Requirements for electric vehicle charging stations on the horizon in Kitsap County
Triggered by a state requirement, Kitsap County is drafting a code to require new construction and properties that undergo significant redevelopment to be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations and in some areas of the county with bicycle parking spaces.
The county plans to revise its off-street parking and loading code to encourage and require new development and applicable redevelopment to install electric vehicle charging stations and bike parking facilities, according to the county.
A revised code may be adopted in January, several months before the state's administrative code becomes effective on July 1 next year. If adopted, all new construction and some redevelopment in Kitsap County, except single-family homes and duplexes, would be required to include electric vehicle charging stations in their projects, said Melissa Shumake, a senior planner of the county's department of community development.
"The charging station doesn't have to be owned by the property owner. That just needs to be on-site," Shumake said.
That said, instead of building infrastructure on their own, property owners may choose to sign a lease and partner with a charging network, which are companies that install and operate electric vehicle infrastructure, to fulfill the requirements, Shumake said.
The county's draft code would require one charging station to be installed for every 10 required vehicle parking lots at the property, Shumake said.
The electric vehicle infrastructure would be required to be at least a Level 2 charging station, which can fully recharge an electric vehicle in one to four hours, depending on the size of the battery in the vehicle. In total, there are three levels of charging stations: Level 1 looks like a trickle charger that may take all night to charge a vehicle; Level 3 can charge one from zero to 100% battery in about 30 to 40 minutes, Shumake said.
The county will offer incentives for those who install a Level 3 charger, which will need more electricity to support the infrastructure on the ground, Shumake said.
For bicycles, the current draft requires bicycle parking facilities to be installed for new construction in applicable redevelopment in urban areas, rural commercial and industrial zones, and LAMIRDs (limited areas of more intense rural development).
In the urban zones and LAMIRDs, the required number of bicycle parking is one bicycle parking space per 10 vehicle parking spaces, while in the rural commercial and industrial zones, the required number is one per 20, Shumake said about the draft.
The discussion of the revision of the code started to appear at the county's public meetings in June. The county is planning to host two Zoom meetings for the public to learn about the content of the draft and ask questions. One is slated for Sept. 7 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the other will be on Oct. 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 pm, according to Shumake.
People would be able to submit written comments about the revision to the county between Sept. 15 to Oct. 18, Shumake said.
"During that public comment period, we may make additional suggestions to change the draft based on public comments," Shumake said.
Reach breaking news reporter Peiyu Lin at pei-yu.lin@kitsapsun.com or on Twitter @peiyulintw.
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This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Requirements for EV charging stations on the horizon in Kitsap County
