Informational bar codes coming to town’s historic buildings

 


La Conner is one step closer to having some of its historic buildings don a more modern look.

The Town Planning Commission voiced support last week for placement of small reader bar codes that when accessed would provide anecdotal and historical information about those structures, with owner approval.

Deemed historical commemorative plaques, the QR codes do not require the Town’s official blessing if they do not exceed three square feet in size, according to Town Planner Michael Davolio and Mayor Ramon Hayes.

Even so, they wanted commissioners to review what is a volunteer project developed by La Conner High School junior Rachel Cram.

“We wanted to make sure you were kept in the loop on this,” Davolio told commissioners at their June 15 Zoom meeting, “out of respect for you and your work.”

“We were very pleasantly surprised to learn the requirements (for signage in the Historical Preservation District) aren’t more stringent,” added Hayes. He described Cram as a top student from a family with deep roots in the community.

“She’s smart, a great kid and excited to do this,” he said.

Davolio struck a similar chord.

“She has come up with a fascinating concept to allow the public to learn more about our historic buildings,” he said. “The QR codes allow someone to click on them with their smart phones and have a text or video about the building appear.”

Davolio offered a suggestion of his own – that the videos feature people wearing period costumes.

The information will focus on the buildings and those who have owned or occupied them at various stages of La Conner’s development. Hayes said Cram’s project could serve as an initial step toward providing comprehensive audio and video histories of the La Conner area. She has researched eight buildings to date.

She missed the commission meeting because she was playing in a basketball game.

“Rachel is an excellent basketball player,” Davolio said, “and that’s why she’s not here. She’s at the game.”

“She’s like her grandpa,” commissioner Carol Hedlin noted. “Herb (Cram) was a tremendous basketball player. They went to state several times.”

Hayes said Cram’s strong connections to La Conner and knowledge of its history have made her ideal for the project.

“Her family goes way back into the community,” Hayes said, “and because of that she has access to information not available other places. She can provide a mixture of dates and anecdotes, local history with a twist.” Her great-grandfather, Pat O’Leary, published the Puget Sound Mail here for 30-plus years, into the 1970s.

Davolio said the next step is for presentation of a consistent size and typeface when permission is sought from property owners to place the QR codes on their buildings. Commissioners agreed.

“One thing we hope to do at some point,” Hayes added, “is reach out to Swinomish to include tribal history.”

Members also studied areas in the Town Comprehensive Plan where the recent reduction of minimum single family residential lot sizes from 5,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet was not clearly addressed. To promote clarity and avoid future conflicts related to the issue, commissioners unanimously recommended the Town Council review and approve updates to the plan as needed. No one spoke at the public hearing.

The next meeting is July 2.

 

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