Greater Hansville Area Futures Project
Values Survey (pdf)
Values Survey Appendices (pdf)
SPECIAL REPORT
The Hansville Futures Planning Committee met all day Saturday, January 7 to finalize its picture of the Greater Hansville Area in 2020, if current trends affecting the area continue. The Committee also adopted a draft set of what they believe are the Community’s Values. Both documents are reprinted here for your review. The next meeting of the Planning Committee will be February 9 at 7 pm at the Hansville Community Center.
Consistent with trends identified in the Greater Hansville Futures Study of 2005, the population has increased significantly to approximately 7,000 residents, almost double that of the estimated 3,154 in 2004. The two largest impacts of this growth are increased traffic and the loss of the natural environment, including wildlife. Even though much of the growth is still at “rural” densities, with pockets of suburban densities, the added population and resulting impacts have made the area feel less rural and somewhat less remote. The sense of community and independent self-determination, which have been defining characteristics for decades, continue but it has taken a concentrated community effort to maintain the historic levels of volunteerism.
In 2020, the Greater Hansville Area is still a great place to live even though the quality of life has deteriorated from that enjoyed in 2005. Continued desirability of this area compared to other areas in the region has led to continuous new home building and remodeling. The major subdivisions were built out long ago and new growth has occurred on a combination of prior platted individual lots as well as new homes being located on the former Olympic Resources corridor down the center of the GHA. Even though this land was zoned 1 home per 20 acres in 2005, developers and property owners effectively lobbied against strong community opposition and won increased densities resulting in 300 homes being located on the lands originally planned for 80. Utilities have lagged behind growth but have not limited it. The GHA is still subject to weather-related power outages.
Areas of vacation and weekend homes have lost their historic character as new larger homes have replaced the historic structures. More of these homes are occupied full time and have transformed these former “vacation communities” into full time neighborhoods. Limited access to the beaches except for private communities and public parks has increased tensions between full time residents and some of the traditional fishing and beach access recreational users.
Despite the significant increase in population, the demographics continue the trends identified in 2005. The area remains homogeneous with little diversity and the general population of individuals, couples and families tends to be older than elsewhere in the County. The cost of new housing has maintained its upward trend due to market demand and the minimum 5 acre lots required for new subdivisions in the former IRF lands. Existing housing prices have followed new housing costs with the result that only those individuals or families with above average income levels can afford to purchase homes in the GHA. This tends to favor older, more established individuals, families, and retirees. Yet even with all the building, housing is still exclusively single family; there are no multiple family or special needs housing units nor housing for older, long-time residents who can no longer maintain their homes and property. As a result, these residents are forced to leave the GHA even though many would like to remain.
Transportation has unquestionably been the biggest headache associated with this population growth. Even with the population doubled, there has been little in the way of enhanced capacity and traffic control improvements. The results have been dangerous speeding, accidents and congestion. It is increasingly difficult and dangerous for residents to even enter GHA arterials from their driveways. Traffic enforcement is inadequate. While shoulder improvements have been made, the growing number of bicyclists and pedestrians face danger in using the roads. Traffic enforcement, inadequate in 2005, has not matched the growth. Additionally, many residents complain that noise pollution from increased traffic has seriously degraded the environment.
The mass transit system serving the GHA continues to be inadequate with limited service within the GHA and insufficient connections to areas outside the GHA. In addition, traffic and transportation issues have affected lifestyle and ownership decisions by those who would commute to the Greater Seattle Area or to Bremerton southward. Commuters have complained for years about delays due to traffic, missed ferries and lengthened days due to allowing substantial extra time for traffic on Hansville Road. Although foot ferry service is now available, in general, the ferry system, with its constantly increasing rates and inadequate schedules, poses a real problem for residents trying to connect to the “other side of the water” for work, business, medical, shopping or recreational purposes. The ferry system also poses a barrier to visits from family and friends to the GHA, and has changed the nature of growth.
