Consultant outlines plan for town's south end

Tom Beckwith is the man with a plan that will be finalized by the end of the year.

Beckwith’s firm was hired to develop a revitalization plan for the town’s formerly bustling south end industrial area by the Town of La Conner. He intends to draw heavily upon public input, he told the planning commission at its Sept. 3 meeting.

Beckwith outlined the process his team will follow this fall. There will be public review sessions and meetings with the town’s advisory commissions and workshops with the town council and planning commission.

“We want to hear from all stakeholders,” said Beckwith, stressing that his group will explore affordable housing options in the nearly 4-acre area which formerly supported industrial ventures such as the Moore-Clark Company. Except for the town’s pump station on Caledonia Street, most of the property is owned by Triton America LLC.

“We do want to look at affordable housing,” Beckwith said. “That’s a key component.”

He said the property’s owners have expressed interest in the study. That news was well received.

Built before the turn of the 20th century, the vacant warehouse has become a public safety issue as it deteriorates.

Concerned by potential danger to those who might walk or bike past it, town staff installed fencing that blocks access to the waterfront at Caledonia Street. Beckwith said the town’s goal of extending South First Street to Caledonia will be a factor in the planning.

In response to a question from Commissioner John Leaver, Beckwith said renewable energy opportunities will be explored too.

“It’s a short time schedule,” Beckwith conceded, of the Dec. 31 deadline, “but our experience is that a short time schedule works better. It keeps everybody focused.”

Following Beckwith’s presentation, commissioners addressed other agenda items.

306 Center Street

Assistant Planner Ajah Eills said Fire Chief Aaron Reinstra has yet to sign off on the applicant’s plan for an elevator for the proposed three-story 306 Center Street apartment/condo project. She said her presumption is that Reinstra, who did not attend the meeting, has not been “100% comfortable with the elevator because of a safety issue.”

The impasse is believed to hinge on the elevator being too small to handle a medical gurney.

“I’ll ask Aaron to write up a clarifying statement,” Eills said.

Braves Day

Eills said she joined Mayor Marna Hanneman and other town representatives at the Sept. 3 Braves Day on the La Conner Schools campus. Eills said the outreach reflected the town’s ongoing public participation initiative.

“It went well,” said Eills. “The interim superintendent did a great job of organizing it.”

One-way First Street

Eills said the town has begun a public information campaign regarding the transition next month of South First Street to one-way southbound traffic from Morris to Commercial streets.

“Oct. 9 is the day,” Eills said of the pending downtown traffic flow change.

“We’re working with the public works department on signage,” town planner Michael Davolio said. “Based on my experience driving on south First Street, I’m looking forward to it.”

Student representatives

Commissioners were unanimous in supporting addition of a non-voting student representative to their panel, similar to the format employed by the La Conner school board.

“We need some youngsters here,” Commissioner Carol Hedlin said.

Eills will correspond with City of Edmonds and other jurisdictions where planning commissions include student representation. Eills advised that if the town follows suit, it appoint a high school junior to serve from January through December, finishing during their senior year.

Eills said she would update commissioners at their Sept. 17 meeting.