REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
ON TO THE FINAL FOUR: Bainbridge lacrosse team advances in state tourney. A17
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 | Vol. 113, No. 21 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Proposed shopping center gets initial thumbs up BY RICHARD D. OXLEY Bainbridge Island Review
Bainbridge Island’s newest shopping center took another step toward reality Monday as city officials looked over plans for the project and gave their initial thumbs up. Representatives with Visconsi Companies of Pepper Pike, Ohio along with island architect Charlie Wenzlau met with the city’s Design Review Board this week to discuss the Visconsi’s intention to build a shopping center on the corner
of Highway 305 and High School Road. Wenzlau took the board step-bystep through his site plans for the shopping center, a place he said will be more distinct than its counterpart across the street. “The goal is to bring the buildings close up to the street so pedestrians walk up to the site,” Wenzlau said, “to have the scale and look of downtown Winslow.” “We’re trying to characterize this differently than Safeway.” The board recommended initial approval of the entire seven-
building project that includes a bank, Bartell Drugs store, medical center and retail store spaces. The board, however, did pose a few concerns about the buildings in phase one — the Bartell Drugs and the bank — such as the use of concrete slabs on parts of the exterior walls. Visconsi officials agreed to address the issues and bring back revised plans to the board on June 17, before the matter moves on to the city’s planning commission. SEE CENTER, A25
Slow down, please
Image courtesy of the city of Bainbridge Island
An artist’s rendition shows the pedestrian-friendly design of the proposed shopping center.
Crowded field in some races guarantees a Primary Election Filing deadline brings last-minute surprises BY BRIAN KELLY Bainbridge Island Review
Brian Kelly / Bainbridge Island Review
Mollie Buchinger and Dayana Morales display a sign for passing drivers on Madison Avenue at the end of the school day on Bike to School Day on Friday, May 17 outside Opstad Elementary. Hundreds of kids rode their bikes to school during the annual event.
The races for the Bainbridge Island City Council and Fire Department have been shaken up recently with entries, departures, and a switcheroo. Wayne Roth, an eminent pioneer in public radio, filed as a candidate for the Central Ward, Position 5 city council seat on May 16 against Arlene Buetow. John Green, who had announced his candidacy for the same seat in March, said Monday he was dropping out of the race, citing the similarities he shares with Buetow for the future of city politics. Roth, 69, is currently the president of KUOW, the flagship National Public Radio member station in Seattle. He also serves as general manager of Puget Sound Public Radio. Roth announced plans last month to retire from KUOW in September. Roth has a long and distinguished career in public broadcasting, with a career stretching 45 years, and he has led KUOW since 1983. He was awarded the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcast in 2005 for “outstanding contributions to public radio.” In the District 3 South Ward council race, Dee McComb threw
her hat into the ring against islanders Robert Bosserman and Roger Townsend on May 17, ensuring a primary election in August that will weed out two candidates for the General Election in November. While McComb, 66 is new to elected office, she is no stranger to local politics. She has been involved at both the state and national levels through the settlement and loan industries. Through her work in the escrow profession, where she closed commericial and residential properties, McComb has committed 35 years to areas ranging from resource management and affordable housing to education and schools. She has served as president of the National Escrow Association and is currently the president of Bainbridge Island Rowing. “I am a good listener, appreciate the value of consensus building as well as communication,” McComb said. “Always new challenges facing the community in growth management and where people are going to work, live and play and keep that unique Bainbridge flavor to downtown.” In the District 7 North Ward council race, Richard “Dick” Haugan, 68, filed as a candidate on May 17 against Val Tollefson. The field has also been shaken up for fire commissioner positions for the board of the Bainbridge Island Fire Department. SEE PRIMARY, A25