HomeMy WebLinkAbout032525 PRTTAB Meeting Packetn,
City ort ��
of
Townsen"d
PARKS, RECREATION, TREES, & TRAILS ADVISORY BOARD
Agenda - Council Chambers
March 25, 2025 1 4:30 p.m. I Virtual or In Person Meeting
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Welcome, Introduction & Call to Order - Chair Debbie lahnke
Good afternoon and welcome to this meeting of the Port Townsend Parks, Recreation, Trees & Trails
Advisory Board. The role of this Board is to assist City staff and to advise the City Council on
legislative matters concerning parks, recreation, trees and trails.
This meeting is open to the public at the City Council Chambers, virtually via this web format, and is
also being video recorded for those who could not attend the meeting today and for future
reference. Given that this meeting is in virtual format, we ask that the board members raise their
hands to be called on by the Chair. The public can do the some to comment during the public
comment periods. We take public comment at the beginning and end of the meeting.
I. Roll Call
II. Approval of Agenda/Changes to Agenda:
III. Approval of Minutes: February 25, 2025
IV. Public Comment (3 minutes per person/agenda items only):
V. Staff reports (15')
VI. Old Business (None)
VII. New Business
a. Active Transportation Goals & Policies (Steve: 40')
b. Native plant garden at the library (Steven Yanoff: 15')
c. Update from Tree Subcommittee (Richard, Russell, Debbie, staff: 10')
d. PROS Plan update - Salish Coast Elementary open house reminder
Vill. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: 22 April 2025
IX. Public Comment (3 minutes per person)
X. Adjourn:
Future agenda items:
• Master plan for future westside park
• Tree subcommittee update — final drafts of POS trees, understory lists
• PROS Plan update
n,
City ort ��
of
Townsen"d
PARKS, RECREATION, TREES, & TRAILS ADVISORY BOARD
Minutes - Council Chambers
February 25, 2025 1 4:30 p.m. I Virtual or In Person Meeting
• Join via computer or tablet at.http://ioinwebinar.com enter 9 digit Webinar ID 752-525-115
• Join by phone in listen -only mode: (360)390-5064 Ext. 3 access code: 699-128-175#
• Submit public comment to be included in the meeting record to:
https://Publiccomment.fillout.com/citvofpt
• If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please attempt all methods listed above before
reporting any issues to: clerksupport@cityofpt.us
Welcome, Introduction & Call to Order - Chair Debbie lahnke
Good afternoon and welcome to this meeting of the Port Townsend Parks, Recreation, Trees & Trails
Advisory Board. The role of this Board is to assist City staff and to advise the City Council on
legislative matters concerning parks, recreation, trees and trails.
This meeting is open to the public at the City Council Chambers, virtually via this web format, and is
also being video recorded for those who could not attend the meeting today and for future
reference. Given that this meeting is in virtual format, we ask that the board members raise their
hands to be called on by the Chair. The public can do the some to comment during the public
comment periods. We take public comment at the beginning and end of the meeting.
I. Roll Call: Becci Kimball, Richard Hefley, Matt Miner, Pam Adams, Jim Todd, Russell Hill, Debbie
Jahnke all present. Staff present include Melody Sky Weaver and Steve King.
II. Approval of Agenda/Changes to Agenda: approved by consensus
III. Approval of Minutes: approved by consensus
IV. Public Comment (3 minutes per person/agenda items only): none
V. Old Business
A. Open Space Subcommittee update (Steve King, Adrian Smith: 25') open space
information/maps/appendices are in our last three parks plans, open space needs to be
memorialized in the body of the PROS Plan. Prior PRTTAB and Council meetings have
information regarding open space discussion. Board discussed city property inventory;
should Cappy's be recognized in the PROS Plan? Board confirms, and we could include
properties with covenants. Prior plans address Cappy's Woods and Quimper Wildlife Corridor
and not so much Cappy's 'Trails'. Question was asked whether recognition as a park would
bring protections, it could be ID'ed as future open space but that does not provide significant
protection. We could protect the ROWS and investigate the possibility of identifying it as
POS, would that bring more maintenance requirements for staff? What are timing rules for
parks that would apply to trails - no camping, no smoking/vaping/drinking/metal detecting,
timing, etc. ? Which of our trails are recreational trails and which are transportation? RCO
requirements about accessibility need to be considered. Becci noted that the Active
Transportation subcommittee is addressing these issues.
Other entities' properties, like school playgrounds, are not included due to timing constraints
on user access. Shall we include state and county parks in the next round? Unanimous
agreement to include these spaces. Schools cannot be counted for LOS since they are not
always open to the public. Melody noted that parks not owned by Kitsap County are included
in their plan, and they use RCO's park designations. Board agreed that we should also do this,
adding special identifiers where needed. We should include street ends as parks. We would
also like to move the open space information into the body of the plan. Don't bury the lead!
We are resurrecting our City inventory so we can evaluate use. SCJ Alliance is beginning
public engagement.
VI. New Business
A. Presentation of bench design from locally sourced products; update on Quimper Park &
Tree Foundation; and discussion of student involvement in Sather and Bishop Parks
project (David Lubinski, Stephanie Moran w/Becci Kimball for QP&TF: 25'). Becci
introduced the presentation; foundation is just getting started; purpose was read; JCF is
philanthropic partner, QP&TF was established in August 2024. It supports pocket forests,
tree canopy increase and park/trail amenities. David and Stephanie were introduced, David
noted that many cities have ways to raise funds in concert with parks departments. They
have looked at many different models. Steve inquired about other assets, like play
equipment, being donated. The foundation is looking for a first project and is considering
the plaza with the Jacqua artwork in front of JCF. Russell mentioned adding information to
the park kiosks to encourage donations.
QP&TF do not want to compete with other efforts, but provide canopy in our canopy
deserts. Early in the effort they need something to point to as a project where trees and
benches would be helpful. Salvaging Douglas fir wood from Sather and other local sources
to make simple benches is the intent and projects can be a bench with a tree, with bench
made from local wood with locally produced metal frame. Advice was to treat wood as one
would treat a log home. Bench posts would be imbedded in concrete, with some discussion
about adding stabilizing pins or wire to stabilize and protect the posts. Jim inquired about
the Leopold design. Galvanizing is supposed to last up to 70 years. Schools are bringing
back shop classes, so we could engage with students. Matt inquired about the concrete
embedding. Plaques could be embedded in the concrete with consideration of material and
risk of vandalism/theft. Steve noted that the simple design would allow for warehousing
replacement pieces. Melody asked about having educational materials to educate people
about the project. David noted that the foundation is expanding its ideas about what can
be provided. Youth involvement was discussed regarding the student Sather poster work.
The DNR grant intends to have students do comparable types of studies at Bishop.
B. PROS Plan update - intro to questions about assets (board: 25')
1. Larry Scott Park status: Ownership is confusing, 1999, 2014, and 2020 PROS Plans say it is
the City's; City staff maintain it. Ownership needs to be clarified for the update and for
defining responsibilities for area maintenance.
2. memorial in ROW on Sims: Stephanie Moran discovered the memorial to Marvin Shields
along with an overflowing trash can and a collapsing picnic table, in a public ROW street end
with no apparent vacation or permission in parcel records. She has identified a volunteer to
take care of the area while the details are sorted out. Monica mentioned that she served as a
Councillor for a proclamation at the site when the plaque was replaced and information may
be found in Council minutes.
3. naming the Triangle 1 park: it's complicated; members asked to put it on a future agenda
for more discussion.
VII: Staff reports:
Melody reminded the board about the open house for the Comprehensive Plan and PROS Plan
on 26 March 2025.
