County seeking input on future of George’s Corner

KINGSTON — Land-use planners with Kitsap County are hoping business owners and residents will be able to offer some insight this spring about development at George’s Corner.

The planners want to know if the public feels boundaries should be set around the commercial complex to prevent growth at the corner of Hansville Road, Miller Bay Road and State Route 104.

Last year, county land-use planners proposed designating a commercial Limited Area of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRD) on the property.

The restriction would “preclude any requests for future development,” said Department of Community Development planner Jason Rice. However, in December 2003, the board of county commissioners determined that such a designation could not be implemented unless there was additional public input.

DCD officials are looking to form a George’s Corner Boundary Advisory Group.

The committee’s intent is for DCD to work with property owners and neighbors of the development on setting the criteria for the LAMIRD, Rice said.

The group, which will consist of 13-15 people, will meet several times within the next few months. Besides the views of residents, property owners and DCD, other agencies, such as Kitsap County Public Works and the Suquamish and Port Gamble S’Klallam tribes, will be invited to have a say in the land-use designation.

From March to May, the advisory group will assist the county in forming a recommendation to the Kitsap Planning Commission based on the criteria set by the Growth Management Act and the Revised Code of Washington.

“Ultimately, there could be a recommendation that they don’t want any boundary assessment,” Rice said.

The DCD staff will be available at the Kingston Town Hall meeting Feb. 26 to answer any questions relating to this and other land-use designations.

For more information, call Rice at (360) 337-4965 or via e-mail at jrice@co.kitsap.wa.us.

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