PORT ANGELES — More than a dozen people objected during a public hearing for a proposed rezone of 4.5 acres for a Dollar General Plus store to be built between Old Joe Road, Doyle Road and U.S. Highway 101.
They cited pedestrian safety, increased traffic, the already high number of car wrecks in the area, incompatibility with the residential neighborhood and displeasure with a large national corporation that has been accused of predatory pricing to drive out small businesses.
City planning staff recommended to the hearing examiner Thursday against the rezone because, although it would encourage economic development, it does not support the comprehensive plan’s goals and policies, they said. The staff recommendation was based upon zoning, lack of infrastructure and land analysis that shows other commercially zoned property within the city limits.
“I want to thank city staff for recommending against this rezone,” said Saavik Cameron of Port Angeles.
“I live right across the street from the proposed site and I’m concerned about the safety of our children. We have people flying down the street now. We don’t need more,” she said.
The proposal from 6S DG Port Angeles WA LLC of Delaware would rezone the area from residential low density to a commercial shopping district for a 10,640-square-foot Dollar General Plus store with 35 parking spaces on 2.48 acres. A Dollar General Plus store is larger than the typical 7,000-square-foot to 9,000-square-foot Dollar General store and includes a refrigerated foods section. The project is contingent upon purchase of the property from James N. Turner of Port Angeles.
“This is a great community and we’re excited to have another project here,” developer Sam Moore said. “We did Grocery Outlet so we understand the community’s concerns. We supplied traffic studies for our other projects. We will be putting in a septic system because the sewer is too small.”
Won Choi, who lives in the neighborhood and spoke on behalf of numerous neighbors, said the proposed development would be adjacent to the entrance and exit to the truck route, which raises additional safety concerns and risks. The 1.5-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 101 from Pine Street to South Airport Road had 130 wrecks in five years, according to the Port Angeles Police Department, he said.
“Routing that traffic to Doyle Road is highly, highly inappropriate,” Choi said. “The access road nature of these streets means people walk and play on narrow streets with no sidewalks. So adding another 600 more vehicles, including delivery trucks, will pose a great danger to those residents who do not have a sidewalk on very narrow streets.”
James Finta also discussed the safety issue.
”We all know how dangerous it is,” he said. “Postal trucks won’t deliver packages to my street that is one street over. The idea of trucks exiting and entering there is horrifying.”
The hearing examiner’s recommendation to the city council will be made within 10 business days. The city council will consider the recommendation at a future meeting.
Any appeal must be filed in Clallam County Superior Court within 21 days of the decision.
Documents for the proposal are available at https://www.cityofpa.us/145/Current- Projects-and-Plans.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached by email at brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
