A group calling itself the Friends of Bainbridge Island is suing the city of Bainbridge and the developers of the Island Gateway project.

Filed with the Kitsap Superior Court on Tuesday, the lawsuit alleges that the city failed to follow due process in its approval of the 75,000-square-foot project at the intersection of Highway 305 and Winslow Way.

A key issue is the city’s decision to vacate a portion of a 30-foot right-of-way along the west side of the highway to allow more room for the development.

The group contends that the city’s decision did not adequately take into account the vacation’s impact on traffic safety and future mass transit and regional trail options.

“While the city claims to have considered these factors, the (City) Council’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence, was clearly erroneous and arbitrary and capricious,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit claims the city should have consulted with Kitsap Transit and Washington State Ferries to determine if they had objections.

The Island Gateway site is near the Winlsow ferry terminal and across the street from a property Kitsap Transit co-owns with the city.

No members of the group were named in the lawsuit, but a “Friends of Bainbridge Island” was registered as a corporation with the state on Oct. 29. Its members include island residents Annette Skinner, Charles Schmid and Virginia Paul.

Due to a staff furlough, the city’s attorney could not be reached on Friday.

Island Gateway’s developer, Bill Carruthers, did not immediately return phone calls for comment.

The largest development project the island’s seen in years, Island Gateway would include an art museum, children’s museum and about 60,000 square feet of commercial space. It incorporates several sustainable design elements, including salvaged wood and stormwater catchment systems.

Some residents have criticized the development’s size and modern look, saying it clashes with Bainbridge’s small town aesthetic.

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Unofficial election results released Thursday evening showed Hytopoulos with a four percentage-point lead over Jacobsen’s 47.7 percent.

“I don’t see how I can close that kind of gap,” Jacobsen said. “I think she has won.”

Hytopoulos also believes the gap has widened enough that she will be declared the winner when the election is certified on Nov. 24.

“I’m excited and honored and humbled,” she said. “To have an opportunity to help lead this community is quite an honor.”

Hytopoulos’ lead has grown from 50.5 percent to 51.8 since Tuesday.

About 370 votes separated the two candidates in a race that has, so far, generated a total of 9,210 votes.

Elections officials said 663 Bainbridge ballots remained to be counted Thursday evening. An additional 181 ballots were in the “challenged” category, meaning the ballot envelopes were missing signatures or had other irregularities.

Jacobsen congratulated Hytopoulos on what he said was an election win.

“I sincerely wish her the best,” he said. “There’s a lot of challenges ahead of us, and it’ll take a lot of cooperation and collaboration to get this community to come together.”

The North Ward council race remained too close to call. Incumbent Debbie Vancil, with 48.25 percent, continued to trail challenger Bob Scales, who had 50.9 percent on Thursday.

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Bainbridge basketball standout Steven Gray is going “hippie.”

At least that’s what his coach thinks.

Since heading over to Spokane to play for Gonzaga University, Gray has sprouted a wispy beard and grown out an afro. He’s taken up longboarding and is playing a gay athlete in a school play.

It’s all part of key lesson Gray has learned since leaving the island: “I just feel there’s a lot more to life than basketball,” he said.

Read more about how Gray has grown as a person and a player here.

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Needing 60 percent approval to pass, the bond had 60.19 percent on election night. By Wednesday, the bond was up to 60.41.

A nearly identical bond failed by .02 percent in May.

Updated vote totals are expected today at 5 p.m.

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Unlike the Bremerton proposal, Bainbridge’s fee increase would not go to a public vote.

Read more here.

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Hytopoulos’ edge rose from 50.5 percent on Tuesday to 50.8 percent on Wednesday. Tim Jacobsen, her opponent, was drawing almost 48.7 percent.

Scales, at 51.1 percent, continues to lead Vancil’s 48.2 percent.

Central Ward candidate Debbi Lester saw her already overwhelming lead grow on Wednesday. She now has 53.5 percent while opponent Dee DuMont’s percentage fell to 45.9 percent.

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The north and south ward races were too close to call on Tuesday.

Below is a statement Lester released this morning.

I am deeply gratified by the election result in the Central Ward and very much appreciate the support expressed by the community I love so much.

Going door to door, meeting islanders on the ferry, attending neighborhood gatherings, and receiving emails, I heard what community members are saying: work together, be fiscally responsible, fix the infrastructure, uphold community values, keep business viable, advocate for fair ferry fares, preserve and enhance our cultural and environmental quality of life, and use our limited resources most productively by investing in the community. I intend to continue working to serve this community as I have always done, and will continue to bear in mind the thoughtful input I received during the campaign.

I would like to thank the voters for their confidence in my ability to lead. I am deeply honored and will do my best.

I would like to especially thank my co-campaign managers: Peggy Connolly, Kim Hendrickson, and CarolAnn Barrows. You are a dynamite trio!

I look forward to working with the newly elected council members, the sitting council, the community, and city staff. In these challenging times It will take our collective talents to right this ship financially as well as socially.

Let us focus on changing the tone of our government, making attainable priorities, and securing and keeping excellent city staff. It is now our job to get the city’s problems solved. It is now our job to work together.

Together let us get great things done!

Respectfully yours,

Debbi Lester

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The winner of the race will replace board member Dave Shorett, who did not seek re-election.

More results will be posted by elections officials at 5 p.m. today.

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About 73 percent of voters are approving the the measure, according to early election returns posted Tuesday night.

Read more about the levy here.

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That means the bond could, again, come down to just a handful of votes.

Early returns on Tuesday night showed the bond taking 60.19 percent. The bond needs a super-majority of 60 percent to pass.

A virtually identical bond failed by a few votes in May.

We’ll have an updated vote tally by 5 p.m. today.

For more, read Marietta Nelson’s story here.

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