Some weeks ago, we noted in this space that the downtown businesses, alarmed at potential changes along Winslow Way, wanted to take another look at generating a master plan for downtown.

While generally sympathetic with those objectives, we openly wondered how this would be more useful than the substantial efforts that have already been undertaken, especially the Winslow Master Plan.

Now that question has been answered by the business community itself. Under the leadership of Larry Nakata of Town & Country and Tom Hagger, owner of the facilities in which Virginia Mason operates Winslow Clinic, the business community has organized itself and engaged architect and planner Bill Isley to work with them on putting together a design implementation plan.

Significantly, the group is putting up money along with ideas. While saying that city funding may be appropriate at some point, the group is willing to front the first $75,000 itself, from an assessment to be imposed by an organization of business owners.

The group also aims for a level of detail that has been missing from past planning efforts, but which is vitally important to downtown businesses. What spurred the effort, after all, was the proposed width of the new sidewalk in front of the remodeled American Marine Bank – a width that might have prevented delivery trucks from parking in the middle of Winslow Way.

And the downtowners want to press for specifics about phasing and implementation.

The Winslow Master Plan specifically calls for “a series of 3-4 smaller surface (parking) lots (of 20-30 cars) sited … within 200 feet of Winslow Way and lower Madison … acquired, developed and operated by a City of Bainbridge Island Parking Authority.” To date, nothing has been done to advance that portion of the plan. Yet the city is planning to move forward with rebuilding Winslow Way – from the highway to Ericksen this year, and from Ericksen to Madison before 2008.

The loss of parking and access during the rebuilds will be difficult for the merchants, especially without the additional parking that the master plan envisions.

City officials welcome the prospect of an organized business community – the general response has been “tell us what you need.” And we think more communication running the other way would be helpful as well – we’d rather hear the Winslow merchants talk about how projects can be made to work, rather than simply hearing them say “roadwork will hurt business” or “don’t do it.”

Downtown Winslow is a challenge – too small, not enough streets, not enough parking. But it’s also a treasure, an island of small-town genuineness in a world of homogeneity.

We need all the help we can get to preserve that, and welcome the input from those in the best position to know.