PORT ANGELES — Amazon has filed building and State Environmental Policy Act permits with the city of Port Angeles to build a 58,322-square-foot warehouse on a 25.6-acre parcel less than 2 miles from William R. Fairchild International Airport, where it had planned a similar project last fall.
The property is located in a heavy industrial zone on the northwest corner of West Edgewood Drive and South Critchfield Road.
According to the SEPA checklist, the site will have 11 semi-truck bays, six box truck stalls and 98 parking spacing spaces. The project is scheduled to start Nov. 1 and end June 1, 2026. The 24-hour operation will employ 93 people.
The proposed facility is larger than the 34,740-square-foot warehouse Amazon intended to build on 12 port-owned acres next to the airport and would have employed 70 people.
Amazon and the port agreed to a 15-year lease in October 2024. However, the company backed out of the program when the Federal Aviation Administration demanded it conduct a National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) study, a process that often can take up to a year or more to complete.
The South Critchfield property contains two category IV wetlands, with Dry Creek immediately adjacent to the west of the parcel.
A critical areas report cited by Amazon noted that cutthroat trout, northern spotted owl and a number of species of bats were known to inhabit the area, although none were found during a visit from a consultant.
A noise and traffic study commissioned by Amazon estimated the site would average 544 trips a day from employees, primarily between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The peak trip times for fleet vehicles would occur from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. No more than three semi-trailer and box trucks an hour would operate between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
According to the SEPA checklist, Amazon would operate on a schedule that would prevent its fleet from interfering with peak city traffic hours.
“The applicant is working with the City of Port Angeles and Clallam County to determine necessary roadway impacts and determine whether they are required,” the checklist said.
The SEPA comment period ends May 31. Those who wish to comment on the project should submit to the city’s Department of Community & Economic Development via email at ced@cityofpa.us, or mail to 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Information about the project can be found on the city’s website at tinyurl.com/3952eknm.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