Vill. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: 25 March 2025
IX. Public Comment: no public comment
X. Adjourn: 5:56pm
Future agenda items:
• Master plan for future westside park
• Tree subcommittee update — final drafts of POS trees, understory lists
• PROS Plan update
3
White Paper
Technical Analysis as a Basis to Development of a
Street Circulation Plan
Winter 2024/2025
Prepared by:
Planning and Community Development Department
Public Works Department
Presented at the following meetings:
November 6, 2024 Infrastructure and Development Council Committee
March 10, 2025 City Council Workshop
March 25, 2025 Parks Recreation Trees and Trails Advisory Board
XXXx Planning Commission
Table Of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................3
Objective.......................................................................................................................................................
6
Background...................................................................................................................................................7
Pre -platted City.........................................................................................................................................7
Historical Development Patterns and Infrastructure...............................................................................9
Planning for the Future — What Needs to Change?................................................................................11
Legaland Code Principles...........................................................................................................................13
Un-platted versus Platted Areas of the City...........................................................................................13
Pre -platted — Plats Prior to 1937............................................................................................................14
StatutoryVacation..................................................................................................................................14
Plat Integrity and Impacts to Surrounding Properties............................................................................14
Right of Way Preservation for Open Space and Trails............................................................................15
Circulation— Fire Code............................................................................................................................15
Legal Access and the City's Responsibility to Plan..................................................................................16
Technical Analysis Approach (Theoretical).................................................................................................16
Overlay analysis — Process of Elimination...............................................................................................17
Adaptation..................................................................................................................................................20
PolicyConsiderations..................................................................................................................................22
Conclusions.................................................................................................................................................
24
Recommendations......................................................................................................................................
26
2
II iri t irOd u c d O ire
Port Townsend was pre -platted and planned to be a key economic hub which would be quickly built and
populated to support a booming logging and port economy. Wealthy investors and speculators were to
build the needed infrastructure. This was in the era when the world relied on sailing merchant ships and
Port Townsend would be a strategic port location.
However, steamships were invented and changed the future of Port Townsend since ships could now
reach Seattle and Tacoma, lowering the need to develop Port Townsend. The needed railroad was
never extended here, and the envisioned boom town transitioned into economically depressed periods.
Most cities are not pre -platted, but instead developed with roads and utilities in large multi -acre chunks
at a time. Port Townsend was to develop quickly, but history changed this leaving an inefficient
development pattern resulting in lower housing density, poor infrastructure network connectivity, and
poor infrastructure quality.
Port Townsend Development Pattern
Original Vision and Plan
• Pre -Platted for 30,000 people
• To be developed quickly with connected and "master plan" infrastructure to support a
boom economy
• Anticipated Result: density with efficient and connected transportation and utility networks
Development to Date
• The historic neighborhoods (downtown and Uptown) built in a short period with "master
plan" approach
• After realizing that Port Townsend would not be a boom city, development slowed.
• Remaining decades, up to present, were built "piecemeal" resulting in fractured ownership
• Land is now developed one lot at a time — infill development
• Lack of development regulations allowed homes spanning multiple lots with access on
newly constructed driveways and side streets
• Actual Result:
o lower density
o redundant and disconnected transportation and utility networks
o a lower population left to fund maintaining more streets
City Challenges with Existing Infrastructure and Development Patterns
• Street Maintenance Quantity— 10,000 people to fund the maintenance of 80+ miles of city -
maintained streets is economically unsustainable.
• Street Construction Methods and Maintenance — many streets were originally constructed with
sub -standard pavement thickness or are gravel.
• Utilities — Like the streets, utilities may be sub -standard in size, material or redundant layouts
• Review of Housing and Building Permits — Without a street circulation plan, city staff reviewing
building permits spend significant time to determine best vehicle access and needed street,
sidewalk and trail improvements. Without a plan, addressing development needs for one infill
lot at a time makes planning and constructing an interconnected street, utility and active
transportation network challenging, or nearly impossible
• Active Transportation — A similar plan is needed to best plan for walking, biking and ADA
accessible routes. The previous Non -Motorized Plan is being updated in 2025 and will be
renamed the Active Transportation Plan. Coordinating the Streets Circulation Plan with the
Active Transportation Plan will help determine:
o Rights of way including streets with sidewalks and or bike lanes
o Rights of way that will be reserved for trails and open space only
Community Challenges, Heard by Elected Officials and City Staff
• Street Conditions — streets are in poor quality, see City Challenge list above
• Infill Development Cost — extending infrastructure (streets, sidewalk and utilities) are often
required because they do not exist
• Unclear Development Needs — applicants are often unaware of infrastructure needs
• Cost of Vacant Property — Prices are often not adjusted to reflect the cost of needed
infrastructure for development
• Cost of Housing — Needed infrastructure makes construction of new housing more time
intensive and development costs may contribute to a higher cost of housing
• Attainable Housing Options —the fractured ownership, historical development code, lacking
infrastructure, and availability of larger scale developers, make larger scale, multi -family
construction difficult
• Loss of Open Space and Trails System — Streets may require clearing trees, vegetation and trails.
4
• Higher Taxes Burden — higher tax burden results to maintain poor infrastructure compared to
similar cities
• Poor Connectivity — lacking sidewalks and bike lanes make accessibility challenging and many
networks do not connect
A Street Circulation Plan is recommended to address the above challenges. The reader is referenced
to the Spring 2023 White Paper, Exploration of Strategies for Supporting Infill and Affordable Housing
Related to Infrastructure Development for information on housing impacts.
„iihe basis for a Streets Circulation plan is to assist in improving these issues of the past as the
community looks forward. The community is in a unique position to implement strategies that change
the trajectory of the City in an effort to minimize or eliminate the undesirable outcomes resulting
form the past development patterns. These changes would honor community values and build on the
requirements of the Growth Management Act. This white paper may serve as technical information
supporting other planning efforts under way, such as the update to the Non -motorized Plan and the
PROS plan update.
What is a Street Circulation Plan?
A Circulation Plan identifies needed infrastructure to provide safe and efficient networks for:
• Transportation
o Pedestrians cyclists and ADA compliant routes
o Transit
o Vehicles
o Emergency evacuation route (recently the concern of wildfire concerns)
• Utilities and Services
o City utilities: water, sewer and stormwater
o Other utilities: power and communications
o Garbage
o Mail
An effective circulation system helps meet community planning goals to maximize community quality of
life, improves health and safety, limits environmental impacts, reduces infrastructure maintenance costs
and promotes a strong local economy. This is later discussed as the triple bottom line - People, Planet,
Prosperity, and is the foundation to a sustainable city.
How does a Streets Circulation Plan fit into the City's future and how does Port Townsend differ from
other cities?
Street networks are a city's skeletal system which reflect a city's past and can direct the shape of its
future. Although Port Townsend did not develop in the pattern of the original plat, we still use the
streets system to plan for development and try to meet City goals as outlined in goals and policies within
the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element. Goals 3, 4, and 5 and associated policies in the
2016 Comprehensive Plan support the development of a street circulation plan along with the need to
address the problems outlined above. This haphazard development pattern has created outcomes
counter to a number of the policies in the 2016 Comprehensive Plan. This white paper will illustrate how
Port Townsend's streets system has developed, and failed to develop, due to historic plats, fractured
ownership, and challenged economic periods throughout the last 100+ years.
What outcomes would a Street Circulation Plan create for the City of Port Townsend?
• Identify necessary streets to provided access and utilities needed to serve existing and future
lots
• Identifies where right of ways can be preserved for trails, trees, open space, and stormwater
• Minimizes the number of streets to be built over the long term.
• De-emphasizes existing streets that are not necessary for overall circulation.
• Emphasizes streets where maintenance investments are needed to provide safe and adequate
street access to all existing developed and future developed lots.
• Provides predictability of how streets are built and where.
• Helps the City prepare for natural disasters such as wildfire and/or evacuations.
