Parking plan discussed by planning commission

The wheels of justice are said to grind slowly.

But when it comes to planning for future local transportation needs, Town of La Conner officials, relatively speaking, are putting the pedal to the metal.

Two years after the transportation section of the comprehensive plan was updated, Planning Director Michael Davolio, Assistant Planner Ajah Eills and planning commissioners are looking at parking in revisiting that element of the land use plan.

Davolio conducted an inventory of available parking spaces on First Street and found there are 307 parking places its entire length, including the Port of Skagit’s angled spaces west of the Swinomish Yacht Club.

“I’m really surprised you came up with 300,” Commissioner Marna Hanneman responded.

Davolio has inventoried Second Street for parking availability and plans to do the same along Morris Street.

Staff are brainstorming strategies to encourage merchants and employees not to park in front of First Street businesses, he said, noting other destination communities in the Puget Sound region have strategized making the most from limited commercial parking resources.

Davolio cited Langley, on Whidbey Island, saying members of a business association volunteered use of golf carts to shuttle visitors downtown from parking areas.

The briskly-paced, 45-minute meeting covered efforts to craft regulations for adult businesses.

Davolio noted that the town council has enacted a six-month moratorium that prevents an adult business from opening before regulatory standards are in place.

Those regulations will address operating rules and zoning designed to restrict locations. The initial plan is to limit adult business sites to industrial areas on the town’s north and south ends.

“What this would do,” said Davolio, “would keep prospective adult businesses apart from our schools and residential areas.”

“We don’t have a lineup for adult businesses,” Commissioner Bruce Bradburn noted in a relieved tone.

“But,” Davolio cautioned, “we have had one inquiry.”

Eills shared her hopes to get the go-ahead for volunteers to distribute informational door hangers throughout town as part of a public participation and communication project.

Davolio reported Greg Ellis will be seeking a contract rezone to develop a Tiny House village on his property behind Pioneer Market,

“He has been enthusiastic,” Davolio told the commission, “about coming forward with something he thinks can be beneficial to the town.”

Commissioners and Town staff bid farewell to panel member Liz Theaker, who is stepping down to serve on another board. Theaker thanked her colleagues and Davolio and Eills for the opportunity to serve alongside them.

“Whoever fills your shoes on this board,” Davolio predicted, “will have big shoes to fill.”