Islanders now have a timeline of events for community input opportunities for the Sakai property.
During its regular board meeting late last week, the board for the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District adopted a resolution outlining the public input timeline.
Parks commissioners OK’d the process to solicit input from community members on how islanders would like to see the Sakai property used if voters approve a $5.9 million bond measure next month to buy the land.
Bainbridge voters will decide during a Feb. 10 Special Election if the district should purchase the 22.87-acre property between Madison Avenue and Highway 305.
Board member Lee Cross said details might be modified in the coming months.
“It’s a plan, obviously,” Cross said of the timeline. “Plans can change.”
The tentative timeline if the Feb. 10 ballot passes:
• From March to July, the park district outlined researching property details for future planning, including wetlands delineation, surveys, road egress/ingress in preparation for future traffic studies, etc.
• In August, there will be a transfer of property ownership to the park district in a purchase and sale agreement. The district will begin work for initial property use with temporary parking and trail access with “the goal of making the site accessible to the public.”
• From September through December, the district will hold public meetings for input from the general public and potential user groups on what the property may be used for in the future. The district will post an online survey for the public to make suggestions and express preferences for possible property uses.
• All public input comments gathered through public meetings and the online survey will be collected from January through May 2016. Potential primary uses will also be identified.
• District staff will develop possible options between May and September 2016 for the property concept plan with preliminary cost estimates based on public input.
• Between September and November of next year, park district staff will present possible options for the concept plan with projected cost figures, possible phasing and potential funding sources.
Public comment will also be welcome during the concept plan phase. The board will then adopt a final concept plan for the property.
