Friday, April 4, 2014 • Bainbridge Island Review
shopping CONTINUED FROM A1
opposition to the project in his decision. Islanders, including many neighbors to the proposed development, warned the new shopping center would create traffic troubles, put pedestrians at risk, and increase noise and light pollution in the area. Some also said the new businesses that would locate in the retail and service center were redundant and unneeded. In his decision, Smith said he was struck by the passion shown by those who weighed in on the controversial project. “An observer cannot avoid being impressed with the depth of dedication and enthusiasm Bainbridge Island residents bring to the public participation process,” Smith wrote.
Key conflict noted He also noted that some were confused in believing that the proposed project could be rejected because of perceived conflicts with the city’s comprehensive plan, the expansive document that guides growth and development on the island. “But there are areas of concern as well,” Smith continued. “In particular, there is a widespread misconception about what role a comprehensive plan can play in the site-specific development review process.” “To oversimplify slightly, once the zoning code identifies the uses permitted in a zoning district, the comprehensive plan can be employed to supply certain refinements that operate as development standards for regulating the establishment of such uses. “But if the zoning code clearly permits a use, it cannot simply be denied outright based on alleged conflict with comprehensive plan policies.” Smith said the proposed development was a good fit for the property. If residents don’t want a particular type of development on a parcel, he added, they should work to change the laws that allow it. “By Bainbridge Island standards, the High School Road zoning districts are relatively tolerant of and friendly toward a broad range of commercial development. So if there really is a popular consensus that the Island already has (for example) more than enough drugstores, the easy and effective way to address this issue is to amend the zoning code permitted use chapter to delete drugstores
from the list,” Smith wrote. “But if the code allows a drugstore as a use in a zone, an applicant is entitled to receive a permit based on a successful running of the regulatory maze — regardless of whether it’s a popular idea or not.”
Traffic study tardy The project had earlier gained the stamp of approval from city planners. In his decision, Smith also said the review before the city’s Design Review Board and Planning Commission “worked remarkably well in ferreting out issues of primary importance.” He noted “one big conceptual glitch,” however. “On this highly constrained development parcel, access limitations and traffic impacts were obviously going to drive the site design process, but these problems were not fully identified and fleshed out until midway through the review chain,” Smith said. “The project’s transportation impact analysis didn’t appear until the DRB process was already well under way, and even then in its initial iteration failed to come to terms with all ramifications of the site access and circulation issues. “By the time a clearer picture had emerged, both the applicant and DRB were committed to the ‘Main Street’ concept and didn’t want to rethink it. A better process would have produced a complete and adequate traffic study at the very beginning of the review so that it could have informed the conceptual site design discussion before a preferred design option had become entrenched,” Smith said.
Not like Safeway The examiner also painted the end result in a glass halfempty, half-full manner. “Project opponents may be expected to continue to make the case for half-empty,” he wrote. “Here is the case for halffull: The current zoning would support approval of a much more intense and aggressive commercial project than Visconsi is proposing,” Smith concluded. “Except for the small bank on the corner, the project buildings will be nearly invisible from neighboring roads. The largest retail building will be the pharmacy at just under 15,000 square feet — less than one third of Safeway.” “Whatever else it may be, this is not a replay of Safeway,” Smith said. “In fact, if one compares this proposal with what currently exists in the greater
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High School Road district, the Visconsi project would deserve to be adjudged superior in almost every way to the jumble of retail and office buildings now gracing the neighborhood. “So while it may fall short of some ultimate vision of perfection, the facts on the ground strongly suggest that this project comprises praiseworthy movement in the right direction,” Smith said. Bainbridge Mayor Anne Blair said the decision was complex, but Smith is required to follow the legal mandates set by Bainbridge’s land-use policies. “My initial reaction is that, really, I’m very grateful that the council put this kind of issue in the hands of a professional,” Blair said. “The hearing examiner is really the one with the experience. What is clearly at base of this issue is a reading of our code and land use policies,” she said. Review writer Cecilia Garza contributed to this story.
