Town seeks consultant to create a south end master plan

The Town of La Conner seeks consultants to create a master plan, the first step for development of the 3-acre industrial area west and south of its S. Third Street parking lot below the town hall to Caledonia Street.

It posted a request for qualifications May 22, with a June 18 submittal deadline. The RFQ timeline lists town council review and approval for July 23 and signing the contract July 25, eight weeks from now. The plan completion deadline is Dec. 31, 2024.

Funding is from a $30,000 state of Washington Community Development Block Grant awarded in 2022 and $20,000 in town funds.

The RFQ is ambitious, aiming to: “involve the public in a robust community planning and design process, establish a vision for a diverse community, identify projects and policies which will stabilize nearby single-family neighborhoods, improve existing multi-family housing and identify opportunities for inclusionary growth, reduce land use conflicts, provide opportunities for recreational land uses and ultimately serve as a model for effective and equitable growth, improved public health and livability policies and built environment improvements throughout La Conner.”

The winning consultant will have experience “with intense landscape and urban design, working with multiple stakeholders to coordinate numerous capital projects, developing a signature design that will become integral in the redevelopment of downtown. … (and have capabilities including) urban planning, civil design, critical areas analysis and public involvement.”

The resulting plan will have four deliverables: a public engagement plan that “effectively gather authentic input … (and results) in equitable opportunities to provide feedback;” an existing conditions survey consisting of housing profile, an economic analysis and an environmental survey; goal establishment: developing community-based goals for the area based on seven factors; and offering recommendations based on community goals addressing land use; housing and density; open space and pedestrian needs; environmental and sustainability; economic development; and completing the project by Dec. 31, 2024.

Mayor Marna Hanneman, Town Administrator Scott Thomas and Planning Director Michael Davolio will be the selection committee evaluating proposals to choose the firms to be interviewed.

A site visit for applicants will be June 4. It is not open to the pubic

The RFQ defines the subarea as “Moore-Clarke … include(ing) derelict buildings.” It is zoned commercial transition. Most of the properties are privately owned by Triton-American LLC, stated Ajah Eills, assistant town planner. The pump station parcel on Caledonia Street is town property.

The grant is federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The town’s project website contains links to all the RFQ documents. townoflaconner.org/161/Planning-Permits-Codes.