PORT ANGELES — Property condemnation for the Port Angeles International Gateway Transportation Center can proceed after a visiting Jefferson County judge ruled that the project is a “public use and necessity.”
It was a milestone decision in the long history of the controversial project.
Monday’s hearing before Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Craddock Verser, held in Port Angeles, was to determine whether the Gateway project was “a public use and necessity” and whether the transit system could condemn property for a public project.
“The judge issued a ruling that there was sufficient testimony to establish public use and necessity,” said Craig Miller, attorney for Clallam Transit System.
“It’s pretty cut and dried, not too complicated, at least on this ruling,” he said.
The judge also gave the green-light for transit officials to use condemnation proceedings after they tried unsuccessfully to purchase several remaining parcels of property they said were crucial to the project.