PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Townsend is drafting a public access plan for Short’s Family Farm with the goal of balancing agricultural use with wildlife habitat and visitor activities.
At its workshop Wednesday, commissioners Pete Hanke, Carol Hasse and Pam Petranek reviewed the plan for the 253-acre property, which outlined a visitor code of conduct, usage agreements with local farmers and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, a pending agreement with the Port Townsend Silent Flight Association and an agricultural conservation easement on the property held by Jefferson County Land Trust.
Among the improvements discussed were building a designated parking lot for visitors that has an informational kiosk with maps and the code of conduct, marked walking routes, improving a narrow bridge over Chimacum Creek and installing signage at the entrance to the farm and at key points around the property.
The port is renewing agreements with WDFW for hunting and wildlife viewing that the property’s former owners, Roger and Sandy Short, allowed on the property. The Port Townsend Silent Flight Association’s use of radio-control seaplanes would be a new activity.
Petranek said she wanted to make sure the model airplanes would not have a negative impact on wildlife or other tenants.
Hanke said Port Townsend Silent Flight Association was a responsible organization that would adhere to rules regarding the times and designated areas for its activities. There would be no buzzing of livestock or chasing waterfowl, he said.
“We haven’t talked about drones, though, and we should have a fairly robust discussion of whether or not to allow them,” he said.
Deputy Director Eric Toews said the port is considering renting out the house on the property to a caretaker or creating a “farm host” position, similar to the facilities host at the Point Hudson Marina and RV Park.
The next step will be for port staff to talk to all the parties, polish the draft and bring it back to commissioners for another review.
A draft of the public access plan can be found at tinyurl.com/4kb7zfat.
Waiting for buyer
The Elmore, the 135-year-old tugboat that was slated for demolition when it failed to sell at auction last fall, is still sitting in the Port Townsend boatyard waiting for a buyer.
According to a survey conducted in March by Pacific Rim Marine Surveyors in Anacortes, the Elmore “is on the cusp and could go either way — scrapped or repurposed.”
Pacific Rim estimated the vessel’s current market value at $30,000. If the Elmore is repaired, it would be worth about $210,000 — but it would take an estimated $741,000 in repairs to get there.
“It’s a hard sell to put $741,000 into a boat that’s only going to be worth $210,000,” harbormaster Kristian Ferrero said.
Commissioners at their regular meeting Wednesday afternoon decided on a six-month timeline for a sale, during which the port would advertise the Elmore in local, national and international publications. It also considered enlisting the services of a broker.
The timeline would give the port the opportunity to promote the Elmore at Port Townsend’s Wooden Boat Festival, which runs Sept. 5-7.
Hanke said he felt strongly that the port needed to cut the Elmore loose. If someone wanted to purchase it, he said, it would have been sold by now and the port would not have to turn away commercial boats because the Elmore is occupying a prime spot in the boatyard.
“As much as I hate it, that’s the reality,” he said.
Port Executive Director Eron Berg said the agency has invested about $20,000 in the Elmore for the cost of the survey and remediation. It loses about $2,500 a month in storage fees that would otherwise be paid by a customer.
The port also gave up state Department of Natural Resources Derelict Vessel Removal Program funds that would have paid for the Elmore’s demolition, although Berg said it could apply again.
“Let’s just stay the course, advertise and let the Elmore tell its story,” Berg said. “At the end or August or beginning of September, we’ll know where we are.”
Approved in the consent agenda was a five-year lease for $3,070.75 per month with one five-year option with David and Natalie Dionne for the Commander’s Beach House Bed & Breakfast at Point Hudson. As part of the lease, the Dionnes will provide groundskeeping and maintenance services on the property.
Commissioners also recognized Berg on his fifth anniversary with the port. Berg’s arrival in March 2020 coincided with the World Health Organization’s declaring COVID-19 a pandemic followed by a statewide stay-at-home order.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
