Maritime business center plan OKed

The Port Orchard City Council Monday night unanimously approved the permit for a proposed Maritime Business Center that the owner of Thompson’s Landing wants to build across the highway from his other businesses.

Paul Fritz said the project — which includes a storage yard, warehouses and adjacent parking — will put to good use at least 1.2 acres of his 3-acre site.

“So far, it’s just been sitting here and costing money,” Fritz said.

The project will be built in two phases. The first will focus on construction of a storage yard and will include constructing a new commercial access to State Route 166, construction of a gravel storage yard area with stormwater control facilities, and installation of perimeter landscaping.

During the second phase, two warehouse buildings with office space — the first 6,400 square-feet and the second 3,200 square-feet — will be added, along with the associated parking.

The property is located at 1090 Bay Street and is zoned as “employment/ industrial office,” a designation that in-cludes storage yards, warehouses and offices as permitted uses.

City Planner Rob Wenman said the site is within 200 feet of the city’s waterfront and is “generally found to be consistent with our shoreline master plan.”

Under the current guidelines, construction on the first phase must begin within two years, with the entire project completed in five, or the permit will be voided.

A series of conditions was also added by the city’s planning division staff, which include that the owner be responsible for receiving, prior to construction, final approval on a Final Site Development Plan/Stormwater Permit, and is responsible for construction and maintenance of all required stormwater drainage and other facilities.

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