Council plants seed for 'Rock' to sprout homes

The potential of “The Rock,” the eight lots on the hill above Maple Avenue west of Hill Street, finally getting developed brought citizens, realtors, the property owners and Everest developer C.J. Ebert to the Oct. 22 Town Council meeting. Planner Marianne Manville-Ailes called it “a big deal for La Conner” in introducing the topic to Council. She told them Ebert was the first developer proposing to develop all eight lots.

Realtor Kirby Johnson, brokering the property, summed it up: “It has been for sale a long time. It’s out of the floodplain, good for taxes and the highest and best use of the property. It’s time to do something about it.”

Ebert said “The rock is challenging, without a doubt. Everyone agrees: Let the rock be the rock.”

Ebert said he is ready to start construction in 2020, once plans are completely approved.

Bedrock and the terrain prompted staff to recommend flexibility and not yet establishing depth of materials for High Street construction.

Ebert and nearby resident Marilyn Thostenson spoke and Mayor Ramon Hayes and Councilmembers joined in discussion.

Thostenson had prepared remarks, sharing her concern of stormwater, runoff and increased traffic, with the potential of 16 cars entering and leaving from a dead end street. She was concerned with the vision and who approves development projects.

Council unanimously passed a deviation to the street standard for High Street, which dead-ends into Whatcom Street.

Ebert, who informed the Town that he had a contract to purchase the property in an Oct. 15 memo, agreed to Fire Department Chief Aaron Reinstra’s stipulations to install fire sprinkler systems in each home, location of a fire hydrant and site design for emergency vehicle turn around.

The Council passed Manville-Ailes’ recommendation for the deviation to road standards, given that Ebert coordinates with the Public Works Department the depth of construction materials for High Street and agreeing with the fire department’s directions.

The property, owned by brothers David and Michael Bird’s family for some 50 years, was platted in 1890. Dave Bird said his grandfather’s dream was to have people living on this property. It is listed as 550 High Street, for sale at $369,000 on realty websites.

Later, an area realtor cautioned that this “is definitely not a done deal.” He said Ebert is a person who can make the project happen, but not “if the numbers don’t work.”

On other topics, Hayes reported a $1,500 donation from the Rick Epstein Foundation from fundraising from the Fourth of July festivities. Administrator Scott Thomas suggested Council consider an event manager to coordinate and support Maple Hall rentals as a means of increasing income. Council adjourned, then held a 30 minute executive session to discuss the Town’s staff collective bargaining contract.