PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles Harbor-Works Executive Director Jeff Lincoln took questions on conceptual plans to redevelop the former Rayonier mill site.
But several speakers at an open house Monday night said the contaminated site shouldn’t be redeveloped at all.
Lincoln, who heads the public development authority formed to map the pulp mill site’s future, discussed three possible scenarios for redeveloping the 75-acre property and the ongoing “due diligence” market and environmental analysis.
‘Nothing’ preferred by some
“I’d almost rather see you do nothing than to see industrial development again,” said James Heller during the 90-minute program at the Clallam County Courthouse.
“Right now, it’s a rubbled wasteland, I agree. But I would almost rather see that than to see another, for example, mill pop up there.”
The city and Port of Port Angeles created Harbor-Works Development Authority in May 2008 to acquire the mill site still owned by Rayonier Inc. and redevelop the property, as well as assist in the environmental cleanup of the land, which has been overseen by the state Department of Ecology since 2000.
The city and port have loaned Harbor-Works a total of $1.3 million.
The property at the foot of Ennis Street contains pockets of PCBs, dioxin, arsenic and other toxins from the pulp mill Rayonier operated for 68 years before it closed in 1997 and put nearly 400 people out of work.
Part of the site is on the ancient Klallam village of Y’innis.
In addition to the cleanup required of the site, developers have expressed concern over the possibility of halting projects upon discovery of the cultural artifacts at the site, Lincoln said.
Harbor-Works will determine whether to acquire the mill site from Rayonier by August.
Key to that decision will be the results of a $380,460 due diligence process, Lincoln said Monday night.
The first of two phases in the due diligence process are complete. The next will run through March 29.
“I can tell you that the initial analysis is not positive,” Lincoln said.
“So the question is, how do we not use taxpayer dollars — particularly local taxpayer dollars — to get any value out of this redeveloped site.”
Problems unforeseen
Lincoln said the hurdles in redeveloping the property have not even been established.
“I don’t want to spend a dime of public money, which is why the intent here is to make this a profitable venture by having some developable land to return our investment,” he said.
“But the market conditions here are not good.”
Heller and others said restoring the land to a natural habitat would enhance the Port Angeles waterfront and attract visitors.
Heller said an industrial use isn’t the only option for the property. He said a restored mill site could become a “jewel that could change this entire city.”
“We could have a paradigm-changing alternative,” Heller said.
Another speaker said Boulder, Colo., spent money buying open space and attracted residents for its the recreational opportunities.
About 75 people, including city, port, Clallam County and Lower Elwha Klallam tribal officials, attended the meeting.
Three alternatives
The speakers, who did not identify themselves, peppered Lincoln with questions about the three alternatives that Harbor-Works announced in the organization’s Dec. 15 meeting.
The alternatives include a variety of possible uses, including industrial, commercial and some open area for public use.
They are:
•SEnSAlternative A, which describes a diverse development with marine, retail, residential and industrial uses.
Lincoln described the development as taking the maximum economic advantage of the site.
•SEnSAlternative B also includes marine, retail and residential development but adds a cultural hub to capitalize on the potential for finding historical Klallam artifacts.
It includes a proposal for a cultural research facility and museum east of Ennis Creek, where the village of Y’innis is presumed to have been.
“This in my mind is the game-changer,” Lincoln said.
“This is how we get the playing field oriented 90 degrees. Instead of saying, ‘Gee things are really bad because we have cultural artifacts on the site,’ we can say, ‘This is really cool. We’ve got cultural artifacts on the site.'”
•SEnSAlternative C focuses on marine industries and includes a marina and an industrial area.
Lincoln has said the industrial areas in both alternatives A and C could be risky because it is unknown whether or how many artifacts are on the east side of the site.
After the meeting, Heller said Lincoln answered his questions the best he could.
“He had a lot on his plate,” Heller said.
The public can review the alternatives and comment on them at the Harbor-Works Web site, www.paharborworks.org.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson contributed to this report.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
