Council approves East Park plans

If all continues according to plan, homes in Manette’s newest neighborhood could be up for sale by this time next year, said Richard Bruskrud, senior associate for Mithun design firm. The Bremerton City Council Wednesday approved the sub-area plan for the 400-home East Park development with a vote of 8-1.

Councilwoman Carol Arends voted against the plan and after the meeting refused to comment about her vote.

Overall the council seemed impressed with the plan for the 47-acre area located along Wheaton Way near the Kitsap YMCA and Harrison Medical Center business district.

“Overall the whole plan is pretty amazing,” said Councilman Brad Gehring.

No one spoke at a public hearing on the sub-area plan Wednesday.

Bruskrud reviewed the plan’s development, which considered the topography, wildlife, storm water flow, traffic patterns and tree preservation. The sub-area plan has high, medium and low-density housing from townhouses to single-family homes.

Traffic calming measures, such as on-street parking and narrower streets add to the neighborhood feel, Bruskrud told the council.

“Narrower, more congested streets have been proven to be safer,” he said following the meeting.

Twenty percent of the site would be designated open space “for the benefit of all,” Bruskrud added.

The design, unique to Bremerton, has been used in West Seattle’s High Point redevelopment project.

“I’m excited to see this development move forward,” said Councilwoman Wendy Priest.

Now the project begins the preliminary platting process and subsequent final platting process. Bruskrud said the most time-consuming hurdle has been cleared.

The council approved the sale of the East Park property to Lyle Homes for $2.1 million in March 2005. The city received the land from the Navy in 2002.

Homes prices could range from $200,000 to $450,000.

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