European developer seeks to buy prime Port Angeles waterfront land

PORT ANGELES — European aquatic center developer Henry Dorssers is buying the Port of Port Angeles’ 1.9-acre Oak Street property after all.

But he doesn’t necessarily plan on building an aquatic center there as he presented to the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce in November.

“The city first must decide what is best for it,” Dorssers said Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m meeting with the city to brainstorm. So nothing is fixed.”

Port Angeles is currently conducting a public process to decide whether to build a new community swimming pool at Port Angeles City Hall or next to the Clallam County Family YMCA.

In November, Dorssers and Treadwell Jones of Larkins Aquatics presented a proposal to the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce that included an 80-room hotel adjacent to an aquatic center and 40 condominiums that would sell for as much as $500,000 each.

The preliminary plans cover 80,000 square feet and also included a conference center and retail space.

Agreement submitted

The Port of Port Angeles released a statement Tuesday stating that Dorssers has submitted a signed purchase and sale agreement and a deposit to buy the Oak Street property.

A public hearing to declare the property surplus so it can be sold is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 27 at the Port’s headquarters, 338 W. First St., Port Angeles.

It will be followed by a Port commission review of the purchase and sale agreement.

Dorssers on Monday denied being the potential buyer of the property.

Dorssers said Tuesday that when contacted Monday by the Peninsula Daily News, he didn’t realize his proposal was the one being considered Feb. 27.

He said he thought it would be considered Feb. 13.

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