PORT ANGELES — After months of deliberations, Clallam County’s three commissioners on Monday approved creating a road improvement district to pave a half-mile portion of Striped Peak Road west of Port Angeles.
Property owners will pay $13,561 per parcel over 20 years to pave and widen the 2,180-foot section from Freshwater Bay to Ocean Cove Lane.
The estimated cost is $664,500. The county will not fund the project.
Commissioner Mike Chapman said he had “lots of concerns” about the resolution that he voted for, mainly the cost.
“If the bid comes in way higher, we’re going to have a big mess on our hands,” Chapman said.
“This is an old number, and we’re stuck with this.”
After the meeting, Chapman said he voted for the district because a majority of people supported it. He also said it was one the toughest votes he has made as a commissioner.
Current estimate
County Engineer Ross Tyler said the cost estimate is current.
“If the cost came in at half a million dollars, or $450,000, that’s all they’d get assessed.” Tyler said.
“They do not pay based on that number ($664,500) unless it goes higher.”
County Administrator Jim Jones said the county could reject a bid that comes in too high.
Commissioners Mike Doherty and Steve Tharinger said they supported the resolution because of the needed safety improvements.
“This is a dangerous road,” Tharinger said.
“We’ve all driven it. It’s not a gravel road that’s flat like a farm road.”
Tharinger said the road is seeing increased traffic and “needs to be improved” because of its incline of between 8 percent and 10 percent.
“It is a cost — there’s no question,” Tharinger said.
“But I think the improvements are warranted.”
24 feet wide
The road will be widened to 24 feet and paved with two inches of asphalt. A turnaround area will be added at Ocean Cove Lane for emergency response vehicles.
Tyler said the project will be designed over the winter and constructed next year.
“This cost concerns me a lot,” Doherty said, “but experience with watching state and local road projects makes me want to believe what the engineer is saying — that generally and almost uniformly the bids have come in under the estimates.”
A majority of property owners — about 71 percent — said they support the road improvement district.
But they had varying opinions on how to make the assessments.
Regardless of size
In the approved method, the owner of each lot will be assessed the same amount, regardless of the size of the lot or its proximity to the road.
Opponents said the assessments should be based on the size of a lot during a July 20 public hearing.
Chapman questioned the level of support for the taxing district. He said 27 parcel owners supported the road improvement district and 22 were opposed.
A second public hearing was held on Sept. 27 because of a technicality on how the first hearing was closed. Monday’s deliberative session was a continued meeting.
The newly paved section of Striped Peak Road will be maintained by the county.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
