The Bainbridge Island City Council has given its thumbs up to a new design plan for a public parking lot on the city’s Manitou Beach property.

City officials said the new plan will provide better public access at Manitou Beach.

The city bought the beach property in 2003 with funding from an open space bond, and late last year, Bainbridge planners suggested putting a three- to six-stall parking lot on the property next to Manitou Beach Drive. The plan also included a small bicycle rack, a bench or two, a trail leading to the shoreline, and a pedestrian-crossing.

Nearby residents were critical of the project, however, and recounted past problems with noisy visitors who left trash behind on the beach or started bonfires.

City officials offered a revised plan for a small gravel parking area  in March, and worked to incorporate features from the meeting into the redesign.

The new design included four stalls for cars, with one set aside for handicapped users, plus two bike racks and a short boardwalk on the beach. The location of the small lot was also pushed closer to the road after residents raised concerns about potential impacts to nearby wetlands.