Comment by Al and Colleen Ebken

From: Al Ebken  

Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 7:09 PM

To: PCD

Subject: Concerns Regarding the Proposed Winslow Hotel Project

Dear Bainbridge Planning Commission Members:    

My wife and I are currently renting on Bainbridge Island while looking to purchase a home near the downtown  area.  After learning about the proposed Winslow Hotel and attending the meeting on November 26, 2018 at the  Bainbridge Island City Hall, we are writing this letter to voice our concerns.  What has attracted us to Bainbridge Island is  the small town feel, the artisans and the BARN facility, and the overall friendliness and sense of community that this  town currently offers.      The proposed Winslow Hotel is being described as a “Boutique Destination Hotel,” but with its large footprint, 75 rooms,  restaurant, wedding and music venues and other amenities, this hotel is considerably more than a small hotel and will  without a doubt, have a large impact on the total community, the surrounding residents, Bainbridge Island  infrastructure, and services.  With the level of information provided to the public thus far, we don’t feel that all the  potential environmental impacts of a hotel of this magnitude have been fully addressed and resolved to allow the  project to proceed at this point.  We have not seen any comparable studies presented for this approach or scale of hotel  or any mitigation plans if the concept of “low environmental impact” is not achieved.    

We request delaying the proposed Winslow Hotel project until solid information, study results, and written guarantees  can be provided by the Developer that specifically address and remedy each of the Environmental Issues and Concerns  stated below.  Ample time should also be provided for the public to review this information, provide comments and  meet with the Planning Commission before any decisions are made to go forward with the project.    

Winslow Hotel Environmental Issues and Concerns 

Noise   Guests   Car/Shuttle Bus Pickup and Delivery   Car Parking Lot   Restaurant Deliveries   Music (Amplified)   Outdoor Amphitheater   Wedding Parties   Garbage Pickup   Traffic   During Construction     Traffic Congestion   In front of hotel   On Winslow Way and around town   Winslow Way/Madison Ave intersection   During Construction    

2 Parking   There are insufficient spaces on the hotel grounds, so alternate parking spaces need to be contracted (in  advance)    

Hotel project is trying to meet the “Living Building” Challenge.  What are the impacts if those expectations are not  met and the hotel needs to use: 

 City Water (Will the developer be allowed to drill a well?)   City Septic System   City Electric     Odors   On‐Site Septic System (as part of “Living Building” Challenge).  Located near the Amphitheater where  activities will be held.   Restaurant Cooking   Garbage Dumpsters   Smoking Areas     Light Pollution   Abatement Plan       

Sincerely,   

Al and Colleen Ebken