• Provides predictability for neighbors and landowners of where roads need to be built to access
land.
• Provides predictable development of accessible streets, which is particularly important in Port
Townsend because 20-25% of residents live with a disability.
This white paper's primary objective is to provide a summary of the technical analysis and legal
principles necessary to develop a Streets Circulation Plan. The white paper may also present findings as
the technical analysis is updated and iterated. This information may be useful in the development of
the following work efforts currently underway, including:
1. Active Transportation Plan Update
2. Urban Forestry Plan
3. Open Space Planning — See Open Space White Paper
4. Utility Planning
5. Periodic Update of the Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan
The white paper is divided into the following sections.
1. Background: Summarizes street development in Port Townsend over the past 100+ years.
2. Legal Principles: Provides key legal principles to be incorporated into the development of a
Streets Circulation Plan. In particular, planning, right of way, and property right principles are
explored.
3. Technical Analysis: Provides an overview of the technical and theoretical analysis employed to
develop the streets circulation plan.
4. Adaptation: Given an imperfect world, the technical analysis must be adapted to consider
existing development patterns, physical features and other considerations necessary to fit the
theoretical model into Port Townsend.
5. Policy Considerations: Policies related to the Street Circulation Plan may be incorporated into
the periodic update of the Comprehensive Plan.
6. Conclusion and Recommendations:
Background
Pre. -platted City
The City of Port Townsend is considered a pre -platted City due to the fact that the land was subdivided
in the late 1800s well before the subdivision laws of 1937. The term pre -platted also implies that the
city was divided into lots but not built out at the time it was divided. The expectation of early land
developers for Port Townsend was that the City would quickly develop to a population of 25,000 to
30,000 people. The original late 1800 plats created a total of approximately 14,000 lots. However, due
to market conditions, the city did not develop and in fact retracted in population. As a result, roads,
water, and sewer infrastructure were not built in the 1800s. Much of this infrastructure for the original
plats have not been built to this day.
Under modern subdivision laws, infrastructure is built at the time of development to avoid this problem.
This approach to building infrastructure at the time of development ensures that lots are ready for
homes or structures at the time the land is divided into lots.
Being a pre -platted city is not all bad. One of the key benefits to a pre -platted city is the availability of
right of way corridors that allows for a connected network of trails to be built without crossing private
property. The following illustration shows Port Townsend lots as originally platted. Note, that some of
the old 1800 subdivisions have been replatted as is the case with neighborhoods like Towne Point.
Late.1800's Port Townsend Plats,Shomling Over.14,000 lots in a Dense Configuration
Zoomed -in look at the 1800`s Flats. Most Lots are 5,000 .sf.
Historical Development Patterns and Infrastructure
Currently, Port Townsend lacks infrastructure. Much of the existing infrastructure is either of poor
quality or undersized. Many rights of way are undeveloped (unopened for streets), unpaved, or
substandard to support density and new development. Unlike the platted lots of 5,000 sf, the City
developed into low density housing. Many lots have been combined, creating large lot patterns despite
the majority of pre -platted lots being 5,000 sf (or 8 units per 40,000 sf block or 5.2 units to the acre
gross land area). Further complicating low density trends is the preponderance of right of ways with a
small square block pattern. For example, a typical 200' by 200' block also has an additional 30' of right of
way on all sides making the blocks effectively 260' x 260'. The development pattern of the past
significantly reduces the efficiency of housing and infrastructure. The following two figures illustrate this
trend and typical lot and block pattern of a pre -platted city.
Figure.l. Lot and Block Pattern with 5,000 sf lots in a 200'x200'block.
Illustrates low density with 3 homes oiler 6 lots.
Land area of 260'x260'= 67,600 sf compared to buildable area of 200'x200'= 40,000 sf
27,600 sf is right of way or 40% of the land area
Figure 2. Illustrating R-11 zoning density achieved.
Only a handful of blocks in the City are developed to full intended density.
8 units / 67,200 sf = 5.2 unitslacrefor total land area
8 units 140,000 sf = S. 7 units/acre of platted land
10
Figures 1 and 2 provide key takeaway points to consider regarding the City's development pattern.
• Density in the City is very low given only a handful of blocks are developed to full density as
shown in Figure 2.
• Density is much lower than anticipated when including right of way square footage in the land
area calculation. Maximum R-II density based on total land area is 5.2 units per acre compared
to 8.7 units per acre as identified in the zoning codes for platted land only.
• Figure 1 illustrates an intense infrastructure pattern with substandard infrastructure created by
low density housing. For example, Figure 1 has 520 feet of additional street and utilities
compared to Figure 2.
• Figure 1 compromises right of way as open space and trail corridors compared to Figure 2.
• Figure 2 illustrates quality and complete infrastructure with sidewalks to prioritize pedestrians
over cars.
• Figure 1 creates a maintenance liability for future generations twice that of Figure 2. This
creates a great inequity to all of the tax payers for the benefit of low density housing.
• The infrastructure burden per unit (tax and utility fees) is 4 times greater for the Figure 1
development pattern compared to Figure 2.
• The environmental impact of Figure 1 compared to Figure 2 is many times greater.
• Figure 2 is more of a sustainable development pattern financially and environmentally.
The greatest consequence of the development pattern in Figure 1 is that development is only affordable
to people with significant financial resources. This development pattern has created a disorderly and
unsustainable infrastructure maintenance dilemma for the City as stewards of taxpayer and rate payer
resources. The cost to extend infrastructure coupled with high land prices effectively makes it
impossible to build a housing unit affordable to median income households.
Many lots within the City are undeveloped but require costly infrastructure to service the lots. One block
of water, sewer, and roadway infrastructure can cost as much as $100 per linear foot (LF) or $200,000
per housing unit. As shown in Figure 2, denser development reduces the pro -rated share to $50,000.
Even with development as shown in Figure 2, financing tools are generally not available to assist with
infrastructure costs. Lack of financing tools places the infrastructure burden on the single -lot developer.
Latecomer agreements are available but risky for developers who finance all of the costs upfront and
hope for payback within the statutory allotted time (20 years for utilities and 15 years for streets).
Again, this makes the cost to develop a single housing unit affordable only to those with resources to
front all of these costs. In today's market, this removes many projects for being able to access traditional
financing.
Planning for the Future What Needs to Change?
The City is required to plan for growth under the Growth Management Act. The population will grow
with or without planning. Preventing growth is neither legal nor viable as the City has experienced for
many years with waves of new people moving to the City. The purpose of the Growth Management Act
is to establish a framework for communities to establish policies and plans to accommodate growth
locally. Planning ensures infrastructure can support orderly population while preserving local values
such as open space, parks, environmentally sensitive areas, and community building all fitting within a
financially viable manner to sustain urban services.
11
In the context of a Streets Circulation Plan, the City is required to plan for growth. Identifying where
streets are necessary and where they are not, is a key principle outcome that planning can help achieve.
Without a plan, it is expected that nearly every pre -platted right of way will have a road developed in it
compromising open space, trail corridors, and creating unnecessary tax burden on the residents of the
City.
This principle has been represented recently in the People, Planet, and Prosperity Tour. As the City
grows, planning for a balance and consciously thinking about how each element works together to make
a sustainable community is an underpinning of changing the course of the City where previous policies
have led to undesirable outcomes such as unsustainable infrastructure patterns. The following figures
illustrates prosperity as fiscally sustainable infrastructure such that the tax burden is not too high on tax
payers and yet urban services are provided. Minimizing infrastructure and maximizing density helps
address this challenge the City faces.
Another figure below illustrates the opposing forces related to services, taxes and density. A streets
circulation plan plays a large role in seeking the balance as outlined above from a livability standpoint
and below from a tax burden standpoint.
