| New design standards for the community of Kingston, including requirements for architecture, landscaping, signs, roadways, parking and lighting have been approved by the county commissioners. The standards won the earlier endorsements of the Kingston Community Advisory Committee and Kitsap County Planning Commission.
The standards, which apply only to new construction, are intended to preserve and promote Kingston’s small-town character, promote the local economy and accommodate regional transportation needs. They are specific to three planning zones, each a step farther from Puget Sound: the Old Town/Waterfront District, the Village Green District and the Lindvog Commercial District.
The design standards, which borrow from concepts used in Yelm, Edmonds and other places, are meant to encourage pedestrian traffic in the Old Town/Waterfront District by locating buildings closer to the street and allowing town homes and apartments. The Village Green District encourage mixed-use and multifamily housing complexes.
The 60-page document is so specific that it includes photos of existing Kingston buildings that meet the standards, as well as diagrams of how new buildings could be situated to improve both their function and appearance. |
