Paid downtown parking an option

Historic First Street could look different in the future as Town officials ponder proposals ranging from one-way traffic flow, occasional pedestrian only access and angled and paid parking downtown.

Those are options being discussed in the review and update of the transportation element of La Conner’s comprehensive plan.

A presentation on paid parking infrastructure will be made at a joint town council-planning commission meeting Nov. 28 at Maple Hall.

Staff from at least one firm marketing metered parking are expected to attend.

“There should be some ideas presented on how to install payment devices on First Street and potentially Morris Street, to encourage turnover and better use of our parking (spaces), ” Town Administrator Scott Thomas explained at the Oct. 24 hybrid session.

Interestingly, Planning Director Michael Davolio conducted a parking survey earlier this year that concluded there are enough spaces available on First Street to meet municipal code requirements.

Longtime resident and former planning commissioner Linda Talman questioned why paid parking is being considered given the results of Davolio’s survey.

Efficiency and economics were the response.

Davolio said parking scarcity occurs during peak tourist season. Traffic congestion becomes an issue then, he and others said.

“The parking issue,” said Mayor Ramon Hayes, “ebbs and flows with tourist season.”

Hayes added that former council member Bill Stokes undertook a study that determined metered parking would generate significant Town revenue.

Another argument is charging fees will free up spaces that merchant employees take.

Councilor Rick Dole said merchants have complained to him about parking spaces being blocked off or filled with commercial dumpsters.

Davolio noted that he had seen a vehicle covered with canvas parked for several days on First Street.

Hayes stressed caution.

“We need to be as thoughtful as possible on this,” he insisted, “to avoid unanticipated consequences. With any solution, you end up with other problems that hadn’t been anticipated.”

Talmon predicted that “people who don’t want to pay will go to side streets. It just moves the parking.”

“There are issues,” noted Hayes, “whenever you implement something new.”

Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain revisited the possibility of one-way downtown traffic.

“It would solve a lot of problems, I think,” she said. “It seems a little unsafe to me at times on First Street.”

Other solutions floated are the combination of one-way traffic with angled parking, installation of flood barriers and laying of new street surface material conducive to pedestrian traffic.

“There are lots of ideas,” said Councilmember Mary Wohleb, volunteering one for the immediate future: that the council work with the emergency management commission to communicate where residents should relocate in case of a natural disaster.

306 Center Street

Talman and her neighbor, Leslie Smith, questioned if plans for the controversial 19-unit apartment/condo building at 306 Center conform to Hearing Examiner David Lowell’s conditions. They asked if an elevator shaft for the three-story structure will exceed the 30-foot height restriction.

Davolio said the building’s plans comply, though Hayes said the Town will follow up on residents’ concerns.

“We will look into whether the elevator shaft exceeds the height limit,” Hayes vowed.

During the confab, a dog near the back of the meeting room growled continuously.

“Somebody,” quipped Hayes, “isn’t happy about 306 Center.”

A technology snafu forced postponement of a presentation by former La Conner Mayor Dan O’Donnell on water overcharges to La Conner by the City of Anacortes. A projector lined up for O’Donnell’s presentation went kaput.

So, O’Donnell laid out his case with a brief yet emphatic sentence.

“The City of Anacortes,” he contended, “owes $13,800 for water from 2021.”

His presentation will roll over to the council’s Nov. 14 meeting.

With repairs to the salmon slide at Conner Waterfront Park scheduled in the spring, the Town has covered the iconic structure for the winter. Wohleb, council liaison to the Town Parks Commission, also reported that its commissioners are looking at alternate means of funding installation of trees on Morris Street following denial of a state grant application.