Parking has long been a hot button issue in La Conner. Perhaps never more so than Feb. 18.
The potential impact of Senate Bill 5184 was a key topic at the Town Planning Commission’s meeting, where members reviewed the Beckwith Group’s south end sub-area revitalization plan. The plan proposes mixed-use development, including housing, and raises questions about future zoning and parking requirements.
SB 5184, currently under review, would limit parking requirements for new residential units, preventing cities and counties from mandating more than half a parking space per unit. Town officials have noted that while such measures may be suited to urban areas with extensive public transit options, they may not align with La Conner’s infrastructure and community needs.
“This,” Mayor Marna Hanneman said, “is a ‘one size fits all’ bill and it just doesn’t work for us.”
SB 5184 is framed as a pro-housing, pro-business, and environmentally friendly reform.
Planning Commissioner Sommer Holt highlighted concerns about potential changes to parking regulations, particularly if the town’s south parking lot were repurposed for housing.
“We need to be extremely careful with what we see as a vision for this area,” Holt said. “We could very well find ourselves with increased housing density and reduced parking requirements.”
Assistant Town Planner Ajah Eills acknowledged the broader concerns, saying if the parking legislation passes, the town will need to review its codes. Hanneman added that similar state-level legislation has historically exempted small towns, but officials are encouraging residents to voice their perspectives.
The deadline for public comments on SB 5184 is Feb. 20. Community members who wish to provide input can do so via the legislative website at leg.wa.gov or contact their 10th District representatives.
How to contact your representatives:
10th District State Sen. Ron Muzzall can be reached at 360-786-7618
10th District House Member Dave Paul can be reached at 360-786-7914
10th District House Member Clyde Shavers can be reached at 360-786-7884.
Reasons cited in support of Senate Bill 5184, as outlined in the bill, include:
1. Reducing Development Costs
- Predetermined parking requirements increase the cost of development, particularly for housing.
- By limiting parking mandates, developers can allocate resources more efficiently, making housing more affordable.
2. Encouraging Walkability and Public Transit Use
- High parking requirements discourage walking and the use of multimodal transit (buses, biking, etc.).
- Reducing parking mandates aligns with efforts to promote sustainable urban development.
3. Reducing Dependence on Automobiles
- Lowering parking minimums reduces excessive reliance on cars.
- This could lead to less traffic congestion and lower emissions, improving air quality and public health.
4. Flexibility Based on Market Needs
- The bill argues that parking needs should be determined by developers based on actual market conditions, not dictated by one-size-fits-all regulations.
- Developers can decide on parking provisions based on demand, rather than meeting arbitrary minimums.
5. Supporting Affordable and Specialized Housing
- The bill eliminates parking requirements for:
- Affordable housing
- Senior housing
- Housing for people with disabilities
- Reducing these requirements helps make these housing types more feasible and cost-effective.
Key features in the Bill
- Prevents cities and counties from imposing additional parking requirements unless they meet specific conditions.
- Limits parking requirements to 0.5 spaces per residential unit and 1 space per 1,000 square feet of commercial space.
- Eliminates minimum parking mandates for specific types of housing and businesses.
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.
Update: Feb. 19, 9:02 p.m. We updated the original headline and story for clarity and context.
