PORT TOWNSEND — A proposed five-story condominium complex at the corner of Fillmore and Lawrence streets has pointed the community spotlight at the future of uptown planning and design along Lawrence.
Uptown residents went before the City Council on Monday night, urging a community meeting on uptown design.
Such a public forum — or charette — is already planned for Upper Sims Way, which is at the top of the council’s traffic planning list.
Phyllis Schultz, Port Townsend Library Foundation president, told the council that she was concerned about parking issues that could come with the mixed-used condominium building proposed by Johanna Riestra.
Schultz said that in her capacity with the library, she was also concerned about parking for that facility.
“Also important are the aesthetics, historic and environmental concerns” for uptown, Schultz told the council at its work session.
“Unequivocally, I am not against growth of change.”
‘Walkable, bikable’
Schultz said she supported “safe, walkable, bikable neighborhoods” while recognizing the need for higher density growth. She was planning and forethought were in order.
Lawrence Street resident Marion Huxtable said she believes that mixed uses, including condominiums, make the community livable and affordable.
“I welcome the increases in density,” Huxtable said, adding that it encouraged pedestrian use around uptown and reduces the amount of driving.
Huxtable joined Schultz in urging a public design workshop for uptown.
Margaret Lee said the new construction should be to scale with the small community.
She said the Riestra project drew attention because it would be set between two small houses, while the taller Aldrich’s grocery and condominium project was close to uptown’s tallest building on Lawrence Street.
Council members divided
Council members were somewhat divided on whether uptown needed a design charette.
Councilman Frank Benskin urged a parking code review, while Councilman Geoff Masci expressed skepticism and frustration about whether design forums were worthwhile.
“Some of them are charettes and some of them are charades,” Masci said.
