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It could have been the perfect weather or the Guitar Festival that steered residents away from the Citizen Engagement Opportunity in the La Conner Swinomish Library conference room last Saturday, May 20. About ten people came to it, including La Conner Town Councilmembers MaryLee Chamberlain and Rick Dole. The relaxed setting encouraged public discussion of pre-selected topics: sustainable businesses; open spaces, infrastructure needs; public safety; and density development and growth. The gathering was put on by the council’s communications committee to “support two way communication between the public and the town administration and elected officials” according to their flyer.

Development stole the show, with more than half of the time dedicated to discussing what has been going on in La Conner. Dialogue on the Jenson property centered on tiny home versus it remaining an open space. Some said that if housing does not get developed there, it will occur elsewhere.

One interesting takeaway was that state regulations are a factor in development. The town is required to allow development in its code based on county population density predictions. La Conner is not required to build anything itself, but it is obligated to create a comprehensive plan that provides sufficient areas to grow, and that is what developers use to build. Population density numbers come from the state which then assigns certain percentages based on metrics such as affordable housing. This is a result of the state’s Growth Management Act. The metric on affordable housing was added in 2021.

“La Conner is surrounded on three sides by critical farmland and water on the other. We are geographically restricted.” said Dole. “Coupeville didn’t have that issue and lost their small town vibe.” A resident suggested the small town vibe be defined by creating a handbook for developers. It would not have legal backing, but is a way to influence developers to respect our town’s character.

The group acknowledged that high housing costs are keeping families from buying here. On the other end of that, wealthier patrons are able to buy “weekend homes,” great for demonstrating what a desirable place this is to live, but it means that people are less likely to integrate into the day-to-day community. Buck Striegel of La Conner said it reminds him of what happened in Carmel-by-the-sea, California, “People born and raised here have to move out. How does the city contain the situation?”

Also discussed during the three hour meeting were the possibilities of building a road to the La Conner to reduce traffic in town and increasing capacity to the waste treatment plant per state requirements. A resident brought up multiple examples of empty, dilapidated buildings around town and on the channel, asking what can be done about them.

It is good that the town is engaging with citizens, but it would be better to have greater representation since how we plan today will have a ripple effect on our future. As one person put it, “La Conner is changing. It’s changed in the last two years especially.” The time for citizens to get more informed and involved is now. One place to start learning more is at townoflaconner.org.

GMA information: commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/growth-management/growth-management-topics/planning-for-housing/updating-gma-housing-elements/.