Town Council OKs housing code modifications

The La Conner Town Council approved Planning Commission recommendations liberalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) terms at its video-conference Oct. 13 meeting.

The 4-1 vote caps a year of work by the Commission to upgrade ADUs from conditional to permitted uses and allow more space in commercial structures for residential purposes. The goal is to add housing units in town.

Town Planner Marianne Manville-Ailles called the ADU change “low-hanging fruit” at the start of a lengthy public hearing.

Councilmember Jacques Brunisholz, questioned a change that would allow the owner of an ADU to live off the property, though within Town limits, calling it a bad idea. “You need to have it so the owner lives on the property. Either make the owner live there or call it what it is – two rentals on the property,” he said. He voted no.

ADUs are viewed as a way of allowing La Conner residents to continue living here past their peak earning years, a point raised by Councilmembers Mary Wohleb and MaryLee Chamberlain.

Councilmember Bill Stokes questioned if “it’s constitutional to require the owner to live on the property or even in town.”

Manville-Ailles said the commission recommendations on ADUs were consistent with changes in state law, but residents differed.

Second Street resident Bob Raymond questioned whether ground floor residency in waterfront commercial buildings might impact the popular La Conner public boardwalk.

Manville-Ailles said that doesn’t seem likely to emerge as a concern.

Five grant awards of CARES Act funds for two La Conner businesses and three organizations were approved. The Wild Iris Inn and COA restaurant will receive $2,500 each. The La Conner Guitar Festival, Museum of Northwest Art, and La Conner Live are $5,000 recipients. “This, for the most part, is intended to encourage tourism,” Town Administrator Scott Thomas said.

The Washington state Department of Commerce amd Skagit County’s EDASC were involved in funding and planning, respectively.

Seventeen applicants sought the federal funding, said Thomas. Mayor Ramon Hayes said The Wild Iris and COA are not on First Street and thus “don’t have access to tourists” there.

He noted, for the three others, “each has a proven track record of bringing people to town. Hopefully, next year, we’ll be in an appropriate phase for these events to bring people to town.”

Also:

• The Council voted 4-1 to approve a Town resolution supporting House Bill 763, which encourages use of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. La Conner resident Joan Cross spoke on the bill’s behalf, emphasizing that it is not to be confused with “cap and trade” proposals. Stokes was the lone “nay” vote, expressing doubt in the effectiveness of the House measure.

• Members unanimously approved a request from La Conner Regional Library, and allowed by code, to make payment in lieu of providing all required parking spaces at the site of the future library facility between Morris and Road streets. Manville-Ailles said the new library will still provide more parking spaces than the old.“

• The Council agreed unanimously to enter into an interlocal agreement with Skagit County to light Rainbow Bridge.

• Stokes and Town Public Works Director Brian Lease said work had begun to further armor the shoreline at Conner Waterfront Park. Lease said the contractor has requested to work occasional night shifts to complete the project more quickly and avoid difficult seasonal tides. The Shelter Bay community will be notified about possible night work, said Lease, because its residents could be impacted by light intrusion. “This job is all dependent on weather and tides,” Lease told the Weekly News. He estimated the work will require 22 good weather days to complete.