PORT ANGELES — The city’s ambitious downtown waterfront development project would receive a six-figure boost under a recommendation from the Clallam County Opportunity Fund Advisory Board.
The panel on Monday unanimously recommended spending $285,952 on Phase 2 of a $17 million project that is recasting the city’s shoreline into a family and festival-friendly magnet for residents and visitors alike.
Jim McEntire, chairman of the county commissioners, said Monday he expects the commissioners at their work session next Monday will discuss the waterfront project funding.
Carlsborg-based Primo Construction Inc. is expected to begin construction within three weeks on the state Department of Natural Resources parcel just west of Railroad Avenue, Nathan West, the city’s community and economic development director, said after the board meeting.
The contract calls for completion within 75 working days of startup.
The ongoing improvements are changing a gravelled, grassy area that was home to seagulls and kite enthusiasts into a 1.5-acre park and two new pocket beaches. A new esplanade already skirts the shoreline.
Phase 2 will include development of northern and southern connections to Olympic Discovery Trail, a plaza turnaround, dedicated public gathering areas, landscaping and wind spires.
The spires will generate electricity that will feed the Bonneville Power Administration grid to offset the city utility’s electricity that will illuminate the park, West said.
“I’ve received a lot of interest from the downtown business community wanting to produce events throughout the event season in conjunction with this project,” West said at the meeting.
Improvements also will include access for trucks from High Tide Seafoods and other natural-resource-related businesses to and from the Port of Port Angeles’ Terminal 4, a requirement of the DNR permit.
West said permitting issues unexpectedly raised the cost of Phase 2, which now stands at $3.9 million.
West said the entire project has required 13 permits and three separate National Environmental Policy Act assessments.
When the overall project is completed, it will stretch from Hollywood Beach west to the Valley Creek estuary and will include redevelopment of the east end of Railroad Avenue and City Pier.
On April 21, the City Council awarded a $1.1 million contract for Phase 2 to Primo, one of more than a dozen North Olympic Peninsula contractors and subcontractors working on the project, including Zenovic and Associates of Port Angeles, the lead engineering firm.
An estimated 32 jobs will be created or retained in Phase 2, West said.
“I’m certainly very pleased with the Opportunity Fund board’s decision [Monday], and I think the project is certainly in line with the intent behind the Opportunity Fund,” West said.
Also next Monday, commissioners may discuss a $1 million Opportunity Fund allotment for the Port of Port Angeles’ proposed composites recycling center, McEntire said.
Opportunity Fund proceeds, administered by the Clallam County Economic Development Council, consist of sales taxes returned to the county by the state Department of Commerce.
“We’re generally disposed to approve things that have a good promise of economic improvement,” McEntire said.
Opportunity Fund board members who recommended approval of Phase 2 funding were Mike McAleer, Joe Murray, Dan Leinan, Sharon DelaBarre and chairman Alan Barnard.
City representative Orville Campbell also attended but cannot vote until he is confirmed by county commissioners.
The overall waterfront project consists of 11 phases.
“We will move forward as funding becomes available,” West told the board.
Phase 2 has received a $500,000 grant from the state Community and Economic Revitalization Board and more than $1.7 million in state and federal grants.
City Council member Brad Collins also attended the meeting and spoke on the project’s behalf.
“From the city’s perspective, this has been our primary effort toward economic development,” he said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
