PORT ANGELES — Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County will not be required to pave and widen a 580-foot section of West 18th Street, as the city of Port Angeles once said.
A traffic study of the Maloney Heights development determined that the organization should not have to improve the section of road.
The city is accepting that determination.
“We are, as we speak, drafting a letter informing them of the change that they will not be required to do the street extension,” said City Manager Kent Myers said.
“Likely this will result in a dismissal of the lawsuit.”
Habitat for Humanity had filed a land use lawsuit in October to resolve the ongoing disagreement with the city of Port Angeles.
Myers said no other changes were being proposed.
Maitland Peet, Clallam County Habitat for Humanity executive director, said he was glad to see the results, and that the projects could now move forward.
Construction is expected to begin this spring and be completed in fall 2011.
“It is still a work in progress, but we’re all in agreement and ready to move forward in the cleanest way possible,” Peet said.
“I think we’ll start moving forward really soon, but we will make absolutely sure it was done the way it needs to.”
The cost of the study was estimated at about $5,000.
Peet said that paving and widening the contested 580 feet of road would have cost between $100,000 and $200,000.
The city said that Habitat for Humanity needed to improve that stretch of road — which is essentially a walking path along with another 580-foot portion that is gravel and dirt, for a total of 1,160 feet — in order for the housing development in the 2300 block of West 18th Street to be built.
It said that the additional traffic from the housing project — which will include 14 single-family homes for people now living in substandard housing and 28 apartment units for people who are considered to be chronically homeless — requires 16th Street to be connected not only to the property but to South O Street as well.
Habitat for Humanity already had agreed to improve the gravel and dirt half that connects with its property, but said that paving the other portion was unnecessary and too costly.
Habitat for Humanity — which builds affordable homes for people in need in Clallam County — is working with Serenity House of Clallam County on the $3.5 million project.
Habitat’s homes, built by volunteers and with “sweat equity” from those who will live in them, are sold to the new owners at no profit and with no interest charged.
The 4.3-acre development adjacent to Serenity House’s single adult shelter will be accessed by both West 18th and West 16th streets.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
