SEQUIM — The waiting continues for a decision by the City Council on whether plans for two major retail developments will go forward.
The council had planned to deliberate and possibly vote Monday night on appeals challenging the city’s preliminary permitting for a Wal-Mart “superstore” and a regional shopping center, Sequim Village Marketplace, at the western entrance to Sequim.
But a family emergency for one council member has pushed that process back at least two weeks.
Ron Farquhar’s stepmother died last weekend. He will be out of town Monday.
Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be a problem.
But the number of City Council members eligible to act on the appeals has been whittled down to five — including one, John Beitzel, who was vacationing during two appeals sessions and underwent minor surgery during the third and final round Monday night.
In order for Beitzel to vote on the appeals, he would have to review stacks of written materials and listen to more than 19 hours of taped testimony.
City Manager Bill Elliott said Thursday that was unlikely.
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