PORT ANGELES — Port commissioners on Monday paved the way for selling acreage on the west side of Port Angeles that the city had hoped to reserve as parkland.
The commissioners declared 113 acres southwest of William R. Fairchild International Airport surplus to make way for the land’s sale to a group which wants to create a sprint boat race course on part of the acreage.
The unanimous decision followed 27 comments from members of the audience at Monday morning’s Port of Port Angeles commissioners meeting.
Among those testifying before the commissioners included four Port Angeles city representatives who wanted the land sale delayed.
The city wants the port to finish its airport master plan — including plans for the runway — because reclaiming an unused 1,350 feet of runway will affect trees in Lincoln Park as well as ballfields and structures in the wooded park.
The city had hoped that the 113 acres against Dry Creek could be involved in a potential land swap if Lincoln Park has to be relocated because of the airport approach, city Public Works Director Glenn Cutler said.
“I don’t discount the economic and cultural impact of Lincoln Park,” Port Commissioner John Calhoun said.
“I don’t think I could make a decision where I thought it was an either/or choice.
“I’m convinced that is not the case here, and there are ways to do both things.”
