PORT ANGELES — City residents were given a chance earlier this week to have their say on proposed uses of the city’s shoreline from the Olympic Discovery Trail to the lesser known western beach of Port Angeles.
The meeting, held at the Vern Burton Community Center and attended by about 60 people on Tuesday, was part of the process to update Port Angeles’ shoreline management program and harbor resource management plan.
It followed another meeting held in June where residents proposed what they’d like to see along Port Angeles Harbor and the eastern and western shores of the city.
The shoreline program, required by the state, includes the regulations regarding what sorts of uses — such as industrial, commercial and open space — can be used on each segment of the waterfront.
It also identifies opportunities for environmental restoration.
The harbor plan is more of the “road map” as to how the harbor will be developed and used within the guidelines of the shoreline program.
Both will be updated by 2012.
Participants were asked at the meeting to rank proposals for different areas along the shore.
They included improved access to the beach west of Ediz Hook, reuse of the bluff at the former landfill, public access at edges of the industrial area, establishment of trail from the mouth of Valley Creek to the Olympic Mountains, residential downtown development and the creation of a “Harbor to Dungeness Spit Conservancy Area,” among other proposals.
The consensus appeared to be support for improved public access to the shoreline and recreational opportunities but not to the detriment of industry.
Participants also were asked to rank potential uses for the vacant waterfront property on Oak and Front streets.
Support varied from a park to a focus on commercial development with some open space.
The city is relying heavily on public comments when deciding what to include in the two documents, said Nathan West, city economic and community development director.
Public meetings will be held again in January, March and June.
Comments can be made throughout the process to shoreline@cityofpa.us.
For further information, visit www.cityofpa.us/shoreline.htm.
________
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.