12
Balancing Growth and Development Patterns with Cost of .Service
Le aII and Code PrindIplles
A number of key legal principles and codes must be considered in the development of a circulation plan,
especially in a pre -platted city.
Un.-platted versus Platted Ares of the City
Areas of the City that have not been platted or subdivided yet are considered open tracts. Un-platted
tracts are anticipated to be developed following state subdivision codes and city codes. Un-platted
tracts also must be developed with all urban service infrastructure at the time of land division. This
means roads, water, sewer, power, stormwater, and communications must all be built at the time of
development. Examples of these types of plats include Towne Point, Linfield, Hamilton Heights,
Trailcrest, Tree House, Madrona Ridge, and others. Sometimes, when numerous lots of the pre -platted
city are owned by one entity, the area will be re -platted or the plat will be altered in accordance with
Washington State subdivision laws.
The Streets Circulation Plan anticipates streets to be designed and built at the time of land division.
Except for critical connections, this plan would not try to predict how roads would be configured
through a subdivision, replat or plat alteration process.
13
Pre ..pIatted Plats Prior to 1..937
The Streets Circulation Plan is intended to focus primarily on plats developed prior to 1937 in which
infrastructure was not constructed at the time of land division. As described in the background section,
this comprises most of the City. A key legal principle is whether or not the City honors pre 1937 lots or
not. Given the fractured ownership within the historic plats, the City's assertion of public interest in the
undeveloped right of ways for trails and open space, and that all of the historic plats in town have lots
that have been recognized by the City since 1937, the City anticipates that it would be required that the
City continue to honor the historic plats. If there had not been development in Port Townsend since the
1800's then the City could choose not to recognize pre 1937 plats. That has not been the case and the
City's actions have indicated recognition of the plats. Chapter 18.18 of the Port Townsend Municipal
Code describes the process to recognize lots of record platted prior to 1937, which includes an analysis
of street access potential.
Statutory Vacation
Several plats developed prior to statehood and the formation of the City are subject to statutory
vacation. This means that the property owners within a respective plat can petition to have the platted
right of ways vacated if there is not a public street within the right of way. However, even though some
plats are subject to statutory street vacation, the streets circulation plan is still necessary for those plats.
The plan will ensure that all properties within the plat have access to their lots. The key difference in
these plats is that the resulting street would have be privately maintained and there would be no public
access for trails or public access. A number of small sections of streets have been vacated through
statutory vacation. Understanding which plats are subject to statutory vacation is important for the
development of this plan, but does not alter the outcomes on whether or not a street is necessary. The
following points should be considered in a Streets Circulation Plan for those plats subject to statutory
vacation.
1. If a public street already exists, then the public has prescriptive rights to use that street.
2. Trails in undeveloped right of ways may not be able to remain if a statutory vacation occurs.
3. In locations where right of ways have been statutorily vacated, public access is not necessarily
available and maintenance would be the responsibility of the property owners using the street.
Plat Integrity and Impacts to Surrounding Properties
Maintaining plat integrity is a key principle that the Street Circulation plan needs to honor. Property
owners within a plat count on the right of ways and infrastructure to be predictable. Property owners
also count on the development pattern to be similar to that as envisioned in the plat as well as regulated
by City Codes and Plans. Plat alterations require due process and analysis to protect the rights of
14
existing property owners within a plat that would be potentially impacted by a reconfiguration.
Examples of reconfigurations include vacating right of ways, rotating lot lines, and combining lots.
In many locations throughout Port Townsend, historic plats have been modified over the years. This
means that a streets circulation plan should consider the original plat integrity and how it may have
been impacted by a change in the past. Such changes have the potential to create undue cost burdens
for extending utilities and streets due to the inability to share costs proportionately among benefiting
lots. When this happens, impacted lots maybe effectively unbuildable due to the cost to extend
infrastructure.
Right of Way Preservation for Open Space and Trails
Typically, cities do not maintain public access for undeveloped right of ways. Undeveloped right of ways
in a legal sense are termed unopened right of ways. However, the City of Port Townsend is unique in its
assertion of public use of the right of ways for trails, open space, utilities, and tree preservation. This
public assertion goes beyond typical cities who assert public use only for streets and utilities. Any right
of way that does not have an asserted public interest is deemed unopened and land useable by the
abutting property owner. Port Townsend has asserted public interest in all right of ways through due
process of the Comprehensive Plan, Non -motorized Plan, Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan as well
as City code. For example, the City code designates special regulations for preservations of trees in
unopened right of ways. Additionally, the city right of way vacation code discourages vacating right of
way for the purpose of preserving public open space and future use of right of way for trails by requiring
a consistency analysis with adopted plan. Thus all right of ways are considered opened in Port
Townsend, albeit many right of ways are not developed with a street. This is a highly unique element of
the City and its pre -platted nature.
Circulation Fire Code
A core principle of the Streets Circulation Plan is the provision of access and safe mobility of people,
goods, and services. This includes emergency service access. Typically, emergency services refer to the
International Fire Code for recommended standards of practice. The City and East Jefferson Fiore and
Rescue have the ability to develop the appropriate standards for emergency service access as well as
evacuation. By reference, the International Fire Code recommends that 30 lots or more have two
ingress/egress access points. Other cities have adopted 50 as the upper limit. For the purpose of this
circulation planning effort, staff recommends 50 lots given historic development patterns.
15
I....egal Access and the City'.s Responsibility to Plan
A Streets Circulation Plan must take into account that all lots have legal access via public right of way.
The City cannot substantially impair access or maroon lots in existing historic plats or modern
subdivisions. However, the City can direct where streets need to go to provide safe and legal access in
the City's role of managing right of way and providing efficient streets and utility access. The City has
the ability and responsibility to plan and designate how transportation is developed for the benefit of
the public and the City as a whole as long as all areas of the City designated for development are
included in the plan for legal access. The Street Circulation plan will focus on providing a plan for legal
access to all lots except those areas designated as open space or undevelopable where access is not
necessary.
Tedhnicall Analysis Approach (.TIheoredcal)
The following technical data provides a basis for understanding the development potential and
developing an infrastructure plan for the City. The streets circulation plan represents the most efficient
and practical way to provide service recognizing topography, wetlands, lot configuration, existing open
space, and existing arterial street patterns.
Within City Boundary
Total pre -platted lot count
14,298
Total tax parcels in pre platted city
7,050
Total reduction of lots through tax parcel consolidation
7,248
Total area of Right of way in pre -platted city (Acre)
1,074
Total tax parcels outside of pre -platted city but inside city
limits (unplatted tracts)
435
Total parcel area outside of pre -platted city but inside city
limits (unplatted tracts) (Acre)
776
Notes:
• Total tax parcels was calculated by aggregating all the parcels within the city boundary by their
Parcel ID Number.
• Total tax parcels outside of pre -platted city but inside city limit was calculated by counting
parcels that do not intersect (at any level) lot boundaries.
16
Additional interesting data include relative amount of open space and length of streets.
• Total amount of open space is approximately equal to 52% of the City's land area.
• Length of city maintained streets = 81 miles
• Length of private maintained street = 12 miles
• Length of city managed trails is approximately equal to 31 miles.
Overlay analysis Process of Elimination
An overlay analysis was implemented to combine and eliminate various information stored in geospatial
layers allowing for an unbiased review of where streets most efficiently are necessary. The process of
using layers to evaluate the city is the primary way of starting with the theoretical and moving toward
reality while maintaining an eye toward plat integrity and development requirements of the City.
17
Figure Depicting Geographical information (Gi.S).System Layering
Layering using Gi.S Provides an OpportunityfarObJective Analysis
The following layered approach utilizing GIS is described as follows.
