Workshop generates ideas for Moore Clark site

A jigsaw approach was taken to solve the puzzle that is the old Moore Clark property at a Sept. 30 public forum.

Attendees at the three-hour workshop at Maple Hall divided into three breakout rooms to brainstorm and then report to the whole group potential future uses for the former fish food production plant and adjoining parcels in what was once La Conner's bustling south waterfront industrial hub.

The consulting team charged with drafting a plan for revitalizing the 4-acre area, which has been largely dormant since the 1992 closure by British Petroleum of the Moore Clark facility here, started with presentations.

The area also includes lots owned by Dunlap Towing Co. and the Town of La Conner.

A state Department of Commerce grant is funding the project, whose timeline runs through Dec. 31.

"It's a tight schedule," Assistant Planner Ajah Eills told the more than two dozen La Conner residents who attended the workshop.

Eills and Planning Director Michael Davolio said that priorities developed for the area, now zoned commercial transitional, will be included in the June 2025 comprehensive plan update.

"We want to make sure the zoning is consistent and is what best serves the community," Davolio said.

Consultant Tom Beckwith provided an historical overview of the site, largely defined today by its aging and vacant 125-year-old building and which a generation ago was eyed for redevelopment by the late Vaughn Jolly.

Beckwith said Jolly's vision of a mixed-use boutique/hotel plan was hamstrung by a series of economic downturns. The property was subsequently purchased from Jolly as a favor by his friend, Tom Hsueh, principal owner of Triton-America.

The Triton firm, Beckwith noted, invested in the cleanup of the property after it was vacated by one of Jolly's tenants.

"Tom isn't a developer," Beckwith said. "His real ambition has been to develop aircraft. That's his passion."

Triton is interested in redeveloping the property and has been invited to participate in the current planning process, town staff have said.

Beckwith's team took turns outlining structural and cultural possibilities for the area as well as infrastructure, landscape, traffic and parking options.

Engineering consultant Tim Garrison focused on the dilapidated warehouse building.

"If you change an old building," he cautioned, "you have to bring it up to current code. There's probably not a stick in the warehouse that meets current code."

Garrison said it's possible that the warehouse, which town leaders note intrudes on the South First Street public right-of-way, can be disassembled with some of its material salvaged to construct a new building. He said that the freezer building north of the warehouse might be upgraded by using steel beams to fashion a new structure either inside or outside the present building.

"The warehouse is so far out of code," Garrison said, "but the freezer building might have some elements that can be used as is."

Beckwith several times stressed that "all options are on the table" for plan possibilities.

Michael Read referenced the plan to extend First Street south to Caledonia past the warehouse. He also addressed possibilities for greater utilization of the town's south end parking.

Julie Blazek touched on the scope and scale of potential south end redevelopment.

"Scale is a big component," she said. "Mixed uses will be important, too."

Beckwith said more opportunities for public input remain. A detailed online survey has already drawn 60 responses, he said.

"The survey will remain open as long as we keep getting responses," Beckwith said.

He added that in the weeks ahead redevelopment ideas will have to be weighed against financial feasibility.

"But for the time being," he said, "the slate is clean."