Homeowners may try to buy land to keep out sawmill; Washington Alder president: no comment

PORT ANGELES — Dry Creek area residents are forming a property development company to try buying the 113-acre former Critchfield property slated for a Washington Alder sawmill.

Dry Creek Coalition spokesman Herman Laugallies made the surprise announcement during Monday’s Port of Port Angeles commissioners’ meeting.

He said the proposed Dry Creek Development LLC would buy the property for recreation and business purposes that would fit better with the homeowners in the area.

The possibility of a sawmill has drawn angry protests from homeowners that formed the Dry Creek Coalition.

Calling it a good project at a bad location, coalition members say they’re concerned about the sawmill’s proximity to Dry Creek School, traffic from log and lumber trucks, pollution and noise.

Asked Monday afternoon about the potential competition for buying the property, Washington Alder president Richard Tinney said he had no comment.

The company reportedly is now negotiating with another landowner for a site away from the homeowners and Dry Creek School.

The company wants to build a new $23 million alder sawmill identical to one it already operates in Mount Vernon.

The Port now owns the 113 acres located between William R. Fairchild International Airport, Lower Elwha Road and Edgewood Drive.

The Port’s board of commissioners declared the property surplus following an Aug. 23 public hearing.

More in News

Sequim City Council members finalized through their consent agenda to ban the sale of fireworks effective October 2025. They held a public hearing last month that garnered mostly support for the ban. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim finalizes ban on fireworks

Ordinance change will go into effect next October

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Rich Krebsbach, manager of the Highland Irrigation District, asks questions of Rhiana Barkie, Clallam County public works project coordinator. The map is one of four new options for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir project. Public input is being taken through the county’s website at https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/188/Dungeness-Off-Channel-Reservoir-Project.
Sequim reservoir project draws crowd, questions

Clallam County, FEMA public comment period open through Nov. 21

Christmas gift inspires playground cleanup

Veteran volunteer collects playground metal

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

World War II veteran Arthur Bradow, right, and his daughter Barbara Cason admire a quilt sewn by his niece for his 100th birthday on Dec. 13. Bradow served in the Merchant Marine in the Pacific Theater of Operations and stateside in the U.S. Army Air Forces. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Veteran has 100 years’ worth of experience

Looks back at long life and wealth of knowledge

Veterans Day ceremonies set

Organizations across the Peninsula will conduct a variety of services in observance… Continue reading

Changes to code for floodplain delayed

Effects on Brinnon and farmland considered

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Proposed budgets top Peninsula agency agendas

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula.

Lisa Bridge of Sequim is given a tour by Cithlali Chavez of Fred Hutch Cancer Center inside the giant inflatable colon discussing colon health on Wednesday at the Port Angeles Senior Center’s health and wellness fair. Representatives from Olympic Medical Center, Jamestown Family Health Clinic, North Olympic Healthcare, Clallam County Health and Human Services, Elwha Klallam Tribe and Peninsula Behavior Health were present to answer questions. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Health and wellness fair

Lisa Bridge of Sequim is given a tour by Cithlali Chavez of… Continue reading

Budget projects $6M loss for OMC

Expenses continue to outpace revenues

Port Angeles implements annual business license fee

Those with gross revenue over $25,000 to pay $190

Commissioners discuss addition of south county deputy

Budget modifications may support position