Kitsap County Planning Commission adopts 2025 PROS Plan, adds language on smoke impacts

Kitsap County’s Planning Commission unanimously approved the 2025 Parks and Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan at its June 3 meeting, adopting an amendment that explicitly notes smoke can affect people who recreate outdoors. The commission voted to adopt the plan as presented by county parks staff and amended during deliberations.

The amendment, moved by Commissioner Adrienne Hampton, added this sentence to the first paragraph on page 15: "Smoke also presents challenges for outdoor recreation, particularly for vulnerable groups, like children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions." Vice Chair David Vliet moved final approval; the minutes record the vote as unanimously in favor.

Parks Department Director Alex Wisniewski and Parks Department Planner Carmen Smith presented the staff materials and answered commissioners’ questions during deliberations, which covered climate-related language, forest health, and recreation access. Commissioners previously discussed how warmer temperatures and longer drought periods could affect native vegetation, increase tree mortality, and alter wildlife habitat—language that remains in the adopted draft alongside the new sentence about smoke.

Members of the public had raised the PROS Plan during the general public-comment period. Speakers who commented on the plan included William Palmer (SK resident; President, KAPO), Joe Lubischer (NK resident), Doug Hayman (NK resident), Kathy Lustig (CK resident), and Thomas Doty. The minutes summarize that these speakers provided comments about the PROS Plan; the text of those comments is recorded in the meeting materials and audio posted by the Department of Community Development.

The Planning Commission’s action recommends adoption of the PROS Plan; the county’s formal adoption and implementation steps will follow staff and Board of County Commissioners review as specified in county procedures. The commission’s minutes note that the motion and amendment carried by unanimous consent.