Historic design review for 306 Center Street?

An olive branch appeared here Thursday on a cold and wintry afternoon and in the most unlikely of settings – he appeals hearing addressing Kate and Dr. Brandon Atkinson’s bid to develop a 20-unit three-story residential complex behind The Slider Café.

The 45-minute session before Town Hearing Examiner David Lowell took an unexpected turn when Atkinson indicated he might be willing for the project to undergo an historic design review.

La Conner residents Linda Talman and Debbie Aldrich had filed the appeal to deny the Atkinsons a conditional use permit to go forward with the project based on a...