Residents engage, generate big ideas for Jenson property

Turnout was low but engagement high at a one-hour community mingle April 25 addressing possible future uses of the Jenson property.

About two dozen people gathered at the Civic Garden Club to suggest how the town could best use the half-acre field on La Conner's south end, acquired in 2022 for $60,000, about one-third its assessed value.

Participants reviewed maps of the property, a fact sheet and an informational pamphlet provided by La Conner artist Maggie Wilder outlining features that would make the Jenson Property ideal for conversion to a food forest.

Earlier proposals for the site included development of affordable housing, tiny homes and community gardens.

The food forest concept, which promotes a bio-diverse, dense, edible ecosystem modeled on the natural cycles of woodlands, intrigued those in attendance. So much so that Wilder was asked if she could line up additional information when Mayor Marna Hanneman continues the Jenson property discussion at her next "Meet the Mayor" session May 4 at the La Conner Swinomish Library.

While La Conner has long wrestled with a housing crunch that has priced those with low incomes out of the market, there was only minimal interest in housing.

Attendees divided into small groups that reported their preferences. They cited concerns over parking, drainage, paving, financial costs and related infrastructure requirements for their hesitancy to more vigorously endorse a housing option.

"There was an overall feeling at our table to keep it (the Jenson Property) as it is as much as possible, to avoid any hard surfacing there," said planning commission member Sommer Holt.

Commissioner John Leaver added levity to the discussion.

"We'd like to build an airport," he jokingly said of his group's consensus.

Assuming a serious tone, Leaver said those at his table liked the idea of a community garden but questioned who would manage it. There was positive sentiment expressed for small cottage-type housing, he said.

Planning commission chair Bruce Bradburn said his table favored the community garden option or even leaving the property alone for the time. The only housing plan it considered is Glen Johnson's proposal to put housing in a dike.

"Glen would be willing to discuss this at length with you any time," Bradburn said.

Another planning commissioner, Cynthia Elliott, monitored the table discussions, circling the room and responding to questions as they arose.

Hanneman and Town Planner Michael Davolio assured that more public dialogue will take place regarding the Jenson property.

"We're going to take this information, review it all, make a recommendation to the planning commission and then the planning commission will make a recommendation to the town council," Davolio said. "We're not rushing through this."

Hanneman said there remains a need to gather yet more information.

"I would really like the conversation to continue," she said. "I think it's really important."