Council discusses tiny homes, bad weather shelter sites

During a week in late February which saw snow, wind and rain amid occasional sun breaks, Town officials and residents turned their attention to climate change.

At the Town Council Feb. 28 meeting, members and Mayor Ramon Hayes lauded the community’s embrace of solar energy and progress made in establishing a Town Emergency Management Commission in response to recent saltwater flooding, a perfect storm weather. event

A joint session with the planning commission was short, consisting almost entirely of planning staff outlining the two-year process for updating La Conner’s comprehensive plan.

During public comments, local artist Maggie Wilder implored civic leaders to be visionary in their approach to land use planning by considering climate change and the need to incorporate its potential impacts into long-range planning, relating it to the 2022 purchase of the Jenson property south of Channel Cove..

“Climate change,” Wilder said, reading a statement, “has created new issues.”

She explained that she witnessed the local Dec. 27 floodwaters fill her yard and the former Jenson property, a possible site for a tiny house village of starter homes.

But it might also provide new opportunities.

“It would be an ideal place for a community garden,” she said, noting that the site is a natural catch basin.

Wilder asked that Town officials slow down and take a long view as they begin the comp plan update process, which will run through 2024.

Gary Nelson, a former planning commission member, added that he sustained water damage from the December flooding in his North First Street garage/workshop, which is 12-14 inches below street level after the addition of road surface layers over the years.

“The building up of roads,” Nelson said, “is causing water to run off into people’s yards. This is forcing me to raise my shop floor. The Town shouldn’t impact me in this way.”

Council member Rick Dole reported on an Olympia visit to lobby state lawmakers in Olympia for flood relief “most interesting” and said the Town delegation received positive responses from state Reps. Dave Paul and Clyde Shavers and the staff of Sen. Ron Muzzall.

Dole and Hayes said that the American Association of Retired Persons made available tours of a two-bedroom 600 square-foot tiny house on the Capitol campus while the La Conner group was there.

“It was amazing what that architect did with this 600-foot house,” Dole said. “It was 10 times better than my first apartment as a young Navy guy in California.”

“These tiny homes,” said Hayes, “run between $150,000 and $180,000 and are on foundations. That’s very reasonable in this market.”

Council decisions

Council unanimously approved a resolution designating public shelter sites in town for relief during floods, extreme hot weather and low air quality due to summer wildfire haze. The sites are Maple Hall, the middle and high school buildings, the Civic Garden Club, Mossman Hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, La Conner United Methodist Church, Garfield Masonic Lodge and the fire station.

There was unanimity as well in approval of a cabaret license for Raven’s Cup Coffee & Art Gallery on First Street.

“It’s a welcome addition to downtown,” Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain said. The owners envision hosting chess competitions, standup comedy, concerts and open mic/karaoke nights.

Finance Director Maria DeGoede was thanked for her 20 years of service.

“What you bring to the Town,” Hayes told DeGoede, “is invaluable.”

Hayes noted that this is his 16th year as mayor.

“If you think we’re going to go slow,” he said, “you’ve got another thing coming. If anything, we’re going to go faster.”