Fortunately, thanks to actions taken earlier, the GHA has a wonderful legacy of Parks and Open Space, enjoyed by both residents and visitors. The three parks along Point No Point are developed and attract many non-GHA visitors as do Buck Lake Park and the Greenway. Increasing numbers of visitors to the saltwater parks have impacted those living nearby, both positively and negatively. While visitors add diversity to the area and are appreciated, they also present parking and privacy problems for those whose properties neighbor the parks. Further, the County lacks funding for adequate maintenance and operation of these facilities that have historically relied on volunteers. The need to constantly recruit volunteers threatens community maintenance and development of the Greenway.
The parks remain the attraction for visitors since commercial development remains minimal due to limited zoning and market demand. Home businesses and telecommuters have increased due to enhancements in telecommunications that connect the GHA to the ever-broader world, eliminating many of the feelings of remoteness normally associated with rural living. Arts activities remain strong, but are mostly individual and non-commercial with artists and craftspeople selling their work outside the GHA or over the Internet.
The environment, a key to the sense of “rural-ness” has deteriorated with the new developments. As homes are built on current vacant lots throughout the GHA, many areas feel like large-lot subdivisions. Additionally, the practice of clear cutting and lack of drainage management have contributed to bluff erosion, runoff pollution of our wells, creeks, wetlands and concerns about failing septic systems. The loss of foliage has also degraded the water adsorption capacity of the GHA. These changes have contributed to the decrease in fisheries and wildlife. The clearing, development and increased density in the central corridor has also had a significant impact on its scenic beauty and wildlife habitat. Sightings of a wide range of wildlife that were common throughout the GHA in 2005 are now rare. As wildlife habitat has been disturbed and decreased, the incidents of automobile collisions with wildlife have increased, reducing the wildlife population.
The GHA continues to have good relations with Kitsap County. Increased taxes levied by all levels of government have forced some residents to leave the area. Local residents continue to feel generally satisfied with government services but remain uninvolved with government through citizen involvement programs. The GHA is still comprised of a collection of local communities with no single voice or organization to deal with local issues and outside agencies or organizations.
The K-12 education system continues to improve and more human services are located in Kingston in 2020. Nevertheless, even though many services are closer to the GHA, accessing all human services still requires auto transportation. This means that residents of the GHA who need such services have to be healthy and independent enough to use the automobile. Those who cannot drive or cannot find someone to drive them must relocate.
Public safety services, including fire, medical, emergency and law enforcement with the exception of traffic control, continue to be adequate for a rural area. Some areas like Driftwood Key, Shorewoods and the area’s parks desire a suburban level of service rather than the rural service provided by the Sheriff’s office. Crime has increased but is still below other areas of the County. Preparedness for emergencies and disasters is still the responsibility of local residents, with some areas within the GHA doing a better job of preparedness than others.
Fortunately local residents still cherish the quality of life in the Greater Hansville Area when they compare it to other areas in the County and “across the waters” of Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Yet as so often happens, many residents who were here in 2005 do look back and wish that plans were developed and executed to preserve and protect what was best in the GHA in 2005.
Greater Hansville Area
Values
Draft adopted February 9, 2006
We value clean water, clean air, and absence of visual pollution. We value protecting our natural environment
We value growth that is planned, controlled, environmentally friendly and that incorporates our other values.
We value our parks and trails and a natural environment that encourages outdoor recreation.
We value a serene, quiet environment and personal privacy.
We value open space and the feel of low density
We value safe neighborhoods, good emergency services and personal security
We value man made and natural beauty including the mountains, water, gardens, farms, and forests without clear cutting.
We value adequate road design and capacity, roads that are safe for cars, pedestrians and bicycles, and respect for and enforcement of traffic laws.
We value affordable and convenient access to urban amenities
We value water access for walking, boating, fishing and swimming.
We value inclusiveness of all individual differences and caring for our neighbors, which contributes to the vibrancy of the community
WILDLIFE
We value living with and protecting wildlife