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So much for our valued opinions

The Town of La Conner had a survey for the residents and business\people about the south end (aka transition zone, aka the subarea plan, aka the property in the vicinity of “big blue” and the old Moore Clark building, aka the freezer building. The survey asked for ratings on ideas about various categories.

One of the survey categories is “access improvements” (roads, parking and paths). The highest rating possible is 5.

“Extend waterfront path to Pioneer Park” received a seriously spectacular rating of 4.36 out of 5. Nothing else even reached an average of 4.36 – not in this category nor in any other category. (This goal is also in our transportation element and has been for years.)

That calculates to a resounding endorsement of 87%.

“Integrate public parking into Moore Clark” and “Extend First Street to Caledonia” were 3.16 and 3.15. That translates to 63% , a D-minus in my mind.

And what are the consultants proposing? You guessed it, the D-minus models.

The plan consultants presented on Sept. 30 appears no different to me from the plan they presented to the planning commission on Dec. 3.

Your surveys apparently meant little to them.

I am strongly opposed to this plan for the S. First Street extension. Roads don’t belong on the shoreline. Shorelines are for public access and water-related and water-dependent uses. According to the state DOE person with whom I spoke, if you can put a road elsewhere, it should be done.

Emergency vehicles can reach the waterfront on perpendicular internal access within the south subarea. The only properties we actually own in the south end are S. First Street and the Third Street parking lot (for which the consultants have really big plans).

And what will the Town Council and planning commission do? Who gets to decide? Consultants or town ­government?

Public meeting is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Maple Hall. See for yourself.

Linda Talman

La Conner

 

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