By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – The Lower Elwha Tribe’s plan to build a 4-star hotel in downtown Port Angeles appears to be in a state of limbo as groundwater pollution cleanup moves into it’s second year and the skyrocketing price of building materials currently proves to be a budget buster.

Project spokesman Michael Peters says despite getting approval from the state authorities for four straight quarters of successful cleanup of toxins, another “hot spot” turned up on the property, which they’ve been working to rectify, and now pollutants have been detected under Railroad Avenue that originated from the Tribe’s lot.

Meanwhile, the City of Port Angeles is awaiting information from the Tribe before they’ll consider issuing a permit. There are two issues pending, the cleanup and the height variance the Tribe has requested. The Tribe wants to build the hotel 60 feet tall, 15 feet above the zoning restriction.

Peters also told us that building material shortages and the associated cost increases have put the idea of starting a major construction project out of reach until things improve. The nearby Events Center project has paused construction for similar reasons.

(Graphic: Proposed hotel design between Front Street and Railroad Avenue.)