It may be with mere baby steps, but Town leaders are steadily progressing toward the future.
In their second meeting of the new year, Jan. 21, La Conner Planning Commissioners resumed their ongoing review of and proposed updates to the Town’s comprehensive plan — essentially the road map for the community’s vision, goals, and policies going forward.
During its hour-long session last week, the five-member advisory panel unanimously endorsed revisions to two elements of the comprehensive plan.
One of those elements, addressing economic development, is elective.
“The state at some point may require communities to have economic development elements,” said Town Assistant Planner Ajah Eills. “If it does, we’ll be ahead of the game.”
Unsurprisingly, the Town’s economic development element focuses on tourism. But not entirely so.
Key additions supported by commissioners include assurances that businesses physically located within 200 feet of the La Conner shoreline provide public access according to the Town’s Shoreline Master Program and that incentives are developed for new commercial buildings to incorporate open public green space, renewable energy measures, and other climate-related initiatives.
The revised draft economic development element likewise calls for collaboration with entities such as the Town Arts Commission and La Conner Chamber of Commerce to craft marketing techniques enhancing traffic to local businesses.
The updated element also references the south end revitalization plan, a state grant funded project launched last August, which in its final form, will appear in the comprehensive plan’s land use chapter.
Additionally, the economic development element — if ultimately approved later this year by the Town Council — alludes to a Port Industrial Zone added in 2023 at La Conner Marina to increase opportunities for marine manufacturing and maritime services.
The other, regarding utilities, requires updating every 10 years.
The proposed utilities element revisions include language embracing adoption of water conservation goals complying with Washington State’s current water use efficiency standards, and coordination with the Town Public Works Department to ensure out-of-date fire hydrants are replaced when funds are secured and that adaptors are made available for all hydrants.
Much discussion at the Jan. 21 planning meeting centered on electric vehicle charging stations, references to which Town staff and commissioners have opted to place in the comprehensive plan’s climate element.
“There’s a lot to talk about in terms of EV chargers in general,” Eills said. “I think there could be discussion of EV charging station safety standards.”
The board committed to adding brief references in the utilities chapter to the climate element for EV charging details and encouraged public dialogue.
Town officials are encouraging residents to attend commission meetings to keep abreast of the comprehensive plan update process. Only two residents, Debbie Aldrich and former longtime planning commissioner Linda Talman, attended the Jan. 21 meeting.
Aldrich and Talman were both interested to learn a revised plan for the elevator at the proposed 306 Center Street apartment/condo project in their neighborhood has finally passed muster with Town and Skagit County officials. Eills and Town Planner Michael Davolio indicated that the elevator and shaft as now designed meets height and dimension requirements.
The next Town Planning Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at Maple Hall. During this meeting, the board is tentatively scheduled to review the comprehensive plan’s capital facilities and critical areas elements.
Note: John Leaver serves on the La Conner Planning Commission and also serves on the interim fundraising board for La Conner Community News. The board is not empowered to influence or oversee any reporting on the newspaper, but we understand that this presents the appearance of a conflict of interest. The board will address this at their next regular meeting and report back to the community.
