Neighbors fear a possible bridge over the highway would upset their idyll.

In prehistoric times, cave-dwelling was not without its drawbacks, fanged foes and poor ventilation among them.

For those dwelling on oft-forgotten Cave Avenue, living in relative isolation at the edge of downtown Winslow is the best part.

“I like it just the way it is,” said Greg Willems, whose home sits at the top of Kaleetan Place, a dead-end offshoot of dead-end Cave.

It is the quiet, along with the sense of community shared by residents, that 17 years ago drew Willems to Cave, across Winslow Way from the ferry terminal. But he and neighbors are afraid future dwelling may not be so easy.

Foes, though fang-less, are still at large. Now creatures of connectivity – buses and bridges – threaten to overrun the neighborhood.

Ideas discussed by planners have raised anxiety in ferry district neighborhoods, some of which will likely see significant changes as growth continues.

Several of the suggestions would directly impact Cave, most notably a proposed east-west connector that would span State Route 305 and the ravine to unite Wyatt Way with Ferncliff Avenue.

That idea stemmed from Winslow Tomorrow planning, during which it was determined that a cross-highway connection would improve circulation both within the area and between the ferry district and the rest of the island.

Also under consideration is a transit entrance to the new ferry terminal that would align directly with Cave.

Planners say an on-ramp from Cave to SR 305, once discussed as a way to route bus traffic from the terminal to the highway, is no longer on the table.

Plans will become clearer at a public meeting later this month, when the city will present its latest ideas and ask for community input.

As they look to thwart undesired development, residents of Cave recently formed a group known as the East Winslow-Ferry Gateway Community Council. The EWFGCC aims to better connect Cave neighbors to one another and other neighborhoods throughout the ferry district.

By creating a more organized presence, the group hopes to gain leverage with the city, Washington State Ferries, the state Department of Transportation and Kitsap Transit, all of which are crafting plans for the area.

Neil Johannsen, one of the group’s organizers, said he hopes this will be the start of a network of community councils on the island that would be more formal than the loosely organized, independent neighborhood associations that exist in some areas.

“The island is already sub-divided into small communities,” he said. “A lot of people feel like they’re a part of a neighborhood, but this would create an even greater sense of cohesion.”

And, he said, it would give neighbors a better chance to impact the ways in which their communities develop.

For planners who must tread the line between utility and preservation, finding a balance can be difficult, said Winslow Tomorrow manager Sandy Fischer.

In the case of Cave, she said, perception doesn’t necessarily match reality.

Willems fears the east-west connector would slice through his backyard, in part because some preliminary drawings show that as a possibility. Fischer said she understands his concern, but stressed that no decision has been made about where the connection might go. Wyatt’s link to the south end of the island makes it an appealing option, she said, but there are other options to the north, at Wallace or Knetchel ways.

“I think crossing at Wyatt would present some challenges,” Fischer said. “The terrain is pretty rugged and we would have to cross the ravine at its widest point.”

Like placement, scale and cost are uncertain. At its largest – a two lane road that would also accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists – the connector could be 30 feet wide, but a pedestrian or bicycle only structure would be much less imposing.

Transportation consultant Jim Charlier said it’s too early to estimate how much the project might cost, but said it would likely be too costly to warrant making the connector exclusively non-motorized.

Even though plans haven’t solidified, Fischer said it would make sense for the city to acquire right of way for the project. She also said neighbors are right to make their voices heard.

“I would encourage them to become involved and help shape the plan,” she said. “I would also encourage anyone buying a house to look into the city’s long-term plans for their neighborhood. Cave is clearly supposed to be one of the higher density neighborhoods.”

In a shady corner of Cave, at the Bainbridge Cooperative Nursery School last week, densely packed students dispersed from the schoolhouse steps to the playground equipment assembled about the grounds.

Judi Neumann and her staff of four survey the shenanigans of 40 students, ages 3 to 5, who attend BCNS each day. Neumann said that throughout the 42-year history of school, little has changed.

Like Willems’ home, BCNS is tucked at the back of the neighborhood, beneath one of the lines on the map that signifies a possible spot for the connector.

“We’re unique,” she said of the school. “There’s a legacy here that I’d like to see preserved. I recognize the need, but this would probably do us in.”

She said many parents have rallied around the school, which will participate in the new community council.

Councilman Bill Knobloch, who represents the Central Ward, said he’s impressed by the group’s organization. Knobloch said the EWFGCC is more formal than many of the other neighborhood groups he’s worked with in the past. They’re fears, he said, are understandable.

“We’ve only seen a small part of this,” Knobloch said, of the changes coming to the ferry district. “The long-term impact will be tremendous. The question is, how will neighborhoods react?”

The EWFGCC has itemized its goals, which include better communication and the preservation of open space in the area.

“It’s difficult to keep up with what’s going on,” said Dave Ward, who’s lived on Cave for 16 years. “There are all these agencies working in their own little worlds, on their own little piece of the puzzle. They make noises about working cooperatively, but we don’t see that in reality.”