Affordable housing was strongly supported during public comments at the Bainbridge Island Planning Commission meeting regarding the Wintergreen Townhomes last week.

Dave Shorett, who has lived on BI for 40 years, said: “Affordable housing has dried up, and economic and racial diversity has dried up at the same time. The same kind of people buy the same kind of houses.”

He said it’s hard to find a developer of affordable housing, and this one (David Smith) has responded to planning commission concerns by making changes. Shorett suggested advisory boards are concerned with, “Are these houses good enough?” but buyers just want to own a house. “The line will be a mile long to buy all of these homes,” he said, adding it’s time to stop the studies, task forces and consultants that will “make this last forever.”

Denise Stoughton, as an interior designer, disagreed with some advisory members who didn’t like the look of the project. She likes the aesthetics, the green areas and landscaping, but especially the sculpture. “As a renter whose hope it is to purchase a home”, she urged the commission to approve the project.

She said her rent is going to increase 20 percent next month for a 650-square-foot studio apartment. “My dream of homeownership on the island essentially evaporated,” she said.

As a member of the arts locally Stoughton pushed the economic benefits of BI becoming a certified creative district. She said the only way to “nurture local artists is to include affordable housing. Art is integral to the identity of Bainbridge but they can’t afford to live here.”

Jillian Worth, who works next to the Wintergreen site at Virginia Mason, said housing prices were reasonable 20 years ago but now when she “hires a physician it’s even too expensive for them.” They have to live as far away as Chimacum and Port Orchard. “We’ve got to have affordable housing here on Bainbridge Island” for teachers, health care and food service workers.

Lynn Smith, president of the Bainbridge Island school board, said district enrollment keeps falling because parents can’t afford homes. Wintergreen would “help students move here,” and it’s “perfectly located for schools.”

Helen Stone “questions the city’s resolve in following through on affordable housing.” She wonders if the “community even wants people like me.” She said renters have a harder time feeling like part of the community, and she appreciates the economic and social benefits of homeownership.

Marsha Cutting responded to advisory comments that the housing is too small. She lived on a boat and then a 350-square-foot apartment. She said there are no affordable homes to buy, and rent is ever increasing. She said if rent keeps going up she won’t be able to live anywhere near her family on the West Coast.

Realtor Karen Bazar tried to relieve any commission concerns about the quality of the project, saying she’s sold Central Highland homes for years, and they have a top warranty. With a mix of affordable and market housing, the project should have a diverse mix of buyers. I’m ready to “watch a wonderful new neighborhood come to life.”

Another real estate broker, Barb McKenzie, said she’s known Smith for 25 years and respects his work with affordable housing, and his desire “to do the right thing for the community.”

Georg Syvertsen, who has been in real estate for 40 years, said it would be a “tragedy” if the commission didn’t approve Wintergreen. “The location couldn’t be better with services right by it,” he said.

A couple people spoke against the project.

Lisa Neal told the commission that it is not true that “unless rules are bent we can’t get affordable housing.” She fears the commission is being too lax on rules, “Running roughshod over regulations.” She said the city doesn’t have to choose projects like this one over design guidelines and the environment. As an example, “They came back today with a lot of changes.”

Barry Andrews lives next to the project at Stonecrest. His big concern is traffic. “People already go through Stonecrest, and it’s a private road,” he said. He’s also concerned about increased traffic on High School Road. There are no medians to calm traffic and no crosswalks for the safety of pedestrians.