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Commission to host community mingles on ADA mobility and review historic preservation rules; EV charger guidance proposed
Summary
La Conner Planning Commission discussed scheduling community engagement events on mobility and launching a multi-session review of the Historic Preservation District guidelines; a commissioner proposed a new policy (12F-4) to require EV chargers in the historic district to follow La Conner Municipal Code Chapter 15.50.
Commissioners discussed two community engagement efforts and possible policy language for electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the historic district.
Commissioners said a mobility-focused community "mingle" (public outreach meeting) could be scheduled in May to gather residents' feedback on obstacles identified in the town's ADA transition plan. Separately, several commissioners proposed an extended summer–early-fall series of community mingles to review the town's Historic Preservation District guidelines, which some residents have questioned.
A commissioner proposed adding a new policy, labeled in the discussion as 12F-4, to the comprehensive plan: any EV chargers placed in the Historic Preservation District would have to follow the requirements of La Conner Municipal Code chapter 15.50. Commissioners discussed sending proposed language to staff for drafting and noted that the code chapter (not the comprehensive plan) would be the appropriate place to house detailed construction and design standards; code revisions can occur more than once a year, while the comprehensive plan follows a different adoption schedule. Staff said the commission would receive the proposed language by email and consider it at a future meeting; commissioners suggested starting the district review in late June or July and using staff recommendations to focus the public discussion.
Commissioners asked staff to clarify whether the review should target boundaries, aesthetic standards, parking and parking locations, or other specific items so the mingles could be targeted. One commissioner proposed EV-specific design guidance to minimize visual impacts and pedestrian hazards (for example, color and streetscape integration, covered cable management, protective bollards where no sidewalk exists); staff recommended linking high-level policy in the comprehensive plan to the municipal code and then updating code language with technical specifics.
