PORT ANGELES — City Planning Commission members focused on the economic development aspects of a comprehensive plan update last week.
The commissioners’ workshop last Wednesday followed two workshop meetings in which the public provided input into facets of the 2016 update, which is expected to be complete by June 30.
A public hearing is planned before the planning commission from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, in council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
Urban and regional planner Bill Grimes of Spokane, a consultant with Studio Cascade Inc., led the presentation.
He said the comprehensive plan should lay the groundwork over 20 years for accommodating an increase of 4,000 in the city’s population, which was 19,038 in the 2010 census.
Port Angeles’ comprehensive plan establishes long-range policies for city land use, parks, transportation, housing and other services.
Planning Commissioner Andrew Schwab noted that plans for Port Angeles dating back decades have extolled the potential economic virtues of tourism.
In 1973, one plan said “the best thing to do for economic development of Port Angeles is tourism,” Schwab said.
City officials should evaluate if they need “to stop showing up with a sign that says, ‘Let’s do tourism,’ and let’s do something else,” he added.
Most towns with a college and a military base “have increased economic opportunities,” Schwab said.
But while tourism is not the complete answer, “at the same time, there is a necessity to develop an economic base,” Planning Commissioner Elwyn Gee said.
“Right now, the economic base is not there.
“Maybe we can encourage nonpolluting, environmentally friendly manufacturing.
“It does exist.
“What we do to try to attract it, I’m not sure.”
More wealthy people
Gee also said Port Angeles should attract more wealthy people.
“We need that fellow who makes a million dollars a year to support the economy,” Gee said.
Ed Chadd of Olympic Climate Action told commissioners the plan should address projected climate change impacts.
He said the city should consider the environmental consequences of greenhouse-gas emissions and carbon footprints when encouraging new commercial developments.
City officials also should consider the climate change impacts of any proposed new industrial activity or expansion, he said.
More than 150 people participated in April meetings in which they identified living-wage jobs as a major need in the city and access to the outdoors as a high priority.
The Washington State Growth Management Act mandates the development of comprehensive plans and also requires them to be updated periodically.
For more information, see www.pa-compplan.org.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
Executive Editor Leah Leach contributed to this story.