• Plat Layer and Theoretical Street Model: The initial analysis incorporated the current plat
system with new subdivisions and right of way. A theoretical street model for Port Townsend
was designed using the plats and created in the center of the right of way adjacent to the short
end of the lots. In addition, the theoretical street model was required to serve each lot within
Port Townsend. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate where streets are necessary and where they are not.
Existing Arterial Streets: The City has federally classified arterial streets which are part of the
National transportation system. For the purpose of this plan development, these streets are
considered required streets. Overlaying this layer defines key connecting streets required to be
in the plan. Federally classified streets can be viewed at
I.ps.:�s.....✓ Acavcalls/ca12Ir117caim.fits:::If:Imaim.II.IIss
• Existing Streets: The existing streets network layer is overlaid on the theoretical pre -platted
layer. Many of the theoretical streets and existing streets are one in the same. Where existing
streets overlay with theoretical streets, these streets become considered part of the Circulation
Plan. When existing streets do no overlay with theoretical streets, then the existing streets will
18
be considered for de -emphasis or future trail corridors or even possibly street abandonment to
privately maintained streets/driveways as they don't serve a public need.
• Parks or excluded areas from development: Overlaying the areas of the City where
development is not anticipated, allows portions of the City to be removed from the analysis.
For example, Fort Worden does not need to be included, nor does Boat Haven or Point Hudson.
Parks, schools, legally defined open spaces, and cemeteries are also removed from the analysis.
• Slope Barriers: Slopes equal to or greater than 20% create a barrier to streets. Each of these
locations must be individually analyzed to see if a street can be built in this area. If a street can
not be built, then a barrier is identified and the theoretical layer must be modified to find an
alternative way to serve existing lots. Note, some lots are not reasonably developable given
steep slopes and the inability to access those lots. Many of those lots could be considered
effectively as open space. The lots that exist under water or on the bluffs are a good example
of lots that may not realistically develop.
• Wetlands: Wetlands have differing impacts to streets depending on the quality (class) of the
wetland. Some wetlands may be a formidable barrier to streets while others may simply
require mitigation due to impacts of building a street. The Wetlands layer is similar to slope
layers in that wetlands are assumed to be barriers and alternative ways to access lots must be
determined when reasonably practicable.
• Vacated Right of Way: Some right of ways have been vacated over the years meaning the City
has forfeited the ability to place a street in the right of way. Overlaying this layer on the
theoretical model illustrates where streets are not allowed due to the city authorizing release
of public interest through due process.
Utilities Layer: Overlaying existing utility and future utilities layers identifies where utilities
need to go. Sometimes, the presence of a utility need might drive the need for a street. Some
utilities, such as sewer and stormwater are constrained by topography and gravity drainage.
However, utilities may also reside under trails when a street is not necessary.
Trail Layer: Overlaying the existing and proposed trail layer from the 1997 Non Motorized Plan
and further refining it based on the current efforts to update the Active Transportation Plan
will help illustrates where trails can be prioritized in corridors where streets are not needed.
Understanding where trials coincide with streets and where there are short cuts is part of the
Active Transportation Plan and this Streets Circulation Plan.
The result of the overlay analysis described above is the creation of a preliminary Streets Circulation
plan for developable property that is most efficient. This stage of the analysis is a theoretical plan
rooted in the realities of Port Townsend topography and historic legal actions such as vacating right of
ways.
19
Once the technical analysis of layering and the process of elimination is complete, a very manual process
of evaluating Port Townsend's land alterations history is required.
• Lot Line Adjustments — including lot line reorientation: Each area of the City must be evaluated
for lot configuration changes that have the potential for impacting the integrity of the plat.
Some of these changes over the years may require adjustment of the theoretical model
described above.
• Partial or limited Replats: In some areas of the City, small replats may have been performed
that were not part of the theoretical analysis. Similar to lot line changes, the city existing lot
configurations must be reviewed to make necessary adjustments.
• Active Transportation: The Active Transportation Plan update to the Non -motorized Plan of
1997 may result in corridors such as greenways where streets and trails coexist. New corridors
may also result from this update process and should be incorporated into the streets circulation
plan.
• Broken Grid: A policy of the past Non -motorized Plan of 1997 that has been actively
implemented is the broken grid system. By creating streets that do not connect, pedestrians
and bicyclists have the priority to connect between streets via trail corridors. Numerous
examples of this broken grid exist throughout the City.
Example Broken Gird Principle
Discourage Cut -through Traffic and Promote Non -Motorized Transportation
20
Secondary Access and Circulation: Safe access for emergency vehicles. Including streets that
are necessary for fire access and evacuation is a final check for overall functionality of the
intended purpose of the plan. In a larger City, traffic volumes might also be included in this
analysis; however, Port Townsend does not have traffic delay problems and has primarily been
focused on Active Transportation as a solution to mobility congestion concerns.
Accessibility for All: Finally, the City may consider developing a goal for number of housing units
connected by accessible facilities such as sidewalks. Many cities have an extensive sidewalk
system which provides these connections for visually impaired and wheelchair users. The type
of street built and whether sidewalks are installed should be informed by the goal for
accessibility. Port Townsend currently has 20-25% of the population living with a disability. A
logical objective of 20% of all housing units being accessible to points of interest such as grocery,
parks, public facilities, schools, and bus stops may be a reasonable goal.
The outcome of the final process is a development pattern that preserves trail corridors, minimizes
infrastructure and efficiently serves neighborhoods safely as demonstrated in this figure provided at the
People Prosperity Planet Tour on September 18, 2024.
Streets Circulation Plan Representation People Prosperity Planet Iaur
21
PoIky Coinsideiradoiris
This white paper provides technical background for key policy considerations for the City Council. The
process of developing policy includes working through the technical details at a staff level along with
seeking input from advisory boards such as the Parks Recreation Trees and Trails Advisory Board and the
Planning Commission. Along with this process, seeking input from the public is a key element to the
development of policy. The City Council's role is to consider the technical details provided by staff, the
recommendations from the advisory boards and public input in the adoption of new or modification of
existing policies.
Existing policies around the street circulation plan fall back to the existing Engineering Design Standards,
Chapter 12 of the PTMC, and the existing 2016 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 6, Transportation Element.
While a number of goals and policies apply, several specific policies include the following:
• Goal 1, Policy 1.3: Provide a transportation system that enhances neighborhood development
and infill
• Goal 3, Policy 31.: Adopt, update, and implement street design standards that are consistent
with the adopted Land Use Map and land use objectives and that accommodate the needs of all
users and modes of travel.
• Goal 4, Policy 41. Develop and maintain street design and construction standards for local
access streets for new development that reflect a reasonable balance between initial expense
and long-term operations and maintenance costs, that provide for accessibility for all users, and
that safely accommodate:
o a. Stormwater management and other utilities;
o b. Neighborhood motor vehicle traffic;
o c. Parking;
o d. Emergency and service vehicles;
o e. Pedestrians;
o f. Bicycles;
o g. Mail boxes;
o h. Garbage and recycling services;
o i. Public transportation access;
o j. Street lights; and
o k. Street trees.
• Goal 4, Policy 4.5: Allow and designate certain streets for closure (or do not allow some streets
to be opened) in certain areas so the street grid is broken in an effort to promote more
pedestrian friendly neighborhoods.
• Goal 5, Policy 5.14: Designate certain right-of-way corridors for bicycle and pedestrian use only.
• Goal 11, Policy 11.1: Encourage the use of existing, underused, or undeveloped street rights -of -
way to provide non -motorized public access.
• Goal 11, Policy 11.2: Set aside specific unopened rights -of -way for greenways, regional
stormwater drainage facilities, and pedestrian access on trails.
