Curb appeal
Towne Road's final permit is approved despite landowner interference
Construction crews are working six days a week to complete the road atop the 0.6-mile Towne Road Levee. County staff spent months drafting at least five versions of the stormwater mitigation plan, as demanded by the Jamestown Tribe. The Army Corps’ issuance of this final permit has depended on the Tribe’s approval, and critics said construction should have never begun without it.
Two weeks ago, the commissioners were asked to provide an update on the pending permit at their weekly meeting. Commissioner Ozias replied, “My understanding… is that the Army Corps has received all the information that they feel like they need, and we are awaiting to hear back from them at this point.”
In other words, The Army Corps of Engineers received instruction from the Jamestown Tribe, but was it approval or disapproval that the Tribe communicated? Commissioner Ozias, who serves as the Board’s Tribal Liaison, didn’t know if the County’s project partner had approved or denied the design — only that they had sent communication to the Army Corps.
Nearing the end of a decades-long $20-million infrastructure project, one that would restore a vital historic link between Dungeness and Sequim, the three commissioners didn’t know (and seemingly weren’t interested in finding out) if their project partner, Jamestown Tribe, would allow the road to be completed. This style of collaboration has become customary for the County and Tribe during their joint venture, which has been riddled with miscommunication and cost overruns.
But now we know the fate of Towne Road.
The county’s website has been updated with a document from the Army Corps of Engineers, which states, “Your request for a permit modification is approved.”
County leaders have seemingly cleared the last obstacle thrown at them by relentless private interests, dogged political interests, determined special interests, and even tenacious Commissioner Mark Ozias, who tried to stop his district’s road from reopening ten times.
County Staff had the foresight and confidence to begin construction of the road, ensuring it would reopen to traffic by the end of this construction season. Without their diligence, Towne Road would have remained closed for at least another year. The county expects the project to be completed by the end of next month.
Two co-founders of a nonprofit dedicated to keeping Towne Road closed attempted again to halt the project by contacting the Army Corps of Engineers. Their attempts to convert a county road into their private driveway while having the taxpayers fund $125,000 for automatic, electric gates continue to reveal how deeply rooted private and special interests are in Clallam County.
Department of Community Development Director Bruce Emery’s response reminds us that Towne Road will best serve the public’s needs when it is open to all those who have paid for it, not an elite few.
From: Sanguinetti, Pamela A CIV USARMY CENWS (USA)<Pamela.Sanguinetti@usace.army.mil>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2024 9:44 AM
To: Lear, Cathy <cathy.lear@clallamcountywa.gov>
Cc: Amy Summe <Amy.Summe@shanwil.com>; Behrens, Christopher F CIV USARMY CENWS (USA) <Christopher.Behrens@usace.army.mil>
Subject: FW: Dungeness Levee Setback / Towne Road project. (NWS-2017-719)
Hello Cathy and Amy,
We received the following email comment with concerns regarding the County’s design changes.
Perhaps we can set-up a phone call later this week. Chris is out of the office until tomorrow so perhaps Wed/Thurs.
Thank you,
Pam
Pamela Sanguinetti (she/her)
Senior Project Manager, Regulatory
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Seattle District
From: Derrick Eberle
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2024 8:30 AM
To: pamela.sanguinetti@usace.army.mil <pamela.sanguinetti@usace.army.mil>
Cc: christopher.behrens@usace.army.mil <christopher.behrens@usace.army.mil>; brian.j.stenehjem@usace.army.mil <brian.j.stenehjem@usace.army.mil>; Kate Houk; Bri Eberle
Subject: Dungeness Levee Setback / Towne Road project.
Hello Ms. Sanguinetti,
My family and I are residents that access our home directly off of a Clallam County project that your office is a project partner for and a reviewer of. We farm the land adjacent to the project site.
I am also a State of Washington licensed landscape architect and a design professional familiar with the restoration of wetland sites and road construction. I am writing to you today because I am greatly concerned about the design changes to this levee project that your office is being asked to consider/review currently.
Specifically:
Roadway Design
The project design has changed a proposed intersection at the north end of the corridor, from a roundabout to a two-way stop sign.
My understanding of the reason of this change is that project funding is no longer available to construct the roundabout and the two-way stop is a cheaper alternative.
The issue is this proposed intersection is located on the inside edge of a blind curve. As a licensed design professional experienced in the design of public spaces and roadways, I think this is a dangerous location for a two-way stop.
Please see the diagram below as well as a photo of an accident that occurred here a few weeks ago on new year's day. We have witnessed countless accidents on this stretch of road through the years and fear that this will become the newest and potentially most dangerous accident location.
I also believe that a public trail immediately adjacent to the roadway presents unnecessary safety risks, and any sort of divider to protect trail users should be substantial to reduce the risks of injury or fatalities.
The levee does not have any banked grade to it currently, and I’m not certain how the twists and bends in a proposed road segment will be safely addressed.
Stormwater Improvements
As I understand, another revision to the design involved directing stormwater runoff from the north side of the levee per the original design to the south side of the levee in this new design.
The concern is that the additional water could have detrimental effects on the properties (including ours) immediately south of the project.
This should not be taken lightly as we were not asked about this new design feature nor were we included in the design process to make sure that it is completely compatible for the environment nor our farm, for the future.
One neighbor, Kate Houk, has been experiencing detrimental flooding on her property and in close proximity to her home since June of 2023. Kate Houk can be reached at (360) 477-XXXX if you would like to more information on what she has experienced. I have also cc’d her on this email.
Kate is a former National Park Service ranger and a retired USPS Post Master, and I’m sure would appreciate speaking with a fellow federal employee about the issues she has experienced with this project.
She expressed to us that she reached out the Clallam County road department many times asking for answers and help in solving this issue but was met with no response.
It was only when she saw someone from the department in person last month on the levee that she was finally able to connect with them.
As reviewer of the plans, I think the USACE is taking on unnecessary liability by permitting this road infrastructure to be constructed as currently planned.
The construction of this road corridor also goes against the recommendation of another project partner, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. I know that the USACE respects the opinions and input of sovereign nations and hope you consider their wishes below. Please see the comment that the tribe provided to Clallam County. Please follow up with the Transportation Program Manager Wendy Clark from the tribe if you would like more information.
And though this final piece of information may not be of direct interest to the USACE, we feel it's important for you to know that 500 members of the Dungeness/Sequim/Port Angeles community have signed a petition stating that they do not wish for this segment to be turned into a road.
This road is not wanted or needed by the majority of the local community including the project neighbors. It is being pushed ahead by the county that is being influenced by a small and aggressive group of vocal pro-road advocates. Here is a website that was created with information about preserving the levee and trail in it's current state: www.savetheleveetrail.org.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.
Derrick and Bri Eberle
2488 Towne Road
Sequim WA 98382
(360) 461-XXXX
Here's a photo of a car that went into the ditch in the area on New Year's Day:
A commendation is in order Jeff, for your steadfastness in pursuing and reporting on this project. You have inspired me and others to keep a watchful eye on the dealings of the county commissioners. I stand by you and hope to be an asset to you in your endeavors. Thanks again for the work you do. As a well known political figure says, FIGHT.
It had been a long, arduous “road” to keep the spotlight on an end goal that serves more rather than fewer citizens impacted.
Congratulations CC Watchdog! Thanks to Clallam County staff and commissioners. The letter from Bruce Emory was particularly pointed and professional. County residents will have the return of a county road for safety and convenience in our daily lives due to keeping a focus on the issue of best services for the most. We owe a debt of gratitude to CC Watchdog’s tenacity in research and publication of all the facts, figures and foibles.