PORT LUDLOW — While the Port Ludlow Quarry at Mats Mats Bay scores in the top three “preferred” sites as a Hood Canal Bridge graving dock site, homeowners within eye shot of the location may beg to differ.
“I don’t feel that people who have committed their life savings to the area should be subjected to having an industrial site put in next to them,” said Bernard Belkin, whose wife, Rae, heads up the Mats Mats Coalition.
The coalition in 2003 fought against the proposed expansion of the rock quarry that’s now suggested for the graving yard to replace the project canceled in Port Angeles in December.
Rae Belkin was unavailable for comment Wednesday, but her husband did not hesitate to lambaste the proposal as a threat to property values, water wells and the solitude that about 300 homeowners near the site enjoy.
“The coalition is totally against this,” said Belkin, who said his home is about 500 feet from the proposed graving yard site.
“The economic impact on people closest to it would be devastating.”
Other homes come within 200 feet of the site, said Belkin.
Heavy truck traffic
He also raised concerns about road access and traffic from heavy trucks and equipment in the neighborhood of upscale homes ranging in price from about $150,000 to $500,000.
The state’s evaluation of the site, however, states that “more than likely, supplies and material would be delivered to the site by barge because roads into the site are narrow and pass through neighborhoods.”
Out of 18 proposals, the state Department of Transportation ranks the 120-acre Mats Mats site — which was proposed by owner and Seattle-based sand and gravel company, Glacier Northwest — just behind the Port of Everett’s south terminal.
Two more site proposal in Jefferson County were proposed by the Port of Port Townsend and Port Townsend Paper Corp. on Port and mill properties, and Northwest Security Services on property it leases on the western shores of Discovery Bay.
The Port and mill sites were ranked seventh as “high risk” sites, and the Discovery Bay site was rated No. 4 under acceptable sites.
Belkin argued that the Port Townsend Paper site was more appropriate for a graving yard since it is already established as a 24-hour industrial site buffered from residential areas.
Port Townsend also has lodging for workers, unlike Port Ludlow, he said.
Rock blasting
State Transportation’s evaluation of the site states that drilling and blasting of rock would be required to build the graving yard.
In 1991, Transportation also identified the site as a possible pontoon construction location for the Lacy V. Murrow Bridge, which floats across Lake Washington east of Seattle.
“At that time, a neighborhood coalition opposed its use for pontoon construction,” the Department of Transportation evaluation states.
“The same group may have concerns about the site’s use for a graving dock.”
Lloyd Brown, Olympic Region communications manager for Transportation, said state officials would have an open ear to residents’ concerns.
“Our intent is to get out there right away and listen to them,” Brown said Wednesday after the state’s announcement of the site rankings for the graving dock project.
“The folks there have made it already clear that they have concerns about our presence in their neighborhood.”