Preliminary designs will be presented at a Thursday forum.

After months of brainstorming, planners say the respective visions of the city and Washington State Ferries have finally begun to merge.

So too have the avenues for comment, as the city has launched a website devoted to the project that will allow islanders to voice suggestions or concerns and keep apprised of developments.

Winslow Tomorrow project manager and ferry district planner Sandy Fischer hopes the website, coupled with tomorrow’s three-hour community workshop, will give planners a better idea about how the community would like design to proceed.

“The design teams have really informed one another,” Fischer said of the four meetings between WSF architects and those hired by the city in July to help integrate the terminal design with ferry district planning. “Washington State Ferries is more keenly aware of what the community values and we (city planners) are more cognizant of the ferry system’s operational needs.”

Both sides now hope to sharpen a collective effort that began when WSF halted terminal design to allow the city-hired architects an opportunity to catch up.

WSF expects to begin work on the terminal in 2009. Meanwhile, the city is crafting a ferry district based on the Comprehensive Plan and the values outlined by Winslow Tomorrow.

The community can participate in an in-depth discussion about both projects at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.

Attendees will be shown three early design alternatives for the terminal and three for the city’s ferry district before the larger group is broken into smaller discussion teams.

Fischer said the terminal design – the latest versions of which include a multi-level structure that separates different modes of transportation – must be addressed first. The city then can better determine how to integrate the building into the surrounding landscape.

Priorities for both projects are improved access to the terminal and shoreline, increased public green spaces and better utilities.

As for the website, which is accessible via the city’s website, Fischer said she hoped it would allow the public to be more involved in the design.

She said community participation will be vital because the new terminal’s long-term impacts on parking, traffic and development in the area will be significant.

In addition to a schedule and a discussion forum, the website includes case studies of other ferry terminals around the world that planners hope will generate creative feedback.

Though some features have yet to be added, the plan is to have the site finished by early October. Another community workshop is scheduled for early December.

“We want people to come to the meeting with a lot of ideas,” Fischer said. “And we encourage those who can’t attend to register at the website. We want to work toward a solution everyone can agree on.”