Town seeks public input on Moore-Clark plan

Much has been said the past three decades about the former Moore-Clark property on La Conner's south waterfront.

Additional input is still being sought.

And this time it promises to carry more weight than ever.

Comments on and ideas for the former south end industrial area will be welcomed at a 6-9 p.m. Sept. 30 public workshop at Maple Hall facilitated by consultant Tom Beckwith.

"It's designed to get community input on the best possible use of the area," Assistant Planner Ajah Eills said.

Eills said staff will participate and that everyone is invited to attend.

Greater La Conner residents can also respond to a detailed online survey generated by the town's planning staff.

Beckwith's consulting firm has been hired to develop a revitalization plan for the former industrial south end, now zoned transitional commercial and located between First and Third streets and Maple Hall and Caledonia Street.

The plan is funded by a state grant and will define allowable land use activities, parking requirements, building design concepts and amenities.

The area includes the former Moore-Clark plant, a hatchery fish food processing venture until its 1992 closure. Since then, the historic site has become dilapidated and is a public hazard, surrounded by safety fencing installed by the town.

A portion of the warehouse encroaches several feet onto the South First Street public right-of-way, forming a barrier to extension of traffic from Commercial to Caledonia streets.

The property's owners are favorable toward site redevelopment, staff indicate.

The survey, which offers a chance to win a $250 gift certificate, seeks citizen priorities for possible indoor and outdoor activities for the area

Support for market-rate, affordable and workforce housing plus festival and public gathering spaces is featured. Other indoor activity survey options include galleries, studios, classrooms, cafes, restaurants, ice cream shops, breweries, wine-tasting venues, clothing, gift and retail stores, among many others.

The survey can be accessed on the Town of La Conner website, http://www.townoflaconner.org.