La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

RE: Application File # LU21-45CU

Project Location: 623 Morris Street, Units E-1 and E-2

Mr. Davolio, Mayor Hayes, Councilmembers:

I am writing for your consideration to not allow the proposed conditional use permit to change the use of two commercial units to guesthouse/guest rental for the above application file # LU21-45CU.

The Town of La Conner is a vibrant and diverse community with a vibrant and diverse mix of retail, commercial, residential and rental properties. It is known that the town does not have enough commercial units to keep the healthy and necessary mix of retail, professional service businesses and other commercial businesses which is paramount in keeping a healthy and vibrant community and diverse economic tax base. Allowing two prominent, vital and very historic commercial units to change from “commercial use” designation to rental/ guesthouse use (residential) would be an extremely shortsighted decision which would change the use of these much-needed commercial units forever.

These units and their adjoining building have tremendous historic significance to our community and to the Pacific Northwest. The Tillinghast Seed Company business was established in the same commercial units and building around 1890. This historical significance should be enough for you not to allow the conditional use change for these two commercial units that have been in “commercial use” since the 1890s.

As a La Conner businessperson, community leader and La Conner resident, I have been trying to purchase a commercial unit for my long-established professional services business for some time, including one of these same units, until the owners abruptly changed course. Due to the very low inventory and supply, I have not been successful in finding a suitable or affordable commercial location within La Conner.

It is necessary that these two units retain their “commercial use” designation. This building has been the place for many thriving tax paying businesses since the 1890s and a fully occupied commercial building until the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no reason to think otherwise, that this building and its Units E-1 and E-2 would soon be fully occupied by thriving commercial businesses with the current commercial use designation.

For those who would like to take part in the VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) or Airbnb short term rental craze, as the current owners intend, our Town of La Conner has approximately 477 single family residences (per current census) which anyone would be able to buy and rent out as they like without a change of use permit. In fact, there are 10 more new homes coming soon, due to another controversial shortsighted and very costly decision to eliminate a historic La Conner ballfield, park and community open space.

Mr. Davolio, I know you are new to our community and I welcome you with open arms. I encourage you, Mayor Hayes and our La Conner Town Council to use your positions to better our community and hold transparency paramount to those you serve. Please understand that a change of use, for these or any other commercial spaces, is a decision that lasts a lifetime and adversely affects the tenuous and sensitive economic mix we need in

La Conner.

Thank you,

Scott Price

Price is the Edward Jones financial advisor in La Conner.