Port pitched plans for major marina redevelopment

After a half-century, the Port of Skagit’s La Conner Marina is eyeing not a facelift but a full body makeover.

Port officials came to La Conner’s Maple Hall last night to pitch several potential futures, including a mixed used development, with a residential component, marine services and other commercial uses. The site is the 13 acres of marina property between Sullivan Slough and the north basin.

Port staff encouraged the public to attend and provide feedback at the specially called combined town council and planning commission meeting. The presentation was to include the initial thinking of a consulting team, including the Schuster Group, Makers Architecture and PND Engineers, all of Seattle. They were charged with crafting a redevelopment plan at the marina, built in 1970 to create a small-boat harbor to bring jobs and economic opportunities here.

The acreage encompasses La Conner’s public works building, the self-storage facility and the marina’s RV park on the east side of North Third Street. The marina’s office, several businesses, including Dunlap Towing, and a parking lot are on the west side. The northern boundary is the S-curve where Pearle Jensen Way meets North Third Street.

Port Executive Director Sarah Young earlier called it a big deal, this presentation of “a sense of vision for the town and for the Port for the next 50 years.”

“One of the goals for the redevelopment,” Port Communications Director Linda Tyler said in a release issued Monday, “is to identify upland uses that would allow the Port to generate capital funding for the replacement of the marina in-water infrastructure. The Port is also looking for ways to create more public access to the water, to complement the good work the Town has done with the boardwalk as a way of connecting downtown.”

Tyler noted that Port districts are mandated by state lawmakers to focus on local economic development. But, in the case of La Conner Marina, she said a strong argument can be made for Port promotion of and increased emphasis upon securing more residential space.

“It’s generally not the Port’s role to focus on housing,” Tyler acknowledged. “But The Port of Skagit understands that workforce housing is a significant issue impacting employers today, which has led the team to look at and consider mixed-use options.”

Tyler said the Port presentation was “early in the process” of a possible La Conner Marina makeover.

“The Port of Skagit hopes by this September to have a vision for marina redevelopment, financial modeling and recommendations for zoning changes to bring forward to the Town of La Conner,” she said.

The conversation only started Tuesday. Where it ends depends as much on La Conner’s government and residents as it does on Port staff and their hired consultants.