Jensons sell Town a south end property

Christmas has come early for the Town of La Conner.

Town council members at their Sept. 13 meeting gratefully accepted what amounts to a gift – an offer by siblings Tom and Sybil Jenson to sell one-half acre on the southwest side of Channel Cove to the Town at a significantly reduced price on condition the property be used for the benefit of the community.

The Jensons set the price at $60,000, less than one-third its assessed value.

“It’s something that we can afford,” Mayor Ramon Hayes said prior to a unanimous council vote. “They mostly want to gift it with the criteria that the Town do something there for the public good.”

Hayes said both sides had been discussing the land-locked property since last year. It might be an ideal location to develop a local affordable housing model, he said.

“We’ve been looking for some time for appropriate land to do that, perhaps by working with the housing trust,” he said.

That is just one option.

Center Street resident Debbie Aldrich, participating via Zoom, asked Council members to consider the importance of green space and play areas for children given the loss of Hedlin’s ballfield. About 1.5 acres of it is now a housing development.

“If you’re going to go ahead with another development,” Aldrich said, “I hope it’s really affordable housing for people who can’t afford a $600,00 condo.

“The town,” she stressed, “needs green spaces.”

Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain, in the discussion before the vote, said she favored purchasing the Jenson property and involving the public in how best to use the land.

“I think involving the community is an important thing to plan for,” Chamberlain insisted. She suggested crafting a citizens’ survey to gather public input, akin to the process undertaken for the new Maple Avenue park.

Councilmember Mary Wohleb brought up that the Town’s application for a state Recreation Conservation Opportunity grant to develop the park was unsuccessful.

“It was very competitive, but we’ll continue to pursue funding,” vowed Wohleb, liaison to the town parks commission.

The La Conner Rotary Club has committed $5,000 to the Maple Avenue park project, she noted.

“We’ve been chasing grants,” said Wohleb. “It was a lot of work (on the RCO grant) and for it to just die on the vine was sad. But at least we still have open space there.”

Town planner Michael Davolio said requests for changes to the municipal code or comprehensive plan submitted through January will be considered in 2023. He said that due to state mandated deadlines requiring submission of materials, items proposed now cannot be considered in 2022.

The annual 60-day window for submitting ideas for code and comp plan changes is Dec. 1-Jan. 31. He Chamberlain, and Hayes agreed it is confusing, with the two-month period straddling calendar years.

Davolio said he is open to a longer public input period if the Town deadline remains the end of January.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas said the window can be modified for improved clarity.

The Port of Skagit, whose representatives are scheduled to attend the Sept. 20 planning commission public hearing, was the lone applicant to propose changes for this year, said Davolio.

Resident Amy McFeely addressed concerns about La Conner’s susceptibility to costly property crimes and issued a plea for Town leaders to draft and implement cost-effective strategies that enhance public safety.

Councilmember Rick Dole similarly relayed to Sgt. Beau Montgomery, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office La Conner Detachment administrator, that two local merchants have asked if officers on street patrol can occasionally stop inside stores.

“Definitely,” said Montgomery, “I’ll put the word out.”

Montgomery said the sheriff’s office also will meet with residents and merchants to provide assessments on how they can best protect their properties against crime.

“I’m an advocate for a citizens’ patrol,” said Hayes, “but it hasn’t gone anywhere.”

Hayes brought up residents’ concerns about speeding traffic all over town. Center Street property owner Georgia Johnson offered testimony, saying she has been passed on Maple Avenue by vehicles traveling up to 40 mph.

Roadway speed cushions are an option, Hayes said.

Also at the meeting:

* Hayes announced some business owners are discussing a Dickens Era Christmas Festival in December. The group is self-funded.

* Davolio said a short-term rental policy will be deferred. “That will give us a greater opportunity to have a broader public discussion.”

* La Conner artist Maggie Wilder and her corps of volunteers were thanked for restoring the murals beneath Rainbow Bridge.

* Resident Gary Nelson implored council members to focus on sections in the Comprehensive Plan addressing affordability of local housing.