Having an eye for art helped Michael Davolio focus on La Conner as his latest stop in a lengthy planning career that has seen him address land use issues on both coasts.

A native of central Massachusetts, Davolio has come out of semi-retirement in Bellingham to succeed Marianne Manville-Ailles as the Town’s planning director. He took part in the Jan. 9 Town Council and Jan. 16 Planning Commission Zoom meetings and has spent a couple days setting up his office at Town Hall.

So far, it has been a good fit for Davolio.

A frequent visitor here, Davolio doubles as a commercial photographer and...