I have followed and participated in the Town Center process since the days of Project Renaissance, through my two terms on the planning commission culminating with a term on the City Council.

The discussion of the future of Mercer Island’s Town Center has been heated of late. To be frank, I am fearful that the latest twist in this dialogue — a course reversal to include the Hines Town Center project in the moratorium — could significantly hinder the Town Center vision.

We have done well over the last 20 years laying a foundation of public infrastructure, adjusting our zoning code to reflect our vision and implementing projects with care through our design review process.

The Hines project, which has been logically exempted from the moratorium, will allow us to place another piece in the puzzle — adding density, retail and support for our larger retail community.

It is nothing short of a miracle that Hines has stepped up and assembled a large and geometrically logical parcel that will allow them to create a great project for our community.

Including Hines in the existing moratorium is a risky legal bet and frankly we run the risk of postponing our journey toward a vibrant town center until the next cycle kicks in -— which could be 10 years from now. The Council’s already approved short moratorium allows us to make changes for the next cycle. We have all the tools we need in the current code to address the Hines project, including a talented design commission and a responsive developer.

Peter Orser