PORT ANGELES — More than 100 people filled the council chambers Wednesday night to hear why the Port Angeles Farmers Market should or should not be allowed to close Laurel Street on Saturdays for three more years.
The meeting, which started at 6 p.m., lasted past midnight as Planning Commission members accepted testimony from more than 30 in the audience.
“The issue is whether to extend the Farmers Market’s conditional use permit downtown,” said Planning Commission Chairman Len Rasmussen.
“This is strictly a land-use issue.”
There was no indication that the Planning Commission would be deciding whether to grant the permit as the PDN went to press at midnight.
The conditional use permit to close Laurel Street between Front and First streets from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Saturday Farmers Market is operating under a 90-day extension.
The Farmers Market is seeking a three-year permit that would expire in May 2008 at the same time as the Wednesday Farmers Market.
Supporters said the Farmers Market is an asset to the downtown area and Port Angeles in general.
Opponents said they didn’t oppose the market, but objected to closing Laurel Street because of negative effects on some businesses.
