Luisa Loi reports from the Coupeville Town Council meeting of Tue., May 28, 2024 for the Whidbey News-Times.
Though the Tuesday council meeting did not involve a formal vote, the town of Coupeville plans to use real wood to pave the Front Street Boardwalk and to keep the parking spots on Main Street, building a sidewalk and wall next to the Haller House property.
The project, which comprises the construction of the sidewalk and the restoration of the boardwalk, is estimated to cost $700,000, with 37% covered by a grant from the Washington Transportation Improvement Board….
The intention is to begin construction in the fall, though details about the timeline and methods used will become clear once the town finds a contractor, [Mayor Molly] Hughes said in a previous interview.
They Said It
Currently, Mayor Molly Hughes said Tuesday, the town is late for the bidding process as some council members requested to discuss the project again on that day. The council members, Hughes said, were either new to some details provided during the May 14 meeting or found that some information had changed since the public meeting held the week prior.
On May 14, Councilmember Pat Powell argued that the concrete wall’s modern look would take away the historic authenticity of the property. Many properties in Coupeville have invested significantly to keep their buildings historic, she said, and the town has the duty to maintain this historical accuracy.
On the other hand, Hughes said, the town should support local businesses, advocating for the parking spots to be kept.
The council discussed the possibility of enforcing timed parking. According to Powell, some cars are “sitting there for days.”
Tuesday, Councilmembers Jenny Bright, Jackie Henderson and Rick Walti opposed the idea of losing the parking spots, while Councilmember Michael Moore said he is “okay” with it. Powell was reportedly on vacation and was not present.
Walti and Hughes said the retaining wall could be easily concealed with plants.
Tuesday, Henderson and Moore said they want real wood to keep the historic character of the boardwalk. On May 14, Powell said that it is Coupeville’s last boardwalk and, therefore, its boards should be replaced with real wood.
Walti said he doesn’t have a preference when it comes to the paving. Rather, he is interested in ensuring the underlying structure is safe.
Bright said she is in favor of using real wood boards as long as they are treated to be anti-slip and said she was in favor of the Accoya boards. Her husband, she said at a meeting on May 14, was one of the unfortunate people who slipped on the boardwalk.
According to Hughes, visitors and business owners have often complained about the need for increased accessibility for disabled folks. As a result, the project will also include a raised crosswalk connecting the two sides of Front Street and located approximately halfway through the boardwalk, as [Public Works Director Joe] Grogan presented to the council on Tuesday. This will take one parking spot, he said.
