Sequim: 15 hours of city hearings this week, but long road toward regional shopping center still lies ahead

SEQUIM — The first phase of legal wrangling may be over, but a long road awaits all parties entrenched in the controversy over major retail development on Sequim’s west side.

After two sessions of City Council meetings covering 15 hours of testimony and comment this week, questions linger over how to manage growth in a small city.

“This was a new process for everyone here in Sequim,” said Mayor Walt Schubert.

It was certainly new for Schubert and the three City Council members who joined him in hearing appeals filed against two separate retail projects — a Wal-Mart “superstore” and Sequim Village Marketplace shopping center, that would be anchored by a Home Depot home-improvement warehouse outlet.

Both developments, directly across the street from each other, would flank Washington Street near North Priest and River roads.

This week’s process was also new to most of the city staff who have never sat in an official capacity at a quasi-judicial process such as the two hearings held Monday night and Wednesday.

————-

The rest of the story appears in the Friday/Saturday Peninsula Daily News. You can get the PDN delivered to your home or office simply by clicking on the Subscribe button, above.

More in News

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive just each of the intersection with Hill Street on Monday. City of Port Angeles crews responded and restored power quickly. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Downed trees

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive… Continue reading

Photographers John Gussman, left, and Becky Stinnett contributed their work to Clallam Transit System’s four wrapped buses that feature wildlife and landscapes on the Olympic Peninsula. The project was created to promote tourism and celebrate the beauty of the area. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Iconic Peninsula images wrap Clallam Transit buses

Photographers’ scenes encompass community pride

Housing identified as a top priority

Childcare infrastructure another Clallam concern

Giant ornaments will be lit during the Festival of Trees opening ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday. (Olympic Medical Center Foundation)
Opening ceremony set for Festival of Trees

‘White Christmas’ to be performed in English, S’Klallam

Olympia oyster project receives more funding

Discovery Bay substrate to receive more shells

Code Enforcement Officer Derek Miller, left, watches Detective Trevor Dropp operate a DJI Matrice 30T drone  outside the Port Angeles Police Department. (Port Angeles Police Department)
Drones serve as multi-purpose tools for law enforcement

Agencies use equipment for many tasks, including search and rescue

Sequim Heritage House was built from 1922-24 by Angus Hay, former owner of the Sequim Press, and the home has had five owners in its 100 years of existence. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim’s Heritage House celebrates centennial

Owner hosts open house with family, friends

Haller Foundation awards $350K in grants

More than 50 groups recently received funding from a… Continue reading

Operations scheduled at Bentinck range this week

The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be… Continue reading

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Jefferson County lodging tax committee to meet

The Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will discuss… Continue reading

Restrictions lifted on left-turns near Hood Canal bridge

The state Department of Transportation lifted left-turn restrictions from… Continue reading