Town still focusing on First St. parking and traffic solutions

Town officials say they heard plenty of valued input during the recent community mingle addressing First Street parking and traffic issues, but there’s still plenty of time to get the last word in.

“We haven’t taken anything off the table,” Town Assistant Planner Ajah Eills told planning commissioners during their March 5 meeting at Maple Hall. “We’re still in the information gathering mode.”

Among those whose insights are being sought is Public Works Director Brian Lease. Commissioners want to hear from Lease before a target date is set for announcing a First Street plan. Several options have been proffered to address concerns – primarily traffic safety and parking efficiency – for the popular downtown business district.

Commissioner John Leaver, a former town councilor, pushed for paid parking on First Street.

“I still feel there should be a revenue source for parking on First Street,” Leaver said. “I feel strongly this is an opportunity to bring in some revenue.”

Last year, Leaver had a representative of the PayByPhone mobile payment app firm make a formal presentation before the town council. Bellingham and other Western Washington cities use PayByPhone.

Mayor Marna Hanneman, a former planning commission member who watched the panel’s session, said that she had recently met with municipal officials in White Rock, B.C., La Conner’s sister city. White Rock has signed on with PayByPhone, she said.

“They are PayByPhone and it seems to be working pretty well,” said Hanneman.

Commissioners coalesced around potentially endorsing paid parking on First Street and free parking in the lot below Town Hall, the reverse of current practice. Commissioner Sommer Holt advocated for free parking permits for First Street residents.

“I don’t think residents should have to pay for parking,” Holt said. “We’ve heard from people in favor of paid parking on First Street and free parking in the south lot.”

Town Planner Michael Davolio spoke to a couple other topical items – prospective south end development and the proposed three-story, 20-unit residential complex at 306 Center St.

Davolio said that KSA Investments, the applicant for the Center Street project, intends to submit revised plans by the end of the month for its elevator system. The revisions are necessary to conform with the Town’s height restrictions for new construction.

Concerning the south end, which includes the former Moore-Clark property, Davolio said public input will be encouraged, especially from the area’s private property owners.

“The town administrator (Scott Thomas) has started the process to have a consultant work with the town,” Davolio said. “There are grant funds that are available. We want to look at options. We want to hear from the public. There’s been a lot of talk about that property, but nothing has come of it because of disagreements.”

The meeting also included a brief overview of Eills’ ongoing La Conner Land Use Capacity Analysis. Eills reported that there are 18 vacant residential parcels in town, 15 of which are privately owned, that if developed under present code requirements would support 54 single-family dwellings.

The three town-owned parcels are the former Jenson property, the public space retained from the former Hedlin’s Ballfield, and the steep slope next to the south end parking lot.