The scenic and natural beauty of Kitsap’s rural communities belongs to all of us. With this legacy comes responsibility. As we compete for primary jobs, not only must we provide opportunities for economical and competitively priced real estate development, community leaders must and are assuring that development is responsible and sustainable.

The Department of Kitsap County Public Works, working with architects Merritt+Pardini, a Parametrix Company, will celebrate the opening of the county’s latest green facility this month. It is the Public Works Annex located in the Port of Bremerton.

This project demonstrates that responsible low-impact development is not only possible, done properly, it can ultimately reduce overall operating costs by reducing resource use.

The Public Works Annex green building features include:

The use of an existing regional detention pond, provided by the Port of Bremerton, which reduced site development impacts by eliminating the need for an on-site storm detention pond.

Rainwater harvesting. A system that collects precipitation from impervious surfaces then uses the water collected for landscaping irrigation

Pervious pavement blocks. A surface treatment that reduces storm water runoff by allowing water to seep through holes in the pavers (Storm water fees are based in part on the site’s area of impervious surface. Using pervious blocks reduces those fees).

Energy efficient heating systems, determined based on specific facility use. For example, electricity is an expensive way to heated large vehicle shop bays. The Public Works Annex used gas radiant heat in the bays and a boiler system for the office spaces to reduce cost and save resources.

The use of native vegetation species reduces overall water usage and becomes self-sufficient once it is established.

Minimizing site disturbance, builders left as many trees standing as possible, minimizing damage to the natural environment and reducing the amount of new water-consuming landscaping and lawns.

Metal framing, versus wood saved trees and promises to reduce maintenance over the building life.

A cistern system was designed to use storm run off water for vehicle washing, and used biofiltration swales for water quality treatment.

Green building design incorporates energy and water conservation, construction waste management, the use of environmentally preferable materials and site protection. Kitsap County has established a high benchmark for the application of environmentally superior materials, systems and methods to commercial and residential projects. These practices promote environmental quality, economic vitality, and social benefit.

As South Kitsap County Commissioner, I encouraged and advocated for more than $2 million in grant applications for watershed, brownfields cleanup, and redevelopment, and countywide assessments of abandoned gas station sites. The County’s work with public-private stakeholders helped to facilitate the land swap with Port Orchard Sand and Gravel; an environmental-economic development win-win. More than $1.1 million in grants have been awarded to date and another $800,000 is pending for direct reclamation and redevelopment of contaminated properties countywide.

We live in an era of rapid change and high stakes. It is easy to cling to polarized positions. It’s far more difficult to acknowledge our collective goals, and then forge well-tempered solutions. Our responsibility extends both to our economic and environmental legacy. More than ever in history, the choices we make as a community today will dictate the quality of life for generations to come.