PORT ANGELES — One of three appeals to the city’s westward annexation might be invalidated because it lacks sufficient number of property owners to back the appeal.
The appeals apparently are the only obstacles to Port Angeles city annexation of largely industrial territory that includes the site of a future multimillion-dollar sawmill.
Clallam County Boundary Review Board Chairman Orville Campbell said at the board’s Thursday night meeting that the appeal will be tabled until it can be researched, adding it is a matter of state law.
A special meeting could be called to announce a decision, since legal briefs for the annexation appeals are due by Monday but the board’s next scheduled meeting isn’t until May 26.
The Boundary Review Board is studying the city’s proposed annexation of an area south of U.S. Highway 101, extending west of the city limit at Old Joe Road about 1.5 miles to the edge of the western urban growth area opposite Reddick Road.
The annexation area, with an assessed valuation of $7.1 million, covers 346.41 acres and includes the Green Creek sawmill, Hermann Brothers sawmill, Lakeside Industries — and the site of a proposed Port Angeles Hardwood LLC alder and maple sawmill.
Public hearings set
The boundary review board has received appeals of the city’s plan from the Clallam County Public Utility District, Dry Creek Water Association and a group of property owners in the annexation area led by Mike Libera.
All are seeking a review of the proposed annexation.
The boundary board has set public hearings on the appeals for 6:30 p.m. May 26 and 7 p.m. June 9 in the family courtroom at Clallam County Juvenile and Family Services, 1912 W. 18th St., Port Angeles.
But the city of Port Angeles received a letter Thursday from Ken and Charlotte Patterson, members of the property owners’ group, asking that they be removed from the appeal.
City Public Works Director Glenn Cutler said removing the Pattersons from the property owners’ appeal means the remaining owners no longer have the 5 percent of registered voters in the affected area required to file an appeal.
Tammy Ratliff, another of the appellants, said the property owners’ appeal would have included more signatures but they didn’t learn about the appeal deadline soon enough.
Legal briefs outlining each group’s objections are due to the board’s chief clerk by Monday. Responses to those briefs are due by May 16.
Water services agreement
The Port Angeles City Council and Dry Creek Water Association are meeting Tuesday to consider a proposed water services agreement for the annexation area.
If that agreement is approved, then the Dry Creek Water Association’s appeal would be withdrawn.
If it is and the property owners’ appeal is invalidated, only Clallam PUD’s appeal would remain.