HomeMy WebLinkAboutOlympic Discover Trail at Rayonier Mill Site .October 5, 2009
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1401 South Cherry Street-
Port Angles, WA 98362
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City Council of Port
Angeles
Port Angeles City Hall
321 East Fifth Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
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Re: Olympic Discovery Trail at Rayonier Mill Site
.Ladies and Gentlemen:
More than 10 years have passed since the closure of the Rayonier Mill, and more than six
years have gone by since a. temporary route of the Olympic Discovery Trail was placed
over Rayonier property. In spite of those long periods of time, a clean-up of the mill
site, and resolution of attendant issues, including the ultimate use of the site,have not
been accomplished and no projected date for resolution even appears on the horizon.
The Olympic Discovery Trail is a regional trail that has the potential to become'a world-
class destination recreation facility. As such, this "temporary" segment across the
Rayonier property should be upgraded. The current"temporary" trail lies on the
periphery of the Rayonier property and, east of Ennis Creek, takes a long, unnecessary
detour to the south of the.trail's natural, "straight across", east-west route, approximating
the old railroad grade. That detour adds.approximately four-tenths of a mile to the length
of the trail through the Rayonier property and takes those trail users who venture onto
that detour,next to, and frequently and unpleasantly downwind from,the city's sewer
treatment plant. The detour also contains several sharp, blind corners that can, and have,
lead to numerous head-on collisions and surprised dog attacks. Particularly dangerous is a
steep and sharp switch-back turn where the detour rejoins the railroad grade on the east.
None of the trail on the Rayonier property has been paved, although parts are placed on
preexisting hard surfaces. Those long stretches not on hard surfaces have degenerated to
a very rough conglomerate of dirt and uneven stones. The detour trail on the Rayonier
property is impassable as a transportation corridor and to many who wish to use
wheelchairs, baby carriages, road and touring bicycles, and to the elderly. Many trail
users, particularly elders, who walk east from Hollywood Beach would like to go along
the level waterfront trail as far as Morse Creek , but must turn around at the Rayonier
property, where the stable footing of a paved surface ends, and narrow, prohibitively
steep, grades with limited lines-of-sight begin.
A simple, expedient and economical solution to the detour trail over the Rayonier
property is at hand: route the trail"straight across" and eliminate the four-tenths of a
mile detour. A pair of paved roads with bridges across Ennis Creek already exists
immediately;north of the fenced parking lot:. To accommodate this "straight across" trail,
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selection of the-northern road and railroad bridge would allow existing intermittent truck
traffic to continue current use of the south road and bridge unimpeded to and fromthe- "
Rayonier property and Ennis Street without crossing the trail. A second remote-
t the security station in the parking
one a g
controlled gate, similar and close t�the existing y r _ .
lot, would �,ilow passage through the trail corridor when necessary for other truck traffic.
Chain-link fencing on the detour route should be-recycled to define and contain the
"straight across"corridor, as needed. The trail on the Rayonier property should be paved;
however; some of the trail route, including the `.`straight across' section, already has
adequate paving. Additionally, since the"straight across"trail is much shorter, paving
costs will be substantially less than such costs for the longer detour route. If the eventual
clean up of the Rayonier property requires it,the"straight across' section of the trail.can a
be easily temporarily rerouted to the detour route.
The"straight across" route will make the trail through the Rayonier property shorter,, .
much safer, almost immediately available, much more enjoyable, and will open,the trail.,
to many who do not now have access to the trail on; and to the east of, the Rayonier
property. The trail will become ADA compliant. The "straight across" route will
encourage many more individuals and groups to use the Olympic Discovery Trail and
will protect the present substantial economic benefits that our community enjoys because
of the trail.
We believe it is important for all parties with interests in the mill site to establish general
public use as'a priority. We think that the realignment of the Olympic Discovery Trail
across the mill site should be an initial point of agreement among all interested parties,
particularly in recognition of tribal supp ort for public use.
We urge you to approve the relocation of the Olympic Discovery Trail to the."straight
across" route, and to obtain the approval of other entities with interests in the property or,
the trail, such as ITT, Lower Elwha Tribe, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Department of
Ecology,_Peninsula.Trails Coalition,and Harbor-Works to that relocation of the trail; and
to quickly implement that change.
Ve ruly yours,
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Grant S. Meiner
Jiro l.ey
cc: Port Angeles City Manager