• Goal 11, Policy 11.4: Use the following criteria to consider if public rights -of -way should be
vacated or left unimproved:
22
o a. Street continuity and property access;
o b. Future utility needs, including stormwater facilities, and capital facilities plans;
o c. Consistency with Land Use and Transportation Elements, as well as the overall
Comprehensive Plan;
o d. Inclusion of the right-of-way in applicable functional plans; and
o e. Preservation of open space and environmentally sensitive areas.
The following options are presented for policy adoption consideration.
1. The City Council will ultimately need to decide whether or not to adopt a streets circulation plan
as part of the Comprehensive Plan Periodic update or plan for implementation action along with
underpinning policies. Currently, the 2016 Comprehensive Plan does not have a circulation plan
included even though policies support one. The consequences of not adopting a street
circulation as follows:
a. If no circulation plan, every existing right of way is considered to be available for a new
street except as recommended by staff through the development process.
b. If no circulation plan, there will continue to be no predictability of where streets are
needed versus were streets are not needed.
c. If no circulation plan, the current codes require development of streets to and through
all lots. This means that lots may have additional cost burdens because there is no plan
telling the applicants what is required.
d. If no circulation plan, there will be continued loss of trail corridors given each right of
way is considered to be eligible for a new street or driveway.
e. If no circulation plan, the tax burden will increase on residents as there will be more
streets than the minimum necessary. Additional streets are associated with increased
environmental impacts.
2. If the circulation plan is adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan, a number of follow up
policies need to be considered to address this new direction.
a. Streets shown on the plan are prioritized locations. Policies concerning development of
these streets concurrent with new development must be adopted into City code as an
action item. This includes updates to the Engineering Design Standards.
b. Street classifications will need to be developed. For example, the interim design
standards for streets includes a table that designates street sizes by number of units
served. This will need to include a street collector analysis. Additional street
classifications are anticipated to reflect the updated Active Transportation Plan and
objectives to prioritize specific ADA routes and Non -motorized transportation
connections.
c. Street connectivity standards for emergency service versus broken grid streets will need
to be determined. East Jefferson Fire and Rescue along with the Police Department
response times depend on street connections. In addition, evacuation effectiveness
depends on street connectivity. Some cities use 50 units as the threshold for a second
street connection. The International Fire Code specifies 30 units for secondary access.
Staff recommends utilizing 50 units as a threshold.
23
d. Current policies for Non -motorized transportation designate Uptown as being a grided
network. This is relatively unique compared to the remaining potions of the City. A
policy on whether to keep the gridded network is necessary.
e. Gridded networks may be desirable in areas of high density development such as
multifamily. A policy regarding density and gridded networks is necessary if desired. Is
there a broken grid policy.
f. What percentage of housing units should be connected directly to ADA accessible
routes? Approximately 20% of the City's transportation budget should be allocated to
ADA improvements. In coordination with Disability Awareness Starts Here and the
stakeholder committee for the Active Transportation Plan update, Staff recommends
development of a street circulation plan in which at least 20% of units being directly
served by ADA compliant sidewalks. This would allow prioritization of investments to
create a connected network rather than construction of sidewalk where it is not a
priority. This is a stark difference from many cities in which sidewalk is a goal
everywhere.
g. Existing streets which are not required for lot access are redundant. A number of
options exist for these redundant streets.
i. Existing redundant streets can be maintained as they are; and/or
ii. Existing redundant streets can be de-emphasized and converted to privately
maintained driveways; and/or
iii. Existing redundant streets can include broken grid features to prevent through
traffic; and/or
iv. Existing redundant streets can be designated for Urban Forestry and
stormwater; and/or
v. Existing redundant streets can be prioritized for green ways or trail corridors
such as an 8' wide surface; and/or
h. Prioritization of street maintenance and rehabilitation is a possibility with a streets
circulation plan. For example, the following factors can help with prioritization of
limited resources
i. Focus on emergency evacuation and circulation routes.
ii. Focus on infill development areas where existing substandard streets exist
iii. Incentivize density and infill with City participation for the public benefit of
minimizing infrastructure and affordable housing.
iv. Prioritize areas where streets cause the most maintenance concerns.
v. Pulverize redundant streets and potentially return them to gravel for ease of
private maintenance
coirdusIoirls
The end result of following the described process of analysis while considering legal and planning
responsibilities is a Streets Circulation Plan that illustrates where streets are necessary and where they
are not needed.
24
The outcome of the final process is a development pattern that preserves trail corridors, minimizes
infrastructure and efficiently serves neighborhoods safely as demonstrated in this figure provided at the
People Prosperity Planet Tour on September 18, 2024.
Streets Circulation Plan Representation People Prosperity Planes Tour
How does this appear in real life?
Here is a typical city block that is approximately 600 feet long in another City.
25
As discussed in the white paper, Port Townsend City blocks are 230 feet long more or less which results
in many streets as shown below.
With a streets circulation plan, many of the right of ways can be designated as redundant leaving them
for open space, trails, stormwater, and trees as shown below in which Hendricks and Grant rights of way
do need streets.
RecoImIm6"indadoiris
Staff recommends working through the process of completing the technical analysis of a street
circulation plan and presenting a draft plan to the public for consideration. Prior to the presentation of
this information with highly controversial potential, staff desires to ensure that the Council and public
are supportive of the principles outlined in this white paper.
26
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Project Summary
Port Townsend Public Library Plant Inventory and Recommendations for Native Plants
February 2025
This project was conceived and carried out by Steven Yanoff, svanof@vahoo.com, as a private
citizen of Port Townsend.
Project materials include:
• This project summary
• A spreadsheet, Plant Lists - Port Townsend Public Library Inventory and Native Plant
Recommendations.ods, with two tabs: (1) Preliminary List of Existing Plants, and (2)
Recommendations for Native Plants. Spreadsheet format is *.ods created in OpenOffice
can be opened in Excel
• Photos, Existing Plant List and Map - Port Townsend Public Library Plant Inventory and
Native Plant Recommendations.pdf, with selected photos of existing plants, a scanned
field map of approximate plant locations and a plant list
• Map of approximate plant locations. Same as map above but in image format for
printing e.g., tabloid size. Existing Plants Map - Port Townsend Public Library Plant
Inventory and Native Plant Recommendations.pdf
• A zip file containing all plant photos, All Plant Photos - Port Townsend Public Library
Plant Inventory and Native Plant Recommendations.zip
Contents:
1.
Goals
2.
Results
3.
Methods
4.
Recommendations
5.
Resources
Thanks to Kathy Darrow, Ron Sykes and Fred Weinmann for recommendations of native plants
for library grounds.
PlantNet was used for identification of most plants:
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain
Trust, Sydney. https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au (September -October 2024, January 2025)
1
1. Goals
Project goals were to document existing plants on library grounds and provide a list of
recommended native plants for future plantings. An additional goal was to recommend that a
plan for library grounds be developed that includes native plants. Outdoor public spaces
including library grounds provide an opportunity for conserving native plants and informing the
public about native plants. See Recommendations for more information.
I conceived and carried out this project on my own as a private citizen of Port Townsend. For
background my career was a conservation biologist at The Nature Conservancy and the New
Mexico Natural Heritage Program.
2. Results
Existing Flora
Ninety-eight different plants and one mushroom were identified. This includes 20 trees, 10
shrubs or small trees, 39 shrubs, 3 herbs or small shrubs, 23 herbs (= non -woody), four grasses
and one mushroom. The overwhelming majority are not native. Seventy-eight (79%) are not
native to North America, 87 (88%) are not native to the Pacific Northwest, and 89 (90%) are not
native to our area, the Puget Sound Lowlands (PSL) portion of the Pacific Northwest.* Most of
these taxa (species or genera) are native to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America or
Central America. This inventory focused on trees, shrubs and perennial herbs on the library
grounds and not annuals or grasses. One mushroom was included and is tallied in the plant list
although it is a fungus. See Methods for details about taxa identification and mapping.
