PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles City Council chambers erupted in applause Wednesday evening after the city’s Planning Commission approved a new five-year permit to allow sprint boat races to be held near William R. Fairchild International Airport.
The unanimous decision was made in front of an overflow crowd of about 150 sprint boat supporters, including Port Angeles High School cheerleaders, who raised about $1,700 for their team at the first race, held in September.
The race, which involved small boats competing for best times on a 4-acre track, attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 spectators.
“It’s just amazing,” said Dan Morrison, whose A2Z Enterprises hosts the races, after the decision.
“I’m thrilled to see this kind of support.”
Two races will tentatively be held at 2917 W. Edgewood Drive on Aug. 4 and Sept. 8, he said.
Doc Reiss, planning commission president, said he had never seen so many people at a meeting before or such an outpouring of support.
“I had to park a block away,” he said.
“Anytime you have an overflow capacity and a group of cheerleaders in the background with pom-poms, it’s not your normal meeting.”
The commission’s decision extends a one-year permit it granted last year.
Reiss said the commission granted a one-year permit before because it wanted to make sure “things go as they are supposed to.”
Five years is the longest the permit can be granted, he said.
The decision Wednesday appeared to be an easy one for the board, which took place after hearing five people speak in favor of the track and after no additional discussion.
No one spoke against the races, which had raised concerns by the Dry Creek Coalition and the Center for Environmental Policy for its use of water from a nearby stormwater pond to fill the track.
Supporters noted the economic benefit to Port Angeles from bringing people outside the North Olympic Peninsula to attend the races.
Rick Parr, whose parents started the now-closed Port Angeles Raceway, said it reminded him of the former track.
“They wanted something for this town so people didn’t have to leave to somewhere else,” he said, while getting choked up.
“That’s why these guys do it.”
Both CELP and the Dry Creek Coalition submitted letters opposing the permit over the use of water from the pond on Port of Port Angeles property and possible damage to wetlands by construction.
The port granted A2Z Enterprises use of the water, but the state Department of Ecology ruled that the port needed a water right to transfer the water.
No penalties were issued.
Port officials, who said they were not aware one was needed, have applied for a water right.
City Planning Manager Sue Roberds said the Army Corps of Engineers, which has jurisdiction over the wetlands, noted that there may have been “inadvertent intrusion” but said it could be mitigated.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.