Friday, June 28, 2013 | North Kitsap Herald
NorthKitsapHerald.com
Page A7
sheriff’s log The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls in North Kitsap June 18-24. June 18 n Harassment reported on 2100 block of NW Seaholm Way, Poulsbo. Occurred around 11:43 p.m. n Child abandonment / neglect reported on 17000 block of Purves Avenue NE, Suquamish. Occurred around 9:42 a.m. n Burglary 1 reported on 22000 block of Indianola Road NE, Poulsbo. Occurred around 2:44 p.m.
n Residential burglary reported on 29000 block of State Highway 3 NE, Poulsbo. Occurred around 2:13 p.m. June 19 n Malicious mischief reported on 39000 block of Sherlind Road NE, Hansville. Occurred around 9:40 p.m. n Theft 3 reported on 1400 block of NE Tagholm Road, Keyport. Occurred around 5:04 p.m. n Theft 3 reported on 15000 block of Virginia Loop Road NE, Poulsbo. Occurred around 5:19 p.m.
n Theft 3 (shoplifting) reported on 10000 block of Highway 104, Kingston. Occurred around 2:11 p.m. n Theft 2 reported on 1000 block of Highway 104, Kingston. Occurred around 4:10 p.m. June 20 n Failure to register as a sex offender reported on 18000 block of Mt. Walker Drive NE, Poulsbo. Occurred around 2:20 p.m. n Theft reported on 38000 block of Hood Canal Drive NE, Hansville. Occurred around 11:17 p.m. n Failure to register as a
Signs
24 inches by 30 inches in size, Knutson said. Signs can be placed three days prior to an event or sale, and must be removed one day following. A sign must be setback at least 200 feet from an intersection. The pilot program applies to all seasonal and event-related off-premise signs. The program allows for online, no-fee registration and includes a survey so the program can be evaluated. County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido said the pilot program will help the county finalize an update to the sign code, which is part of the county’s zoning regulations. “We did this as an interim because we wanted to ensure we had [an off-premise] rule in place during the growing season,” she said. “What really needs to happen is we need more public discourse. There is some mutual learning that needs to happen here. There are operations that didn’t know what the code allows, or didn’t understand where the zoning regulations were.” It’s the first in several changes to come affecting ag-related businesses. Heidi Kaster said she didn’t know retail nurseries were precluded from operating in rural residential zones until 2009, when the county shut her down. She said that was 10
years after the county Department of Community Development told her she could move her nursery from Bainbridge to her Hansville Road home — located in a rural residential zone — because it was a “hobby farm.” Steve Bauer, who was the District 1 county commissioner then, said he advocated on her behalf, and Kaster received an operating permit. Bauer said in an interview earlier this year that he thought Dragonfly Farms to be “consistent with the character of a rural area.” But Kaster got the wrong message. She said she didn’t know retail nurseries are not allowed in rural residential zones because of the traffic they generate. Only wholesale nurseries are allowed. Larry Keeton, director of
Continued from page A1 as did tempers — last year when the county fined farmers for off-premise signs that had long been placed at the corner of Hansville and Eglon roads last year. Other areas were targeted as well. Off-premise signs aren’t allowed under the current county code. And traffic engineers are concerned that a “plethora of signs” at intersections could be a traffic hazard by causing distractions, according to Katrina Knutson of the county Department of Community Development. “It wasn’t just ag signs,” she said. The county didn’t have time to complete an update to the sign code in time for the 2013 growing season, and initiated a pilot program which provides flexibility to the existing code (KCC 17.445) and collects data as to what works and does not in regard to signs. A public hearing about the pilot program is scheduled July 8, 5:30 p.m., at 614 Division St., Port Orchard. Farmers say off-premise signs help potential customers find them and their products, because their farms are often located away from thoroughfares. Under the pilot program, farmers are allowed up to four off-premise signs,
n Assault 4 reported on 200 block of NE Park Street, Poulsbo. Occurred around 1:21 p.m. n Theft reported on 700 block of Highway 308, Poulsbo. Occurred around 1:20 p.m. June 24 n Theft repor ted on 23000 block of Rhododendron Lane NW, Poulsbo. Occurred around 4:15 p.m. n Reckless driving reported at Claret Loop and Regent Avenue, Poulsbo. Occurred around 10:54 p.m.
Community Development, said the county did not take any action against Kaster’s retail nursery because the County Commission was looking at updating the county code. Meanwhile, Dragonfly Farms evolved into a destination. Kaster built a coffee shop and hosted tour groups, weddings and a writers’ conference. She said she didn’t get a county building permit for her coffee shop because the building size and construction cost fell under the threshold of requiring one. A county health department inspector signed off on Kaster’s coffee shop, although county officials say the building would have been identified as a non-conforming use in the building permit process. Keeton said those uses
all generate impacts “that have to be addressed. She is not operating a hobby farm.” Earlier this year, the county asked Kaster to apply for a conditional use permit, after more than one neighbor complained about activities there that are not allowed in rural residential zones. Kaster hired a lawyer and a permitting consultant to help her through the process, which cost her $5,800 in county fees. Jeff Rowe, deputy director of Community Development, said her application is under review and will be the subject of a public hearing. Rowe said the county will modify its agricultural zoning code next year. “When you think of an industrial zone, you think of a ham-
mer and anvil, but industry could be data,” he said. “The same with agriculture. A farm isn’t just row crops.” A resident in a rural zone can have a home-based business, but it requires a permit of some kind depending on the impacts — traffic or otherwise — that the business creates, Rowe said. Garrido said “clarity is definitely needed” in the code and in the application process. “Farming is a different kind of land-use practice,” Garrido said. “We have some great young farmers who may not be as clear on some existing regulations, and that’s why we are having some discussions. Our goal is, how do we get there satisfactorily for everyone.”
n Poulsbo Police Department calls. — page A9
FIREWORKS BLACK CAT
POULSBO LIONS CLUB
Is the best you can get!
will come get your old or unused, running or non-running car or truck FREE!
Call Kevin Hogan 360-621-8548
MINIMUM $500 TAX BENEFIT
kidnapping offender reported on 6700 block of NE Fern Street, Suquamish. Occurred around 6:23 p.m. June 21 n Theft reported on 22000 block of Foss Road Ne, Poulsbo. Occurred around 2:46 a.m. June 22 n Burglary 1 reported on 15000 block of NE Peterson
Road, Keyport. Occurred around 4:50 p.m. n Failure to register as a sex offender reported on 30000 block of Cubby Sparks Place NE, Kingston. Occurred around 1:10 a.m. June 23 n Hit and run (attended property damage) reported on 15000 block of Suquamish Way Ne, Suquamish. Occurred around 1:16 a.m. n Failure to register as a kidnapping offender reported on 16000 block of Highway 305 NE, Poulsbo. Occurred around 7:35 a.m.
inside
(360) 598-3347 • 16174 St Hwy 305 • POULSBO
✂
FREE 50 PACK FIRE CRACKERS
w/ Ad exp. 7/04/13