Town planner will inventory mix-use properties

The town planning commission was awaiting the ruling by hearing examiner David Lowell on the fate of the controversial Center Street apartment project when the panel met Tuesday, April 19.

A conditional use permit application to site a 20-unit building with both short and long-term condominiums on commercial property is the most recent challenge for the commission and Lowell. The property is at Center and North Fourth streets behind The Slider Café and abuts single-family homes.

Town planner Michael Davolio has recommended the proposal, provided certain specific conditions are met, citing its adherence to code requirements.

The commission last month voted to not support the application while pointing to ordinance language prohibiting developments having significant adverse impacts on surrounding areas.

Equally unsurprisingly, at least to Davolio, was that Lowell had yet to issue a decision on the Center Street application three weeks after hearing testimony on the matter.

“It’s not unusual for it to take this amount of time,” he said. “There’s nothing to be concerned about at this time.”

Members said they hope to avoid that kind of suspense going forward.

“Something I’ve been mulling around in my head,” explained commission chair Marna Hanneman, “is I would like to see a spreadsheet to see all the lots in La Conner that are mixed-use so we can understand which lots that we may have challenges with.”

She conceded that charging Davolio with building a spreadsheet listing vacant properties with mixed-use development potential could be labor intensive.

“I know it’s a big undertaking,” she said.

Davolio insisted it’s doable.

Hanneman said the spreadsheet could provide valuable insight as properties like the former Moore-Clark plant on La Conner’s south-end waterfront are eventually eyed for development.

“Being proactive, rather than reactive,” she said, “can be beneficial to all of us.”