PORT ANGELES — City Hall has not agreed that the trees at Lincoln Park must be removed, Mayor Dan Di Guilio said during Tuesday’s City Council meeting after receiving another stack of petitions from activists seeking to save the evergreens.
“We’re just beginning the planning process,” he said.
“I encourage anyone here interested in saving those trees to go to public hearings and express your feelings in taking any of the trees in the park.”
Seven people spoke during public comment against removing the trees, as proposed by the Port of Port Angeles.
Petition organizers Devon Graywolf and William Hunt said they have received 592 signatures.
The city has given the port approval to build a master plan for the park. That plan is intended to determine what should be put in place of the large trees if any are removed.
Runway access
The port is seeking to have all the trees removed because their close proximity to William R. Fairchild International Airport makes 1,354 feet of the runway unusable, which means some aircraft have to land from the west during poor weather.
That adds fuel costs to companies such as Kenmore Air, the only nonchartered passenger service to the North Olympic Peninsula.
Port staff said they want to replace at least some of the trees with low-canopy species.
Despite support for the master planning process, Di Guilio insisted Tuesday that the city has not given the port approval to remove any trees.
Nathan West, city economic and community development director, also said the city has not made any commitments regarding the park.
“It’s certainly the city’s intent that we want a very viable park no matter what the outcome is,” he said.
Seek ordinance
Graywolf and Hunt, who are seeking an ordinance protecting the trees, are calling their group Lincoln Park Tree Rescue.
They will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. Friday, June 17, at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.
Public meetings on the park master plan are expected this summer.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
