FAQs • Bainbridge Island, WA • CivicEngage

Fall 2018: Fall 2018 - WSDOT denies a variance for the narrower path, and City Council subsequently reverses their earlier decision and approves the 10’ wide paved path.

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STO Sakai Pond Trail Timeline

1. March 2014 - Hearing Examiner Decision: March 2014 - Hearing Examiner Decision requiring construction of “a multi-use trail from the High School Road intersection/crosswalk to the extent of the northern property line of the development. The trail shall be located within the WSDOT right-of-way and shall meet the minimum standards for a shared-use path…(minimum of 10 feet wide).”

2. Summer 2015 - Based on Comprehensive Plan Discussions,: Summer 2015 Based on the Comprehensive Plan, discussions with the Multi-modal Transportation Advisory Committee (MTAC), and discussions with Planning Manager Josh Machen, PW staff approach the Visconsi company with a proposal for Visconsi to construct their trail within the west side of the SR305 ROW rather than on the east side fronting their property. PW staff performs site reconnaissance-level evaluation to determine feasibility of a trail on the west side. Visconsi is receptive to the proposal because building the trail on the east side meant traversing a long wetland and removing the remainder of the trees between their development and the highway, but they are concerned about the additional costs of designing and constructing a trail on the west side.

3. Fall 2015 - PW Staff Prepares Conceptual Trail Alignment on West Side: Fall 2015 PW staff prepares conceptual trail alignment for 820’ long trail on the west side. Visconsi prepares Cost Estimates comparing costs associated with designing and constructing the trail on both the east and west sides. Negotiations proceed establishing sharing of some additional site investigation costs (wetland delineation and geotechnical reports) that Visconsi had already incurred for designing a trail on the east side.

4. 2016 - Wetland Delineation, etc.: 2016 - Wetland delineation, geotechnical investigation, survey, and preliminary engineering

5. Spring 2017: Spring 2017 - Negotiations over the previous months lead to the Memo of Understanding dated March 14, 2017.

6. June 2017: June 2017 - Visconsi provides the preliminary engineering plan for a 820’ long trail, ending at the edge of the highway pavement.

7. Fall 2017: Fall 2017 - Meet with BIMPRD (Parks) staff to review conceptual alignment of 820’ trail along the ROW. Parks is concerned about removing trees along the ROW that currently serve as a backdrop for views in the park across the pond. Sakai Park designers (Jones & Jones) propose a 12’ wide boardwalk around the west side of the pond in lieu of the trail alignment along the east side of the pond. Parks Director and Board agree to allow future 10’-12’ paved path around the west side of the Sakai pond.

8. Winter 2017: Winter 2017 - Public Works staff prepares conceptual alignment for 530’ long trail to connect to an existing footpath in Sakai Park. Addendum 1 to the Memorandum of Understanding reflects changes based on the revised alignment.

9. February 2018: February 2019 8 - Meeting with Parks to review alignment to Sakai. Parks agrees to proposed trail alignment and will provide a Construction Easement.

10. April 2018: April 2018 - Visconsi provides the preliminary engineering plan for a 530’ long trail connecting to the existing footpath in Sakai Park.

11. Summer 2018: Summer 2018 - City Council approves narrower (sub-standard) 8’ wide path for west side trail. Staff asks for WSDOT guidance in permitting the path.

12. Fall 2018: Fall 2018 - WSDOT denies a variance for the narrower path, and City Council subsequently reverses their earlier decision and approves the 10’ wide paved path.

15. April 2021: April 2021 - Council approves contract with Liden Land Development & Excavation Inc.