After all, it’s the island’s forested areas, farmland, meadows, streams, bays, estuaries, shorelines, vistas and “rural flavor” that many residents say attracted them there in the first place.

But some residents say Bainbridge’s proximity to metropolitan Seattle and it’s reputation throughout the region as a safe and comfortable community in which to live, work and commute is putting undue development pressure on the characteristics islanders most love — it’s natural beauty, unspoiled habitat and livability.

Led by Mayor Dwight Sutton and a City Council-appointed citizens task force, Bainbridge is hoping to turn the tide on the island’s perceived land grab by asking voters this November to approve an $8 million general obligation bond initiative.

The levy’s proceeds would be used to purchase a variety of open space — from forests and streams to farmlands and beaches.

The bonds would be repaid over 20 years and cost the owner of a $300,000 home less than $50 a year in additional taxes — about $5 a month. The campaign to pass the bond issue is being privately funded and administered by volunteers.

Recently, the all-island City Council gave its nod of approval for the creation of a seven-to-nine member citizen’s advisory commission to evaluate and recommend future open space purchases, should the levy pass.

“I think this is one of the most important things to come out of city hall in a long time,” said Bruce Weiland, a levy supporter and school district board member. “It’s fabulous for the island.”

Connie Waddington, an island and Kitsap County open space advocate and member of the citizen task force, agreed. She said one residential building permit is being issued every day on the island, and, at that pace the island could be built-out in 10 years.

“Growth cannot be stopped, but we can preserve some of the character of our island through smart growth,” she said. “Smart growth means preserving our common space. It means protecting the wetlands that recharge our water table and provide habitat for wildlife. It means preserving farmland for open space, for high-quality local produce, and for diversifying our population.”

To date, the levy has spawned little or no opposition.

In fact, Jack MacArthur, former executive director of the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and a task force participant, penned a supporting document that suggests that open space preservation has less impact on community infrastructure and creates less of a tax burden than residential development.

“While many Americans believe that open space/parks cost the tax payer money due to the property involved being taken off the tax rolls, historically that has not been the case,” MacArthur wrote.

“In study after study, the reverse has proven to be true. This is directly attributable to the fact that open space/parks do not impact community infrastructure as does the construction of housing.”

MacArthur said open space and parks do not add students to school systems, consume water resources, add traffic, or increase police, fire and other public services.

“Housing developments have historically contributed less dollars through taxes and impact fees than they consume,” he said.

MacArthur cited a recent study by the American Farmland Trust that further drove home his point. It puts the median cost, per revenue dollar raised, to provide community infrastructure at $1.15 for residential properties versus 37 cents for open space.

The November levy is not the first time Bainbridge Island open space backers have gone to voters to preserve portions of the island’s natural habitat.

In 1991, voters approved a $5 million bond issue for the purchase of the Grand Forest. Four years later, voters approved $2.6 million to acquire Gazzam Lake. And last year another $2.5 million was raised through private donations and grants to purchase a park at the head of Port Blakely harbor.

What helped convince many task force members to push for the new levy was a close-up look at aerial photos of Bainbridge Island taken between 30 and 50 years ago compared to today’s contemporary landscape.

“It was a classic case of before and after,” recalled Neil Johannsen, an island resident involved with the initiative. “In many places, what were berry fields, dairy farms, woodlands and wetlands are now roads, parking lots, subdivisions and commercial space.”

Johannsen, the retired director of Alaska State Parks, said it is not his group’s intent to “vilify” development. “We appreciate the businesses that provide employment for our residents and the goods and services we need to live and thrive. We do not deny the positive aspects of growth on the island... We simply seek more balance between the furious pace of construction and the safeguarding of natural landscapes.”

(Editor’s Note: Kevin Dwyer is a Bainbridge Island free-lance writer).