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  "description": "Council adopts parks plan and backs salmon-themed crosswalks.\n",
  "path": "/port-townsend-council-moves-to-boost-housing/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-02T23:30:36.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.jeffcobeacon.com",
  "tags": [
    "House Bill 1757",
    "2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Functional Plan"
  ],
  "textContent": "PORT TOWNSEND, WA — City Council tackled numerous items on Monday night, unanimously approving a state-mandated housing ordinance, adopting a 10-year parks plan and greenlighting a series of colorful, salmon-egg-themed crosswalks for the čičməhən/Chetzemoka Trail.\n\n**Council adopts ordinance to ease building conversions for housing**\n\nThe evening’s heaviest lift was the first reading of Ordinance 3366, which is designed to bring the city into compliance with House Bill 1757—a state mandate to convert underutilized commercial and residential buildings into new housing.\n\nThe ordinance streamlines permitting for converting commercial spaces into residential units, exempts qualifying projects from design review (outside of historic districts) and allows density to increase by up to 50% above the underlying zone’s maximum. Maximum density allowance differs with each zone, ranging from residential to commercial zoning. Without local action by June 30, the state would impose its own less predictable rules in accordance with House Bill 1757.\n\nPlanning Manager Ryan Harriman introduced a staff presentation largely delivered by the three Western Washington University interns who helped draft the amendments.\n\n__Zones allowing multifamily dwellings under proposed amendments. From the City of Port Townsend website__\n\nA key point of discussion was maintaining ground-floor commercial requirements along designated “major pedestrian corridors,” including arterial streets and the Rainier sub-area. Long-Range Planner Adrian Smith clarified that existing buildings without commercial frontage would not be forced to add it.\n\nThe council voted unanimously to advance the ordinance to a second reading on June 15.\n\n**City adopts 10-Year Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Plan**\n\nFollowing the housing discussion, the council adopted Ordinance 3365, establishing the city’s 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Functional Plan.\n\nThe PROS Plan, last updated in 2020, is designed to guide the development of park and recreation facilities and programs responsive to the needs and interests of Port Townsend residents over the next decade, while protecting open space and tree canopy. By integrating the plan into the city’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan, Port Townsend extends its update cycle from six years to ten years—a significant administrative win that maintains eligibility for state and federal grant funds.\n\nThe vision of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan serves as the foundation for the PROS Plan Update. The vision states that Port Townsend will foster a healthy lifestyle by providing adequate parks and open spaces linked by trails, encouraging interactions with nature and urban wildlife, and supporting arts and culture. More than 50% of Port Townsend’s land area is dedicated to open space—a statistic Community Services Director Melody Sky Weaver, who presented the plan, called “unique and incredible.”\n\n __Existing parks and open spaces within Port Townsend city limits. From the City of Port Townsend website__\n\n __ The plan is organized around seven major goals: ensuring parks are accessible and inclusive for all ages and income levels; providing high-quality, safe and well-maintained facilities; expanding connected trails and non-motorized routes; strengthening waterfront access at parks like Pope Marine and Chetzemoka; building regional partnerships with the county, port, schools and tribal organizations; advancing resilient environmental stewardship and climate adaptation; and pursuing fiscally sound long-term funding mechanisms, including evaluating a Metropolitan Park District or dedicated levy.\n\nThe plan for parks and open spaces within city limits will now head to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for final approval.\n\n**Council approves čičməhən/Chetzemoka Trail crosswalks**\n\nThe council also unanimously approved new crossings and artistic pavement markings for the čičməhən/Chetzemoka Trail—a signature interpretive route featuring three, six and 12-mile loops that highlight 18 points of interest.\n\nRepresentatives Lys Burden and Celeste Dybeck from the Native Connections Action Group presented the project, recalling that City Manager John Mauro had encouraged them years ago to “do something fun and colorful.”\n\nThe plan includes a total of nine crosswalks: five existing crossings that will be updated with new salmon-egg-pattern paint, and four entirely new crossings that require engineering analysis in accordance with state and federal regulations. The four new crossing locations are Discovery Road at 24th Street, San Juan Avenue at 22nd Street, Walker Street at Lincoln Street and 49th Street at Landes Street.\n\n__Crosswalk design featuring salmon eggs submitted by the Native Connections Action Group. From the City of Port Townsend website__\n\nAn additional crossing at Landes and 19th Street is already under design as part of a separate city safety project.",
  "title": "Port Townsend Council Moves to Boost Housing",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-02T23:30:36.535Z"
}