Comment by Jane Allan

From: JANE Allan 

Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 5:25 PM

To: PCD

Subject: WINSLOW HOTEL PROPOSAL                

TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND 

I had not heard of the Winslow Hotel development until just recently and was very surprised.    During  the early days of developing a plan for the Island under the Growth Management Act there was a focus  on having residents live near downtown and local shops to service local residents and visitors.  This  effort has worked out.   

There are a number of condos and houses that allow people to walk downtown  and to the ferry.  The downtown merchants are diverse and seem to be doing well.   There are  apartments condos, apartments and homes along Winslow Way, Wood Avenue, Grow Avenue. 

Now  there is a proposal the ”Winslow Hotel” which is much more than a hotel.  It is 3 stories, 75 rooms,  banquet room, restaurant, bar spa and amphitheater.  All of that !!  

I just couldn’t  believe the numbers of units proposed and the breadth of the project.   A much scaled back development  and one with condos or long term rentals  and a much smaller  number of homes seems much more appropriate.   

To have 70 hotel rooms seems way out of proportion.    An amphitheater ?  Really?     

We already have waterfront park that is used, to some extent in that  manner.    To have parking for all of the people visiting, workers at the hotel, etc.  will add  significantly more parking and cars in that area and into the downtown.  

70 plus cars will be added to the down town. There is something to “the tip of the iceberg” effect – where too much is put is put in one space. The proposed development is pasted that point.

Sincerely,  

Jane Allan 

221 Wyatt Way, 103, Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110