PORT ANGELES — Returning Front and First streets to two-way thoroughfares and adding more directional signs were two long-term goals added to the city of Port Angeles’ comprehensive plan this week.
The City Council unanimously approved 12 amendments Tuesday.
None of the amendments require action.
They are expected to influence the city’s planning decisions.
De-coupling First and Front streets and additional signs were among the recommendations provided by a seven-member team from the American Institute of Architects in March.
The team of planners and architects was in town through a grant the organization had awarded the city to assess the vitality of the city’s downtown and corridor along First and Front streets and planning for the future.
Also included in the amendments is a policy that supports facade restoration downtown, such as with the “Our Community at Work: Painting Downtown” project.
Another amendment to the long-range plan was the goal of creating small commercial areas near neighborhoods.
Also on Tuesday, the City Council authorized:
• Rezoning a 14,000-square-foot lot on the northwest corner of C and 17th streets from commercial neighborhood to high-density residential.
Property owner Brando Blore said he plans to build an apartment complex on the property, and the former zoning would require him to build commercial storefronts along with the residences. He said that was impractical due to the amount of vacant commercial properties in town.
• Increasing the contract amount for relocating power lines as part of the Elwha dam-removal project by $26,870. Contractor DJ’s Electrical of Battle Ground completed the task in January, and the total contract amount is $200,310.
The additional costs accrued due to some unexpected delays and will be covered by additional funding from the National Park Service, according to a staff report to the City Council. No additional city money will be used.
• City staff to apply for a $367,500 grant with the state Recreation and Conservation Office for a pedestrian bridge over Dry Creek. The bridge would be part of the Olympic Discovery Trail and constructed during spring 2010.
The city’s contribution would be from $160,000 in lodging tax revenue and $70,000 from its general fund.
Other contributors for the bridge would come from the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, $37,500, and the Peninsula Trails Coalition, $100,000 in cash, labor and materials.
• City staff to apply for a $200,000 state Department of Ecology grant for updating its shoreline master program.
• City staff to apply for a $12,029 Bureau of Justice Assistance grant for the Port Angeles Police Department to continue its school resource officer program.
• A one-month contract extension for Krei Architecture to complete its “scope of work” on The Gateway transit center at no cost.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
