Working to further downtown Bremerton's dramatic reinvention, the Sub Area Plan defines land-use policy through form-based, context-sensitive development standards, incentive zoning and street typologies. Acting as a guide to achieve the city's preferred patterns of development, the Plan details bulk, scale, massing and public space design guidelines by district. The Sub Area Plan also contains base plans for downtown circulation and parking as well as strategic actions to encourage economic development including a sustainability district.

This refined vision for the downtown area was crafted through a community involvement process with multiple stakeholder meetings and open houses.

VIA Architecture won the State of Washington Smart Communities Award for the Downtown Bremerton Sub-Area Plan in 2008.