Public hearing on Winslow Hotel pushed back until January

By Brian Kelly • December 13, 2019 1:00 pm
An architect’s sketch of the proposed Winslow Hotel, as seen from Winslow Way. (Image courtesy of the city of Bainbridge Island)
An architect’s sketch of the proposed Winslow Hotel, as seen from Winslow Way. (Image courtesy of the city of Bainbridge Island)

Bainbridge city officials announced Friday the hearing scheduled for the controversial Winslow Hotel project has been postponed to Thursday, Jan. 23.

The change in date was expected.

Earlier this week, two Bainbridge residents filed an appeal of the city’s environmental review of the 87-room hotel.

According to the city’s municipal code, the filing of the appeal triggers a 15-day notice period. With the Winslow Hotel hearing originally scheduled for Dec. 19 — and the appeal being filed Dec. 9 — the meeting had to be pushed back to comply with city rules.

The appeal, which was filed by Robin Simons and Phyllis Carlyle on behalf of a group called “Winslow Neighbors,” will be heard by the city’s hearing examiner.

The city’s hearing examiner will also issue the final decision on the Winslow Hotel project.

City officials said Friday that both the appeal and the project proposal will be heard at the same time by the city’s hearing examiner, at the public hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 in council chambers at city hall.

The hearing examiner must complete a written finding on the project within 10 working days of the public hearing, according to the city, unless a longer period is agreed upon by the hearing examiner and the applicant for the hotel, Madison Avenue Development.