PORT ANGELES — Westport Shipyard is getting a new parking lot, and the Port of Port Angeles will get more room for marine-trade businesses.
The three port commissioners decided at their regular meeting Monday to lease with an option to purchase port property formerly occupied by Blake Sand & Gravel at 720 Marine Drive.
That frees up the land for greater business opportunities for the port at Westport’s existing parking area next to the yacht builder’s plant at 637 Marine Drive.
“This action does meet a larger need that will benefit the port,” John Calhoun, port president, said.
The port purchased the Blake Sand & Gravel property for $445,000 in June 2011 to accommodate Westport’s parking needs,
Calhoun said.
The property includes a former batch plant area and a 1,455-square-foot building.
The company will pay for the property to be converted into a parking area at a cost of about $200,000, according to a report to the commissioners.
“In the interest of supporting one of our largest employers, the port will allow Westport to purchase the property on the anniversary of our purchase date for the first five years of the lease,” the report said.
Westport will not purchase three lots on the hillside of the parking area that were included in the port’s original purchase and that will stay under port ownership.
The company will lease the property for five years with five additional five-year options for potentially a 30-year lease.
The annual lease payment will be $22,282 for 73,124 square feet of property.
The port will have the right of first refusal to meet the terms of any offer to purchase the property, according to the purchase and sale agreement.
Much of the existing concrete will be removed, and the stormwater system will be improved.
Westport’s contractor will work with the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe and Derek Beery, the city of Port Angeles’ archaeologist, as the land is converted.
Westport General Manager Phil Beirnes was unavailable late Monday morning for comment.
The company also has plants in Hoquiam and Westport.
Westport manufactures yachts of 85, 98, 112, 130 and 164 feet.
The company’s 164-foot flagship yacht can accommodate 12 people and has six staterooms and a formal dining room.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@
peninsuladailynews.com.
