Speak Out at Planning Commission

Public comment on the proposed upzoning that will allow taller and denser buildings along Winslow Way will be taken on Thursday May 24th at 7:30 before the Planning Commission. This is not a formal Public Hearing, but for citizens who have time and want to be heard, this will be one of only a few opportunities to do so.

Citizen Town Meeting Raises Many Concerns

A capacity crowd of Islanders of all ages and from across Bainbridge attended a Citizens Town Meeting on Winslow Tomorrow at the Commons Tuesday evening (5/8), hosted by the Save Winslow Way Coalition. The diverse group of citizens expressed a broad range of concerns about the future of the Island, and in particular about changes proposed for Winslow Way and the Core District.

The focus of discussion was on the Winslow Tomorrow (WT) plan and associated issues that will impact island life for everyone. WT is complex, and speakers acknowledged that it is not completely understood by anyone, including members of City Council, two of whom were at the meeting. Several speakers acknowledged that some aspects of the plan are well designed while others threaten the quality of life on the island.


Citizens commented on:

1. FUNDING - how much will this cost?

Analysis is required to:

(a) Forecast all projected taxes (sales tax, bonds, property, etc.) for all 5 taxing districts based on across-the-board community expenses over the long-term

(b) Disclose projected city expenses (capital construction, technology, etc.) over the long-term

(c) Prioritize funding - rate such community projects, including schools, open space, affordable housing, public transportation, library, fire department. Costs projected for the WT plans alone are projected to far exceed $100,000,000 over the next 20 years, not including interest.

2. ZONING/FAR - Current zoning and FARs (floor-area-ratios) are adequate and concerns were expressed about WT proposals to upzone Winslow Way from 35’ to 55’ or 5 stories. Noted that Harbor Square is 45 ft.

3. IF IT’S NOT BROKEN, DON’T FIX IT - Since downtown Winslow is working now, why is a “big fix” being discussed? Why not solve one issue at a time, such as:

(a) Utility/infrastructure repairs and upgrades
(b) parking for T&C,
(c) public transportation
(d) non motorized transportation

Further funds should not be committed to Winslow Tomorrow planning efforts unless the change is clearly needed.

4. COMMUNITY VOICE/VOTE - A community vote should be considered for a project that will so significantly impact the community at large, both in terms of quality of life and fiscally. A community perception is that the public participation process focused on convincing the public of the “need” for Winslow Tomorrow, rather than listening to the island’s voices about their vision for the island;

5. GMA REQUIREMENTS - Why is there such a rush to accommodate significantly larger numbers when basic infrastructure prerequisites (resources, such as water, and community values) are at risk? Has the City taken any steps to identity what exemptions from the GMA requirements might apply to Bainbridge Island?

6. SENSE OF PLACE AT RISK - Winslow's authentic small town feeling, spirit, and “sense of place” would be lost with proposed zoning - we don't want "Belltown on Bainbridge;"


7. SUSTAINABILITY - The Island’s "sustainability" is dependent on potable water, adequate waste/storm water management, and a healthy infrastructure that reduces pollution and improves the ecological balance of the island. The WT “developer driven” changes do not address “sustainability”. A water assessment is needed before such significant WT plans may begin.

8. PROFILE OF WT COMMUNITY COMMISSION GOING FORWARD -Council, as the policy-making body, should be dictating the direction, scope, and policy issues surrounding WT, based on extensive and ongoing public input. Therefore, the project’s director should report to Council, rather than the Mayor.

Community comments identified community priorities that trump the WT build out as:

• Mechanisms for saving Open Space are not included in the WT plan,
• Support for our vital stores downtown should come first (parking for T&C + not making it too expensive for existing stores to stay on Winslow Way).
• There should be a 10-year plan laid out as to how the island will spend significant amounts of money and that should be submitted to a vote.
• Public transportation for community health—increase teen access (would discourage drinking) and elder access.
• Grounding the future of BI in protecting the “well-being of the community”, saving Bainbridge,
• Checks and balances are essential, and include “slow growth” + “wise growth”,
  
• Small is beautiful/let’s do the hip replacement without going on steroids,
• Too big a change without an island-wide vote.
• WT costs should be viewed as part of all island costs. What choices must we make and what will our taxes be over the next 3, 5, 10 years be, including paying for technology refunding, school capital construction, operations, community center, open space, etc.
• Potential for 20’ sea rise and other probable weather-related emergencies should be addressed.
• Our island has finite resources, and may be entitled to a GMA growth exemption if there’s not enough water. The GMA is about agriculture, open space, affordable housing and not just numbers
• Our Comprehensive Plan is our Constitution.
• We’re at risk of losing our community diversity.
• Effective community conversation is lacking, including businesses along Winslow Way.
• WT represents marketed growth and is not naturally driven.
• The impacts of the Ferry Gateway plans need to be considered simultaneously with WT when evaluating the community impact.
• The community supports the WT vision and goals. It does not support the WT plans that fail to reflect these vision/goals.

Our thanks to all who took the time to join the conversation and to share their views/ concerns/ impressions about the Winslow Tomorrow process. Our hope is that our elected and appointed officials will be able to translate theses concerns into fiscally responsible legislation that fulfills both the original commendable goals of the Winslow Tomorrow vision and the dictates of the Comprehensive Plan.

Look for more Citizens Town Meetings to be scheduled soon.


Here is a link to Rachel Pritchett's May 6th article in The Sun
http://www.kitsapsun.com/bsun/cda/article_print/0,1983,BSUN_19088_5521725_ARTICLE-DETAIL-PRINT,00.html

Looking for Your Stories

Having heard time and again from Islanders considering relocating due to the urbanization of the Island, and knowing that many people have already done so, we would love to collect those stories here.

Please submit a comment about your own feelings regarding how the Island has lost or is losing something that is special to you and how that has lead you to consider leaving, or resulted in your leaving already. If you can share a story about someone else who has left, we would love to hear that as well.