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Obituaries John Reid John Reid was born on Jan. 19, 1926 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to James and Elizabeth Reid. He attended high school in Montreal and took many college courses in Seattle. In 1952 he married Ella Reid. A few years later they moved to Bainbridge Island, where they raised their three sons. His work took him to Aloha, Ore., where he and his wife retired. John was a tank driver in the Canadian Army. When he moved to Washington, he went to work for Safeco Insurance and then on to North Pacific Insurance, where he retired as Vice President. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ella and their son,
Frank Kitamoto May 28, 1939 – March 15, 2014 Frank Kitamoto died after heart and kidney complications on March 15, 2014. A nationally respected Japanese American community leader, Frank was born on May 28, 1939 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Frank graduated as salutatorian from Bainbridge High School in 1957, went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Washington in 1965, and Frank returned to Bainbridge Island to begin his successful 48-year dental practice. Frank was just two-and-half years old when he and 226 other Bainbridge Islanders became the first to be forcibly removed to concentration camps in 1942. Frank’s family was first incarcerated at Manzanar in California and later transferred to Minidoka in Idaho. Because of this unconstitutional incarceration, Frank shared his inspirational message of tolerance, liberty and human rights by speaking to hundreds of groups ranging from school-age children to senior citizens. For his work, Frank received numerous awards for his decades of volunteer service. Included among the many groups in which Frank was most active during recent years were the Bainbridge Island Japanese Community, the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, Friends of Minidoka and the Bainbridge Island School District Multicultural Advisory Council. Frank is survived by his wife Sharon and son Derek, Bainbridge Island; sisters Lilly (Mitsuhiro) Kodama, Bainbridge Island and Frances Ikegami, Bremerton; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank Yoshito Kitamoto and Shigeko Kitamoto and sister Jane Akita. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at Woodward Middle School, 9125 Sportsman Club Road, Bainbridge Island. Dress casually. Because Frank was an avid UW Huskies football fan and loved his trips to Hawaii, casual wear could include wearing purple and gold or Hawaiian attire. TRIBUTE Paid Notice
Brent. He is survived by his sons Warren and Kevin and daughter-in-law Cindy; his grandsons William, David and Michael; and his great-granddaughters Cassandra and Danielle.
Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 6 at Hillcrest Cemetery on Old Mill Road, Bainbridge Island. Friends are invited to attend
Richard D. Brobyn, MD February 22, 1932 – March 19, 2014 Late of Birch Bay, Washington Richard D. Brobyn passed away peacefully at Whatcom Hospice House with his family by his side. He was predeceased by parents, Walter and Edna (Dolde) Brobyn and his previous wife Anne (Singer) Brobyn. He is survived by his wife Olga; son, Scott Brobyn of Bainbridge Island, Washington and brother, Robert (Bob) Brobyn of Philadelphia; stepsons, Patrick Nash (Linda), Allan Buxton (Yvonne); grandchildren, Jason Nash (Anita), Lisa Robinson (Jason), Christopher Buxton (Christine, Alicia Buxton; great-grandchildren, Carson Robinson, Jason and Evan Nash, Alexander Buxton; sister-in-law, Perry Vincent (Roy); brother-in-law, Paul Peregoodoff (Sharon); niece, Elly Wright (Kevin); nephews, John, James, Craig Brobyn, David Vincent, Steven Peregoodoff (Daniel), Terry Peregoodoff, Matt and Carlie Sawchuk, Camden and Porter Peregoodoff; and Ruby, a grand dog who stayed with him on his bed the day he passed. Richard was born in Philadephia, Pa. He attended Penn Charter, Haverford College and University of Pennsylvania, where he received his medical degree. He also received his doctorate’s degree in clinical pharmacology. He spent five years active duty with the Navy stationed at Bethesda and Bremerton, where he worked in decompression and mixed gases. He then went on to spend 25 years in the Navy Reserve. While in Bremerton he fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and he and Anne moved to Bainbridge Island, where Richard practiced medicine for many years. He spent much of his medical career doing clinical trials and drug research. His passions were history, astronomy and science and he liked nothing better than to have a good debate and share his knowledge. He placed great importance on education and was able to help many young people achieve their goals through his generosity. He was a true patriot and proud of his country. He recently spent the day at the Reagan Ranch at Simi Valley and he was very moved by this experience. He also was proud to have been invited to attend the dedication of the Bush library where all five living presidents were in attendance. Richard and Olga had a busy life travelling to various battlefields, places of history and art galleries, spending time with family and friends and enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Richard loved Cabo San Lucas, and every year he and Olga would spend time there. Last year his dream was realized when he landed a marlin. Richard and Olga were true companions who complemented one another. Words cannot express the gratitude in our hearts for all the love and support we received from family, friends, the enter team at Hospice who were with us at this difficult time. A special recognition goes to our dear friends Peter and Victoria Wilhelmsen for their support as they walked with Richard and myself during this journey. If so desired donation in Richard’s memory may be made to: Whatcom Hospice House, 2800 Douglas Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225; Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041. Or a charity of your choice. A gathering of family and friends was held at the family home to celebrate Richard’s TRIBUTE Paid Notice life.