To the editor:
We want to be sure that residents of Bainbridge Island are aware that a private school, Madrona School, is in the process of applying for a major conditional use permit to build a large school for 200 students and an auditorium which will seat 400 people on North Madison Avenue NE just north of Valley Road across from the Windsong Loop neighborhood.
There is more information on the city of Bainbridge Island website (Online Permit Center, PLN18970B CUP).
We believe this school would have huge consequences for people who drive on North Madison Avenue NE.
We believe peak traffic times for the school will be 8 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. The school has said that the traffic leaving the school will be turning right only and heading north on North Madison NE. However traffic will be entering the school from both north and south.
Also, there will likely be another 20 mph speed limit school zone north of Valley Road for this school.
The school has stated that they will have activities eight to 10 weekday evenings and one Saturday per month. Most activities will be finished by 9 p.m. with an occasional event concluding by 10 p.m. They also state that approximately eight times a year, all-school events in the evening will have attendance of 250 to 300 people. The school intended to rent their auditorium out to others until the planning commission recently recommended restricting the use of the auditorium for school purposes only. The decision to allow rentals or not is not final.
We do not believe a project of this magnitude is feasible in our quiet, peaceful area. We do not believe North Madison Avenue NE can handle this additional concentrated traffic without major inconvenience to all of us — especially those of us trying to get to work during the morning peak period.
There will be a public hearing at 9 a.m. May 4 in the council chambers at city hall. The community is invited to attend the hearing and make oral and written comments.
If you cannot attend the hearing, you may send your concerns by letter to City of Bainbridge Island, Stafford Smith, Hearing Examiner, 280 Madison Ave. North, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
These letters should be submitted before the hearing date.
DEENA AND DON HANKE
Bainbridge Island
