In a slim 3-2 vote, the Planning Commission on Tuesday reversed course by conditionally approving a new home construction design so long as it complies with a section of Town code requiring applicants to avoid use of vertical exterior siding in the Historic Preservation District (HPD).
Just two weeks earlier, the panel had approved the use of vertical siding in the design for applicant Lynn Laurel’s planned Road Street residence in part because existing structures within the HPD — including the neighboring La Conner Swinomish Library — employ vertical siding to various degrees.
The Town Council, however, moved unanimously on Sept. 9 to send the Road Street project back to the commission for reconsideration. At that time, Mayor Marna Hanneman expressed concern with the commission’s approval.
Commission chair Sommer Holt and members Maya Ojalehto and Tracy McCain agreed. Commissioners Bruce Bradburn and Tim Corey dissented following a lengthy discussion.
Some of the confusion stems from language in the code that states horizontal siding in the HPD is “preferred” while vertical siding is to be avoided.
Holt said her vote hinged on the definition of the word “avoid.” She said that while it isn’t defined in the Town code, dictionaries state that “avoid” means to “shun or stay away from.”
“That language is stronger than ‘should,’” she said. “ The intent was to exclude vertical siding in the Historic Preservation District.”
Bradburn said the issue is somewhat muddied since other buildings in the HPD sport vertical siding.
Ojalehto and McCain said the commission can’t be bound by prior acts.
“We’re accountable for our decisions,” Ojalehto said. “We can’t be accountable for what other planning commissions did.”
In other planning commission business
Members tabled action on approval of a color scheme for the repainting of a section of 313 Morris Street within the HPD. The commission has approved a gray color for the former Chevron service station building but has deferred approval of the red color also selected for the project until determination can be made that the Hex code for that paint’s shade is listed with the Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore inventories of historical colors.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
