Karina Andrew reports for the Whidbey News-Times from the Coupeville Town Council meeting of Jun. 13, 2023.
Coupeville elected officials decided during a town council meeting last week to initiate a public process to determine the best use for a downtown lot after the Coupeville Chamber of Commerce proposed one possible use for the land.
Chamber Executive Director Lynda Eccles and President Marcia Fakkema petitioned the town council during its June 13 public meeting to lease the town-owned Johnson lot, located between the Haller House and Cook’s Corner Park, to the chamber for the construction of a permanent location for the chamber headquarters and town visitor information center. The chamber currently operates out of the former fire house on Alexander Street.
They Said It
Council member Pat Powell said she was in favor of initiating a public process to determine how to use the lot when the previous mayor brought forth a private developer’s proposal before the council, an option the council decided not to pursue. She said she felt the same when the museum made its proposal last year, adding that the Johnson lot is the most critical of all the town’s properties in the downtown area.
Following the museum’s proposal last year, Mayor Molly Hughes created a form and procedure individuals or organizations could follow to propose uses for town-owned properties. This procedure does not include a public forum.
The council and mayor agreed to initiate a public process to determine how to best use the Johnson lot and asked the chamber to stand by for now. No formal action was taken at this meeting regarding the Johnson lot.
On the Ballot in 2023
| TOWN OF COUPEVILLE |
|---|
| Town Councilmember, Position 1 Jacquelyn Henderson, the incumbent |
| Town Councilmember, Position 2 Rick Walti, the incumbent |
| Town Councilmember, Position 3 Jenny Bright, the incumbent |
| Mayor: Meg Olson Molly Hughes, the incumbent |
