it does not comply.

Our project makes a desperately needed contribution to affordable home ownership: 230 units total, 138 for low income, all offered for sale. Avoiding and minimizing impact, the project is clustered into 7 of the 20 acres with attached townhomes, reducing impact to 7% of onsite wetlands, which are Category IV (which per the CAO “have the lowest level of function and are often heavily disturbed”).

The mitigation plan prepared by our two wetland specialists (normally only one) requires creation of new wetlands (1.5 times the size of impacted wetland areas); places 13 of the 20 acres into a perpetual conservation easement; and achieves “no net loss” of ecological functioning (the standard under the CAO).

The Kingston Affordable Housing Working Group and many other agencies support the project. The county’s Comprehensive Plan calls for partnership with affordable housing developers and a housing first policy in Urban Growth Areas such as Kingston with ample public transportation.

Our project does not pit affordable housing against environmental protection; both are achieved.

To make this project happen, we are compelled to take forceful action to require the county to stop the unlawful delay and obstruction.

Hayes Gori

Bainbridge