Raydient Corporation, the company formerly known as Pope Resources, is requesting a rezone that will permit more intensive residential development plus the addition of commercial development on 412 acres of their former timber land on Bond Road just south of the State Route 104 intersection. If this rezone is granted, it will:
• Significantly increase traffic on an already busy road
• Adversely impact water quality and wildlife habitat far beyond the 412 acres, including the Port Gamble Heritage Park, nearby streams, and aquifers
• Contribute to and promote sprawl, and
• Forever change the character of rural north Kitsap County
The property is currently zoned Rural Wooded, which allows for maximum residential development of one house per 20 acres. Specifically, Raydient wants 400+ acres changed to Rural Residential, which will allow them to quadruple the number of homes. They also want three to five acres changed to Rural Commercial.
Q: Why should the zoning stay unchanged?
The Rural wooded zoning is designed “to encourage the preservation of … agricultural activities, retain an area’s rural character and conserve natural resources.” It is the only zoning that ensures our county will maintain a diversity of rural and natural areas along with more heavily developed areas. It is also the only zoning that protects agriculture and the rural lifestyle enjoyed by property owners who don’t want to live surrounded by subdivisions.
Q: Who is Stop the Bond Rezone?
We are a grassroots organization of more than 870 individuals who oppose the rezoning of 412 acres on Bond Road south of the State Route 104 intersection. We join the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in opposing Raydient’s request. And we are aligned with hundreds of other Kitsap County residents who want to see smart growth that maintains a diversity of rural and natural areas along with more intensive development.
Q: What about Kitsap's growth and the need for more housing?
We believe in smart growth that designates areas for residential and commercial development, which focuses on building the most housing close to where people work and shop. This approach is also mandated by the state’s Growth Management Act. Raydient’s proposal is the opposite of this. It will pull home buyers away from designated growth areas and promote sprawl.
Further, Raydient and its development partners already have more than 1,000 new homes in the pipeline with the Arbor Wood Development and development in Port Gamble – enough to more than double the population of Kingston.
Q: Since the land is no longer used for timber production, shouldn't Raydient be able to develop the land they own?
They are allowed to develop it. We only ask that they develop it in accordance with the existing rules.
Q: Doesn't Raydient's plan include much-needed sports and recreation facilities?
To gain support for their rezone request, Raydient has dangled the prospect that “some land may be available” for a hypothetical sports and recreation complex if they get this zoning change. However, there is no guarantee that any land will be available, and if so, at what cost and how much would be appropriate for sports and recreation facilities. At present, there is no money to develop those facilities, or to operate and maintain them.
Q: But if you're opposing the zoning change, aren't you also opposing the sports and recreation complex?
No. In fact, the current zoning permits non-commercial sports and recreation facilities on the property. We agree that more facilities are needed. However, we believe that access to sports and recreation facilities should not be dependent upon meeting the demands of an out-of-state developer. There are many other groups within Kitsap County working on tangible projects to provide more sports and recreation facilities. We encourage the NKU partners to collaborate with those efforts.