The town of Coupeville is considering a proposal that would lessen the cost a Coupeville builder is paying to move a historic barn.

The town may waive the park impact fee for Dan Miranda, who is paying to move the Holbrook barn from a lot on NE Eighth Street to the community lot behind the Coupeville Public Library, which is about a block away.

The town charges $1,427 whenever a single-family home is constructed. That money goes to pay for park improvements and other projects such as trails. Miranda plans to build a two-story home and a guest house on the property that was home to the barn for many decades.

The cost of moving the barn isn’t known yet, but estimates indicate it could be as high as $20,000. That amount includes a new foundation and stabilization work on the new site. The move is anticipated in about two weeks.

Larry Kwarsick, town planner, raised the issue during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. He said Miranda didn’t approach the town for a waiver, but he thought it was a good idea. Kwarsick recalled that another Coupeville resident once received a $76,000 credit for park impact fees when he donated acreage to the town as part of a short plat process.

Councilman Bob Clay said the council should waive the park impact fees for the house and guest house project and then wait and see what the actual costs for moving the barn are before considering any further credits.

Coumcilman Larry Cort agreed. “I’m inclined to think this is a good idea,” Cort said.

Doubts were expressed, however.

“I’m not so sure how I feel about   a credit,” Councilwoman Molly Hughes said.

The park impact fees add up. The Town Council now has $75,549 in its park impact fee fund, according to the town’s 2012 operating budget.