Bainbridge Island Planning Commission Special Meeting – October 2, 2025
Bainbridge Island Planning Commission Special Meeting – October 2, 2025
The Bainbridge Island Planning Commission held a special meeting on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 6:02 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting focused on the Winslow Subarea Plan, including continued discussions on goals and policies, a presentation from the Race Equity Advisory Committee (REAC), and an informational report from the Incentives Subcommittee. Commissioners also reviewed the SEPA appeal process and requested that the Groundwater Management consultant attend a future meeting.
SEPA Appeal Process Overview
- Senior Planner Jennifer Sutton provided a general overview of the SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) appeals process with the Hearing Examiner, including timelines and procedures. The overview was prompted by a recent appeal of a non-project action SEPA determination for Ordinance 2025-21. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the effect of an appeal on city ordinance passage.
Winslow Subarea Plan Goals and Policies – REAC Recommendations
- Anshu Wahi (Equity & Inclusion Manager) and Caitlin Lombardi (REAC Co-Chair) presented recommended revisions to Goal LU-6 (increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through the built environment). They proposed adding language to acknowledge past exclusionary policies (e.g., Japanese American internment, racial covenants) and to call for specificity in terms like "small town character" to avoid vague or exclusionary interpretations. Commissioners debated whether to include “feel” as a vague term, with some supporting its inclusion to highlight the need for specificity. Consultant Joe Tovar advised that policies should be specific and actionable. The commission agreed to have REAC continue wordsmithing and bring back revised language.
Incentives Subcommittee Report
- Vice Chair Criss Garcia presented an informational report from the Incentives Subcommittee, summarizing research on affordable housing funding tools, partners, and innovative models. The presentation covered federal, state, and local funding sources (e.g., LIHTC, CDBG, Housing Trust Fund, REET), inclusionary zoning, in-lieu fees, and potential partnerships with employers, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits. Garcia proposed a conceptual “horseshoe” model integrating market-rate and affordable units with a buyout mechanism. Commissioners discussed the feasibility and potential impacts of such models, with some expressing concern about high in-lieu fees discouraging development. No decisions were made; the report was for discussion only.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to add SEPA appeal overview to the agenda: Carried unanimously (6–0).
- Motion to approve amended agenda: Carried unanimously (6–0).
- Motion to request the Groundwater Management consultant attend a future Planning Commission meeting (after the City Council meeting on October 21, 2025) for questions and answers: Carried unanimously (4–0, with Commissioners Deines and Sullivan absent).
- Cancellation of next week’s meeting (October 9, 2025): Announced by Chair Blossom to allow subcommittees dedicated work time.
- Commissioner Preudhomme proposed further study of innovative housing funding concepts, including urban wealth funds and community investment funds.
- Commissioner Blossom emphasized the need to integrate water/sewer infrastructure planning with growth planning, noting that the Groundwater Management Plan’s implications should be understood before finalizing housing allocations.
Meeting Transcript
Hello. Good. I'll be available. Hello. Renee, are we ready? Okay. Okay. Calling to order the planning commission's special meeting for Thursday, October second, two thousand twenty-five. We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is within the ancestral territory of the Sequamish people of Clear Salt Water, expert fishermen, canoe builders, and basket weavers. The Sequamish live in harmony with the lands and waterways along Washington Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here the Sequamish live and protect the land and waters of their ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. Has everyone had a chance to review the agenda. Is there a motion to approve? Move to approve the agenda. Can I move to make one amendment to the agenda? I noticed there wasn't a planning director's report on the agenda this evening. Is that right? Yes. Um I was wondering at the top of the hearing if senior planner Sutton would be willing to remind us of the appeals process with the hearing examiner for a CEPA declaration with no particular project in mind, but some of us may be interested in understanding how that process works. Do you want to add that to the agenda? I would like to add that to the agenda. If Jennifer, if if you would be okay giving that, I don't want to put you on the spot. I haven't asked you for my motion to have failed without a second. Okay. So move to add that. Move to add that. Second. All right, there's a motion and a second to add um an agenda item for a review of CEPA appeal procedures. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed. Uh that motion passes unanimously. And for the record, Commissioner Bertley is not with us tonight. Okay, is there a motion to approve the agenda as amended? I move to approve the agenda as amended. Second. All right, there's a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Uh any conflicts of interest. Nope, seeing none. Then we'll move on to public comment. Um should I read? I don't think there's anyone here to public comment. I'll read it anyway. Members of the public are encouraged to submit written public comment to the planning commission at any time by emailing PCD at Bainbridge WA.gov. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment in person at a planning commission meeting should sign up to speak on the sign-in sheet by the chamber doors.
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