PORT ANGELES — The Planning Commission is back to seven permanent members after the City Council appointed six members Tuesday from a field of 15 candidates following two nights of interviews.
The new planning commissioners are John Gilmore, Betsy Wharton, Cherie Kidd, David Johnson, Kevin Snyder and Candace Kalish.
“It was an excellent group of candidates,” City Councilman Larry Williams said.
“We could have selected more people amongst ourselves, but there wasn’t enough positions.”
The six join Vice Chairman Len Rasmussen, who was the lone planning commissioner after a series of resignations that began in late November.
Chairman Fred Hewins, whose term expires at the end of February, had agreed to serve until through March or until the vacancies were filled.
The Planning Commission’s next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 23 in the council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
Annexation pact
The City Council, meeting Tuesday night at City Hall, also approved an interlocal agreement with Clallam County for the proposed annexation of territory in the city’s western urban growth area.
The agreement means the county will not challenge the proposed annexation before the Clallam County Board of Adjustment.
The proposed annexation area includes an area south of U.S. Highway 101, extending west of the city limit at Old Joe Road about 1½ miles to the edge of the western urban growth area opposite Reddick Road.
It covers 346.41 acres with an assessed valuation of $6.5 million and includes the proposed Port Angeles Hardwood LLC sawmill site, Green Crow sawmill, Hermann Brothers sawmill and Lakeside Industries.
The agreement’s five major points:
* U.S. Highway 101 is in the annexation area.
* Property owners won’t have to hook up to city services extended to that area.
* Future annexations north of U.S. Highway 101 will proceed westward in an organized fashion.
* Current street addressing will remain the same.
* The city will coordinate with other jurisdictions concerning utilities and other services.