The six PSL native plants identified on library grounds are Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii),
western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla, but see spreadsheet for identification issue), snowberry
(Symphoricarpos albus), tall Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), low Oregon grape (Mahonia
nervosa) and western sword fern (Polystichum munitum). Pacific Northwest plants on library
grounds that grow outside our area are mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) and wooly silk -
tassel (Garrya elliptica). A tree on the south side is similar to the Pacific Northwest native hairy
manzanita (Arctostaphylos columbiana), although it was identified as a different manzanita or
perhaps a cultivar.
Several plants in the library grounds may readily spread to other areas and at least two are
Washington state listed or monitored noxious weeds (see spreadsheet). Their control or
removal should be considered. Among these are ivy (Hedera species), holly (Ilex aquifolium),
butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), spurge -laurel (Daphne laureola), Mediterranean spurge
(Euphorbia characias), wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides), Franchet's cotoneaster
(Cotoneaster franchetii), silver cotoneaster (Cotoneaster pannosus), mullein (Verbascum
thapsus) and common or English hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna or C. laevigata; identification
needs confirmation).
*Percentages are of all 99 taxa, including a small number that could not be classified as native or non-native because of unconfirmed
geographic origin. Although the word "plants" is used in this project, one mushroom species was observed during the field survey
and is included, and many mostly non-native grasses and annuals were excluded. The point that the overwhelming majority of plants
are non-native holds, regardless.
2
Recommended Plants
Fifty-five native plants were recommended for the library grounds. These include six trees, 16
shrubs/small trees, 12 shrubs, four ferns and 17 perennial herbs (some also classified as
subshrubs). Six of the herbs are described as ground cover species, and all of the 21 herbs and
ferns may be considered for ground cover. All 55 of these species are native to the Pacific
Northwest and 50 to 52 of them are native to the Puget Sound Lowlands. As noted below in
Recommendations, there are other sources to learn more about these recommended plants,
and there are many other Pacific Northwest native species that may be appropriate for the
library.
3. Methods
Existing Plants
The existing library grounds plant list and map expand a list and map previously created by
Sarah Fairbank, a local WSU (Washington State University) Master Gardener. The current list
includes Fairbank's original identifications and adds a few I made. However, the majority of
identifications were determined by taking plant photos and submitting them to the image -
matching app PlantNet (https://plantnet.org/en/about/). PlantNet includes a global flora, so was
appropriate for library grounds plants. PlantNet is partly based on expert input, but as a digital
image matching tool, is largely dependent on photo selection and quality, season of observation
and other variables. Additionally, some of the library grounds plants are cultivars which can be
difficult to identify. In some cases I consulted plant descriptions in other sources to support
PlantNet results. However, definitive plant identifications using botanical keys and detailed
descriptions in floras and other references were beyond the scope of this project. Accordingly,
the existing plant list should be considered preliminary and identifications should be further
confirmed and updated when possible. Identifications by Sara Fairbank, Steven Yanoff and those
with PlantNet percent -matches > 50%, as noted in Map # of photo labels and the plant list, are
most reliable. However as mentioned, results are conditional on multiple factors and > 50%
match is only a convention.
Annual plants and most grasses were not formerly identified, although an informal survey
suggests most grasses are not native to the Pacific Northwest. This is true of most urban lawn
species in our area. Some trees, shrubs and perennial herbs may have been overlooked and not
identified and mapped. Some plants were not able to be identified due to seasonal botanical
features or other reasons. Plant locations were mapped manually and not determined by survey
instruments or GPS, so it is best to regard them as approximate and not valid at the scale of a
specific point on the map. Like definitive plant identification, detailed mapping was beyond the
scope of this project. These several limitations were most common for plants on the north side
of the library. The same plant taxon may have one to multiple map labels depending on the
photo(s) needed for plant identification. Note that some landscaping occurred after September -
October 2024, when most plants were observed for this project. Consequently, some plants
observed in this project may have been removed. This appears to be true of the Buddleja sp.
(butterfly bush) on the south side of the library, west of the main stairs, and perhaps for some
plants on the slope on the east library grounds that drops to the boundary with the church. All
plants identified in this project were photographed except for three - Acer japonicum,
3
Elaeagnus x ebbingei and the butterfly bush above.
Recommended Plants
Recommended native plants for the library grounds were suggested by Kathy Darrow, Ron Sykes
and Fred Weinmann, local residents with knowledge of native plants and native plant gardening.
They were asked to suggest low maintenance, deer resistant native plants. Darrow leads native
plant walks, gives presentations and writes articles for example for Washington Native Plant
Society newsletters. Sykes gives presentations, organizes native plant restoration efforts and as
part of Rainshadow Bird Alliance (formerly Admiralty Audubon) advises residents on native
gardens that benefit native birds. Weinmann is a botanist who leads plant walks, gives
presentations and published an inventory of the flora of Fort Townsend State Park.
4. Recommendations
Native plants provide important environmental, ecological, aesthetic and public benefits.
Providing native plants in public spaces enhances public knowledge of the role of native plants
in Pacific Northwest ecosystems and their potential in back yard native habitats, and can have
functional value. Studies show that even small patches of native plants in urban settings provide
habitat. Native wildlife including birds are supported by native plants. Adding interpretive signs
to native plants provides information to the public about their botanical features, ecosystem
and habitat roles and traditional uses. Examples of such signs are at the H.J. Carroll County
Park's Ku Kah Han Native Plant Garden in Chimicum and the Botany Walk at Fort Townsend
State Park.
The library grounds provide a pleasing green landscape for the library and the public. Most of
the plants are non-native ornamentals common to urban settings and gardens. The Bookworms
and other volunteers do a great job maintaining and gardening the library grounds. Given the
high proportion of non-native plants at the library, there is an opportunity to prioritize native
plants for future plantings.
Native plants should be considered for all suitable Port Townsend outdoor public spaces
including the library, other facilities, parks, trails and rights of ways. Current gardening efforts at
the library are largely by volunteers and seem an organic and opportunistic approach focused on
maintaining legacy plants and configurations and re -planting selected spaces. Developing a
landscape plan for the library grounds that includes native plants with interpretive signs is
recommended to provide a landscape vision and work template for the future. There are
various considerations for developing such a plan including limited financial, labor and
infrastructure (e.g., irrigation) resources, maintaining access to the library and paths,
maintaining spaces for outdoor functions including reading and sitting areas and events, public
opinion, aesthetics, and relevant documents such as the Comprehensive Plan and PROS Plan
(Parks, Recreation and Open Space Functional Plan).
As mentioned, control and removal of state listed and monitored noxious weeds and other
invasive plants should be considered.
There are many ways to incorporate native plants in the library grounds. Of course there are
El
other options for the library grounds as well, including maintaining the status quo. Regardless of
the direction chosen, native plants could be incorporated into any option and increased in the
future. Keeping in mind the various factors that need to be considered to develop a landscape
plan, such as limited resources and others mentioned above, here are just a few ideas:
Native
Plant -
For all future native plant plantings interpretive signs are recommended.
• The simplest idea may be to prioritize native plants when there are opportunities to
plant new plants. The provided list of recommended native plants and other resources
below are a good start for selecting native plants. Given limited resources and deer
access, low maintenance, deer resistant plants may be desirable. An inherent benefit of
native plants is they are adapted to our climate, so may need less care and protection
than some non-native plants.
• Another idea is to establish a native plant demonstration garden in an available space
on the library grounds. Areas that are not densely planted, newly cleared, or with short-
lived seasonal plants that will need replacement may be best suited. Ku Kah Han Native
Plant Garden in Chimicum is an example. Other examples are at
https://www.wnps.org/native-gardening/display-gardens.
• A related idea is to establish a demonstration garden of non-native invasive plants
to highlight undesirable species such as Washington listed and monitored noxious
plants and other invasives. It would be important to devise ways to prevent these plants
from spreading.
