New development is affecting quality of life | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 8:30 am Monday, January 18, 2016

To the editor:

Although there has been little that the City of Bainbridge Island council has done that I would personally consider worth writing about, I did want to put forth a word of support for newly installed Councilman Ron Peltier’s appeal that there be a moratorium on large scale development.

It’s about time! Such development has been almost epidemic recently and is certainly changing the character of Bainbridge Island.

Yes, the property owners all have the right to do what they are doing. Councils over the years have failed to account for that possibility (eventuality?) and we are now paying the price.

How much more is already in the pipeline that cannot be held back even if a moratorium were declared tomorrow? Maybe it is already too late. Not only is the overall appearance and quality of life on Bainbridge Island being affected by all the development, but island infrastructure and resources are being stressed as well. Roads, water supply, electricity, sewers, etc.

Until there is a clear plan for how to deal with this, including recognizing the rights of those already here,

I totally support the moratorium.

I appeal to the rest of the council to join Councilman Peltier and do the right thing here. And I would hope that other island residents will share this view and bring it to the council as well.

Railroad crossings say it very succinctly: “Stop, look and listen.”

NORMAN MARTEN

Bainbridge Island