Open space is lost forever

Every time I drive down Maple Street these days past what used to be the little league ball field, see all that heavy equipment tearing up the soil and try to envision a bunch of tacky little houses jammed in there, it turns my stomach. Yes, I know this is beating a dead horse, that the train has left the station and won't be returning, but it doesn't alter my feelings.

I have no history there other than years of observation; no children of my own or that I knew ever played ball there; but the property was always an asset to the community as open space and play field use which is now forever lost.

Fundamentally, I have never viewed La Conner as a "growth" community. We know the population of the region is constantly increasing and creating plenty of housing demand – and likely will continue to do so – but let the growth develop somewhere else. And it is certainly not desirable nor necessary to build out and fill every vacant available space here.

Business-wise, I don't fault the Hedlins – it was their property generously "loaned" to the Town and offered at a fair market price. Nor do I fault Landed Gentry, the developer – they are in business to make a buck and are trying to do so. But I do fault the Town Fathers for what appears to be a very short-sighted vision of what this town could and should be, and how this transaction was handled. Slight-of-hand comes to mind.

Needless to say, I regret that Ms. Clark's efforts to try to rescue the situation via a proposed lawsuit couldn't gain traction, but I will always believe the Town's actions happened too fast, without full disclosure and public awareness, and that there had to be other potential funding sources to acquire this property (e.g., grants, benefactors, even loans) had they taken the time to search them out. The property had significantly more value to the community as open space, and every effort should have been made to preserve it.

Bruce Elliot

La Conner