Waterfront Lot at Oak and Front Streets

That empty lot on the Port Angeles waterfront might be sold again. Two years ago Harry Dorssers bought the 1.9 acres near the Valley Creek Estuary. He was planning to build Black Diamond Harbor Plaza, a combination of condominiums, retail stores, a restaurant and underground parking.

He might keep part of the property and go ahead with his plan for the condos. (He already has the building permit.)

Or he might sell the entire lot. He’s negotiating a deal to sell all or part of the property to Lincoln Asset Management of Portland, OR. (This fact also hasn’t been confirmed by either side.)

Bob McChesney, executive director of the Port of Port Angeles, said: “The new developers are talking about putting a hotel there, but we haven't seen any new drawings by them as of yet.”

With everything being so indefinite, maybe the property will just stay undeveloped for a long time.

Port Angeles City Council Comes Clean — NOT!

A few days ago the city council promised to make a public statement and “come clean” about that mystery scandal that led to Mark Madsen’s resignation. Referring to information about Madsen’s resignation, Mayor Gary Braun said “That is something that would have to be handled in open session.”

Riiight. All we got instead was “it wasn’t me,” “mistakes were made” “no laws were broken so we don’t need to tell, neener neener neener,” and “let’s move on now.”

The whole charade sounds like a grade school classroom where the teacher says “All right, everybody has to stay after school unless I find out who wrote these dirty words on the blackboard.” For a few minutes nobody budges, and then finally a hand gets raised and a sheepish little voice says “I did it.”

I was expecting at least that much candor from our new improved city council. What was I thinking?

There’s a new sheriff in town Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Community Policing

This article from yesterday’s PDN shows that community policing works. We just need more people to do it.

Yesterday’s article was referring to a 5-acre property on Highway 101 and Brook Street North. With community policing, the county code enforcement manager (Rich Sill) meets with businesses and residents in a high crime area. They come up with ways to make the area less conducive to criminal activity.

Community policing uses the “Fixing Broken Windows” theory: if a neighborhood looks blighted or sleazy (broken windows, garbage on the streets) it will attract petty crimes (loitering, public drinking) which will lead to more serious crimes. By fixing the first broken window that appears in a neighborhood, the problem can be nipped in the bud (so the theory goes).

With thefts and vandalism increasing in the area, we need more community policing.

Volunteer Center of Clallam County

Here is a link to the Volunteer Center of Clallam County. It’s a one-stop clearinghouse for connecting people who are interested in volunteering and the agencies that need volunteer help.

Their website has all the information you’ll need. Check it out.

Clallam County Noise Ordinance

Well, that idea went down in flames. But Bill Benedict and the Sheriff's Citizens Advisory Committee will probably come up with a revised version of this ordinance.

It’s a touchy situation. Some people are loud and inconsiderate; and some people are too finicky and are apt to complain about anything and everything. How do you come up with a one-size-fits-all law that will satisfy everybody?

What say you?

Tragedy at Fairmount Restaurant

Fortunately nobody was killed when a Lincoln Town Car crashed into the Fairmount Restaurant in Port Angeles last Friday. But there were several injuries, and one of the Fairmount patrons is still in the hospital.

When the PDN first reported this incident 2 days ago, the driver of the Lincoln hadn’t been cited for anything, for whatever unfathomable reason. Now, in today’s update she has finally been cited for negligent driving.

The Fairmount is a great restaurant, with a friendly down home atmosphere as well as good food. Their pizza is excellent. If you’re from the Northeast and haven’t had real pizza since you left home, check out the Fairmount.

The restaurant is in for some hard times because of this accident. On top of the expense of repairing the building, their seating capacity is greatly reduced until the repair work is done.

Juana Argyropoulos — the owner along with her husband Art — said: “We’re going to try to survive.”

They’re hoping their longtime regular customers will continue coming in.

“I don’t remember all their names, but they all are really nice people. I hope they’re not going to be afraid to come back in here again.”

Horseback Riders vs. Disc Golf

As you’ve been reading in the PDN, there’s been a showdown over who gets to use Robin Hill Farm County Park.

Hikers, runners, bicyclists and horseback riders are appalled at the idea of building an 18-hole disc golf course at the park just north of Highway 101 in Carlsborg.

As the population in this area grows, there are bound to be more and more conflicts between different groups vying over limited park space. I have no opinion one way or another on disc golf, but it sure has mobilized everybody.

What say you?

Rift In Port Angeles City Council

Apparently things aren’t going too smoothly at the Port Angeles City Council. City Manager Mark Madsen has described an “increasingly open and destructive display of disrespect for fellow council members…Certain council members are using their council voice to undermine the legitimate issues and programs supported by other council members, whom they don't like.”

Madsen is considering resigning his position as City Manager if these feuds aren’t resolved. My brief impressions of Mark Madsen — based only on a few PADA Morning Mingles — was that he’s a straightforward what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of guy. Unlike so many Port Angeles “players,” he doesn’t seem to have ulterior motives or an agenda.

Without knowing any details of these rifts — who’s doing what to whom — it might be a sign that the local Good Old Boy network is losing its grip. If that’s the case, it’s probably a good thing for Port Angeles in the long run, even if it means a lot of strife and anxiety in the short term.