PORT ANGELES — As his Sept. 4 groundbreaking deadline draws closer, waterfront hotel and conference center developer Randal Jay Ehm is leaning toward seeking a deadline extension from the city.
Ehm told the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Port Angeles Lodging Tax Advisory Committee during a June 7 visit that he still intends to break ground by Sept. 4.
That date is one year from when Ehm received his shoreline substantial development permit from the state Department of Ecology.
But Ehm’s June 15 written progress report reveals that “we have initiated a dialogue with the city of Port Angeles and Department of Ecology relative to extension of the shoreline development permit, which may be necessary due to financing availability and time frames.”
Ehm will decide by July 31 whether to seek a permit extension, the report says.
Project update July 15
The San Diego-based architect and developer is scheduled to submit his next monthly project update to city officials July 15.
Then he will return to Port Angeles on Aug. 16-17 to meet with city officials, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Port Angeles Business Association.
Ehm has proposed a full-service hotel, possibly under the Marriott brand, with 171 rooms and enough banquet and conference space for 700 people on 3.8 waterfront acres at the corner of Oak and Front streets.
The city has offered him a 20-year, $100,000 annual subsidy from hotel-motel bed tax revenues to pay for marketing the conference center.
