Council chambers at Bainbridge Island City Hall is starting to fill up prior to the start of the public hearing for the controversial Winslow Hotel proposal.

City staff set out 89 chairs for the audience, and all were filled with five minutes to go before the meeting began.

Attendees who had to leave early, or were left without a seat, were starting to find places to stand at the back of the room.

Some of the late arrivals were carrying signs; a protest right before the hearing was held on Madison Avenue outside city hall.

The hearing has been scheduled for six hours.