Planning Commission Chairman John Leaver says his resignation last week was driven by frustration over what he views as the town’s failure to prepare for hard economic times and its silence on the future of the Moore Clark property.
Leaver said he worries La Conner is entering a crisis. With fewer Canadian and European visitors, he predicts a tough winter for local businesses. “It doesn’t seem to me the town is facing any of that,” he said.
Washington state’s projected $720 million budget shortfall raises concerns for La Conner, but the Town has weathered downturns before by planning conservatively, explained Town Administrator Scott Thomas. With sales tax and lodging revenues holding close to budget, officials expect to delay infrastructure projects but remain confident they can craft a 2026 budget that adjusts to changing conditions.
“We had similar concerns during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, when all visitors to town — Canadian, American and everyone else — were prohibited from visiting for several months,” Thomas said. “ We didn’t panic then, and we won’t panic now.”
Leaver also faulted town leaders for not explaining what came of a study on the Moore Clark waterfront site, which cost nearly $40,000. The vacant property has long been seen as a key redevelopment opportunity, but Leaver said the public never received a clear account of what happened with negotiations. “It could be a great attraction for the town, a provider of jobs,” he said. “Instead, it sits dormant.”
The grant was for $45,000, Thomas said, and it was used to develop a subarea plan, which has been adopted in the La Conner Comprehensive Plan. While most of the property is privately owned, limiting the Town’s direct control, officials plan to pursue public infrastructure improvements to support redevelopment and will work with property owners in the future.
Leaver’s departure followed the Town Council’s appointment of two new commissioners, Maya Ojalchto and Timothy Corey, to fill recent vacancies. He wished them well, but said after more than nine years of service, it was time to step aside.
Kari Mar is the editor and publisher of La Conner Community News.
