PORT ANGELES — Washington Alder officials are negotiating with a second unnamed property owner to locate its proposed sawmill away from the 113-acre site strongly opposed by neighbors.
Economic development officials confirmed Monday afternoon that Washington Alder LLC of Mount Vernon is negotiating with a second property owner, but refused to say who it is or where the other site is located.
Clallam County Economic Development Council Executive Director Jim Haguewood said the company is looking at two sites, the announced former Critchfield property owned by the Port of Port Angeles and a second parcel.
City Economic Development Director Tim Smith also wouldn’t reveal the company’s other location.
“Washington Alder is a good outfit,” Smith said.
“I’m confident they are going to be here someplace. It’s best to let them do their business here and see how it all unfolds.”
Neighbors organized into the Dry Creek Coalition oppose the $23 million alder processing plant built on the 113 acres of Port property between Edgewood Drive and William R. Fairchild International Airport.
It has pitted them against business and economic development officials who want the mill, its 95 jobs and projected $5 million annual payroll to be built on the site that once was envisioned for a golf course.
Chamber announcement
The surprise announcement of a possible alternate site for the Washington Alder mill, which would be built under a new division called Port Angeles Hardwood LLC, was made by Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Russ Veenema at Monday’s weekly chamber luncheon at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
Veenema set out to explain why a full-page Peninsula Daily News advertisement in support of the project wasn’t published as planned.
The chamber had earmarked the ad in Monday’s PDN editions to thank businesses for supporting the proposed sawmill, Veenema said.
But the chamber pulled the ad because of the ongoing negotiations over the second site, he said.
No deadline is set for completing those negotiations, but Washington Alder CEO Richard Tinney said Monday that he wants to start the sawmill project as soon as possible.
Tinney said he “would rather not” reveal the other property owner or location because of the continuing negotiations.