• Planting native plants in groupings that represent Pacific Northwest ecosystems is an
option. Examples are Northwest Prairie and Puget Lowland Dry (rainshadow) Forests
and Woodlands. Different sun exposures on different sides of the library building lend
themselves to this idea. Ku Kah Han Native Plant Garden in Chimicum has examples of
plants grouped into ecosystems and IslanclWood Environmental Education Center on
Bainbridge Island follows this approach on a large scale. Pacific Rim Institute and Kah Tai
Praire at Camas Prairie Park are examples of Northwest Prairie, which can be considered
for open sunny areas of the library grounds. Websites for these are below.
• Library programs could be developed that build on native (and non-native) plants on the
library grounds and in other areas. For example, native plant presentations could tour
the native plants on the library grounds and at other public spaces. Such cooperation
could be supported by the new Community Services Department which increases
coordination between the Library and Parks Department.
Otherldea-
Modifying the current landscape so that paths and sitting areas are more accessible and
desirable plants are more clearly demarcated and visible. This may involve trimming
overhanging and sprawling branches, clearing paths, clearing areas between desirable
plants, and clearing weeds and overgrowth. This is an ongoing effort and the
Bookworms and other volunteers are already pursuing this. However, it is challenging
because it is labor intensive and time consuming. Native plants should be part of this
approach, incorporating them, with signs, when there are planting opportunities.
5
A consideration is that ground cleared of weeds and overgrowth is easily colonized so
strategies to exclude and suppress undesirable new plants are recommended. Mulching
cleared ground with cardboard and wood chips is one strategy. Another is to plant
desirable ground cover that can out -compete undesirable species. Mulching and/or
ground cover are also recommended in existing (uncleared) spaces throughout library
grounds to suppress undesirable plants. There are many native plants that are suitable
for ground cover. Seethe recommended native plant list and resources below.
• Community vegetable, herb and flower gardens are an option. They have been
suggested in the past - there is a painting in the Carnegie Reading Room that envisions
such gardens. The grass strip west of the Pink House may be a fitting area for a flower
garden.
• Enhancing areas for people with limited mobility, such as raised (above ground for those
in wheel chairs and with walkers) feature gardens. Scent gardens, with aromatic plants,
may benefit those with visual impairments.
S. Resources
There are many resources, beyond the recommended native plant list of this project, to help
select native plants, develop a landscape plan for the library grounds and implement ideas such
as those suggested above. Some of these resources are below. In addition, it would be helpful to
consult with local individuals, organizations and nurseries with native plant expertise. Some
organizations that can offer guidance are the WSU Master Gardeners Program
(https://extension.wsu.edu/mefferson/gardening-2/), Jefferson Land Trust
(https://saveland.org/) and Jefferson County Conservation District
(https://www.meffersoncd.org/).
For Selecting Native Plants and Native Plant Gardening
Books:
Cascadia Revealed: A Guide to the Plants, Animals, and Geology of the Pacific Northwest
Mountains, Daniel Matthews 2021
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon 2016
Wilderness at Your Doorstep: Wild Plants of the Fort Townsend State Park, Fred Weinmann
2023
Online Resources:
These King County websites allow searches for native plants and their requirements like water,
sun exposure, etc., so are very practical:
https://green2.kingcounty.gov/gonative/index.aspx
https://green2.kingcounty.gov/gonative/Plant.aspx?Act=search
https://green2.ki ngcou nty.gov/gonative/Article.aspx?Act=view&Articlel D=18
These websites offer various resources including gardening techniques, native plant
information, and native plant lists:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/pacific-nw-native-plants-plant-
community
9
https://www.wnps.org/plant-Iists
https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecolIection/
https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/eflora/index.htmI
https://www.wnps.org/op-protects/kah-tai-prairie
WA Native Plant Society has videos on native plants and native plant gardening:
https://www.wnps.org/wnps-annual-events/virtual-events
This native plant gardening video is by Kathy Darrow, a local native plants expert and gardener:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnvkmkmgDpo
Native plant nurseries (see below)
Washington State Noxious Control Board Listed and Monitored Plants
https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/printable-noxious-weed-list
To Learn about Pacific Northwest Vegetation Communities and Ecosystems
The Natural History of Puget Sound Country, Arthur Kruckeberg (1991)
Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington, Jerry Franklin and C.T. Dryness (1973 and 1988)
Ku Kah Han Native Plant Garden in Chimicum: https://www.nativeplantgarden.org/
Washington Natural Heritage Program: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/NHPecosystems
Example Native Plant Demonstration Gardens
Washington Native Plant Society list: https://www.wnps.org/native-gardening/display-gardens
Kah Tai Prairie at Camas Prairie Park: https://www.wnps.org/op-projects/kah-tai-prairie
Ku Kah Han Native Plant Garden in Chimicum: https://www.nativeplantgarden.org/
IslanclWood: https://islandwood.org/
Pacific Rim Institute: https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/visit-us
Nearby Sources for Native Plants
Chimicum Corner Farmstand Nursery: https://www.chimacumcorner.com/nursery
Jefferson County Conservation District has an annual bare root native plant sale:
https://www.ieffersoncd.org/
Pacific Rim Institute: https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/visit-us
(call for more information, they specialize in NW Prairie plants)
Salish Trees Nursery: https://www.salishtreesnursery.com/
Shore Road Nursery: htt ps://www.shoreroadnursery.com/
Other Resources
In addition to the resources above, an excellent way to choose native plants for future plantings
is to visit nearby natural areas and observe native plants. These include Quimper Wildlife
7
Corridor including Quimper West, Cappy's Trails, and Forts Worden, Townsend and Flagler. Kah
Tai Nature Park in Port Townsend is instructive because there has been a long term volunteer
effort there planting native plants - contact Ron Sykes for more information.
https://saveland.org/were-celebrating-107-acres-in-the-quimper-wildlife-corridor-transferred-
to-the-cou nty-and-protected-forever/
https://citvofpt.us/parksrec/page/cappys-trails
https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/fort-worden-historical-state-park
https://Parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/fort-townsend-historical-state-park
https://Parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/fort-flagler-historical-state-park
https://citvofpt.us/parksrec/page/kah-tai-lagoon-nature-park
There are many native plants not on the recommended native plant list of this project that are
common locally and may be appropriate for library grounds. Consult local experts and the
resources above for more information. Just a few of these are oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor),
Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), thimbleberry
(Rubus parviflorus), trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus), common snowberry (Symphoricarpos
albus) and Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana). Some of these spread easily so that is a factor. Besides
small camas (Camassia quamash) and Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), the recommended
native plant list of this project does not provide Northwest Prairie associated plants including
native grasses. These have important conservation and indigenous cultural values and might do
well on the exposed south and west library sides. For more information visit Kah Tai Prairie at
Camas Prairie Park and see the Kah Tai Prairie Washington Native Plant Society
(https://www.wnps.org/op-protects/kah-tai-prairie) and Pacific Rim Institute
(https://www.pacificriminstitute.org/visit-us) websites.
0
Pacific Northwest Native Ecosystems, Plants & Animals
Red Flowering Currant
Old Growth Forests
Wilson's Warbler
Tall Oregon Grape
photos National Park Service public domain; Steven Yanoff, Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park
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RESULTS - library plant inventory
Outside North America
North America
PNW 10
East Jefferson County IN
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
There are 8 Pacific Northwest Natives:
55 Native Plant Species Recommended for Future Plantings!
Some of the Library Plants Med. Spurge*
Western Hemlock
Tall Or. Grape
Rhododendron
Miscanthus
Snowberry
Low Or. Grape
Purple Toadflax
The 8 Pacific Northwest Natives
W. Swordfern
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