News Roundup - McDonalds gets the OK/Meigs project moves ahead/Adopt a cat this month/Review launches reader survey

McDonalds gets the OK

The city approved design changes to the island McDonald’s restaurant, allowing the fast food chain to replace its cedar shingle roof with metal sheeting.

The decision by the city Department of Planning and Community Development amends earlier requirements that the restaurant maintain a cedar roof.

The design team employed by Peninsula McDonald’s Restaurants, which operates the Bainbridge eatery and numerous others in the area, argued that metal roof upgrades fit the aesthetics of the area, including a nearby hardware store and bank.

“Compatibility-wise, we didn’t see a problem with the metal roofing,” agreed planner Bob Katai.

The planning department earlier denied McDonald’s design plans calling for an extended parapet, an illuminated logo and “golden arches” extending over the building’s roof.

– Tristan Baurick

Meigs project moves ahead

The City Council has approved “pilot project” procedures that may permit a local developer to build a health spa and lodge at Meigs Farm.

Gale Cool, a Point White resident, had requested that the city consider a set of procedures that allow some exceptions to the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance as long as the changes increase overall environmental protections.

“This project is the poster child of what the council had in mind when it adopted the pilot projects,” said Councilman Nezam Tooloee at Wednesday’s council meeting.

Cool plans to convert the former dairy farm near Meigs Park into a rustic getaway with heated baths, a cafe and a 20-room lodge.

The 20-acre parcel off State Route 305 contains numerous wetlands and ponds that Cool says will remain largely untouched.

– Tristan Baurick

Adopt a cat this month

PAWS of Bainbridge Island encourages anyone who’s been thinking of adopting a cat to step up during Adopt-a-Shelter Cat month.

Although the 32 kittens PAWS has taken in recently are too young to leave their mothers, they will be ready for adoption in a few weeks, and it’s a good idea for people intent on adopting a kitten to get their name on the waiting list.

To celebrate Adopt a Shelter Cat month, PAWS is having a sale of “gently used” cat carriers for a donation of $5 (or more) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 3 at the PAWS Cat Adoption Center, 8820 Miller Road.

For more information, call the Adoption Center at 780-0656.

Review launches reader survey

The Bainbridge Island Review and Sound Publishing are launching a readership survey that will measure the media preference and shopping patterns of local readers.

Readers participating in the survey will have a chance to win a $1,000 cash drawing and a $100 gift certificate.

Bainbridge Island-based Sound Publishing owns and publishes the Review and 14 other community newspapers in the Puget Sound. Pulse Research of Portland, Ore., an independent firm that works with media and retailers nationwide, will conduct the survey.

Included in today’s edition as a pullout section, the survey will offer valuable feedback to the Review staff in understanding newspaper-reading patterns, gathering suggestions and insight from readers and improving the newspaper. Responses will be kept confidential.

“Conducting a survey of our readers helps us stay more connected to their individual needs,” said Chris Allen Hoch, publisher of the Review.

The Review also hopes to gain information on shopping patterns to share with local retailers.

“This survey includes questions about readership and purchasing habits that will aid local businesses with a better understanding of local consumer preferences,” Allen said.

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