BI development moratorium ends

The Development Moratorium in Winslow ended April 3.

It went into effect in Jan. 9, 2018 after a number of developments were quickly approved, including the Wallace Cottages that are now being built at Madison and Wallace.

The moratorium was first set to expire six months later, but it was extended several times to provide enough time for work to be done. The scope of the plan also has been narrowed.

Bainbridge Island Planning director Heather Wright said it’s difficult to predict if building will increase as a result of the end of the moratorium, “but we will watch closely and be ready to report out later this year.”

Some of the new laws include:

•Subdivisions: Increased open space, community space, clustered development and site design guidelines.

•Design standards: Characteristics of surrounding environment determine future development. Built environment relates to public spaces and natural areas. The goal was a higher quality development that reflects the island’s values and character.

•Critical areas: Regulations for aquifers, flood hazard areas, steep slopes, wetlands and streams.

•Land use review: Site and design review permits, conditional use permits and subdivisions require and earlier review by the Design Review Board. The goal was to reduce subjectivity in decision making.

Another segment on Affordable Housing was removed from the requirements in September.

“So much work went into it,” city planning director Heather Wright said of the regulations.

Wright said a “bunch of projects” were approved in 2017-18, which led to the moratorium. About four or five of them were in the same vacinity.

The moratorium did not apply to some mixed use, affordable housing, subdivisions and government facilities.

As for 19 Wallace Cottages, they feature one- and two-story floor plans. The site will include a community garden. This projecte was approved before the moratorium.

Central Highland Homes is building it. They’ve also build Whitford Strand, Summerset, Chateau Ridge and Poulsbo Place II in Poulsbo and Kallgren, Hamlet, Fernbrook and Stonecress in BI. Weaver Creek and Ferncliff Village followed “green development” standards.

According to Central’s website, it also has plans for a development just south of Wallace Cottages called Madison Place.