Town seeks planning grant for south end redevelopment

Last week the Town of La Conner applied for a $30,000 grant to the state of Washington for creating a “Subarea Plan” for redevelopment of the South Downtown Industrial Area, the area bordered roughly by Town Hall on Commercial Street to Pioneer Park and from the Swinomish Channel to South Third Street.

In its application, the Town’s “vision” recognizes the significance of this area for “reasons of heritage, environment, economics, employment, and the preservation, protection and enhancement of natural and cultural resources.”

In its May 20 public hearing notice, the Town stated, “a subarea plan would lead to appropriate redevelopment of the area, resulting in economic opportunities and the creation of jobs.”The application proposes a two year “Work Plan process” culminating “in adoption of a Subarea Plan by the La Conner Town Council, as an element of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.” A consultant will be hired, with the project overseen by a staff project manager, probably planner Michael Davolio. The Town will add $12,000 for a project budget of $42,000.

As part of a laundry list of over 20 “plan elements” are the phrases “economic development and growth strategies” and “maintain and expand family wage jobs” as a part of addressing everything from land use and environmental issues to health and safety policies. The application offers no specific language for how low and moderate income persons will gain jobs, the very purpose of the grant.

The application envisions a “Stakeholder Advisory Group” of up to 12 people that will be a “’sounding board’ for the Subarea Planning Process and the Town” and liaisons to groups they represent. Their meetings “will be open to the public but will not receive public comment,” the application states.

The application does not offer any details for meeting the grant funds purposes, which are “for activities that will meet the national objective of benefit to low and moderate income persons” the Town’s May 20 public hearing notice stated. The Federal Community Development Block Grant funds are administered by the state of Washington Department of Commerce. Grants are for cities and towns of less than 50,000 population.

The Town declined to apply for grants for up to $1.75 million for construction, acquisition and local assistance programs for affordable housing, highly competitive funds totaling $12 million nationally.

Awards will be announced in August and funds available between September and November, said Jeff Hinckle in the state’s Department of Commerce.