Category Archives: Spencer Creek Business Park

Pacific Tech Construction would support the Port in determining best mixed-use tenants at the park with sights set on ultimately leasing and developing the property

Port of Kalama is considering a letter of intent from Pacific Tech Construction to develop a portion of Spencer Creek Business Park. The agreement allows Pacific Tech to seek commercial tenants for the location, negotiate property lease agreements, and develop the next stage of the entry tract at the business park.

All activity would be consistent with the Port’s approved Master Plan, land use parameters, and all other covenants and restrictions.

Pacific Tech Construction, Inc., headquartered in Kelso, Washington, is a general construction, roofing, and industrial contractor that provides services to both public and private sector clients across the United States. The firm has experience with projects for a diverse range of federal, state and local government clients, Fortune 500 companies, as well as commercial, manufacturing, processing, and other industrial clients. Services include vertical and horizontal construction, construction management, design-bid-build, design-build, and limited design scopes.

“This could not be a better collaboration for the Port to determine the best use of the entry to the Spencer Creek Business Park—we are pleased that a local Cowlitz County firm shares our vision for what could be,” said Mark Wilson, executive director, Port of Kalama. “We will collaborate every step of the way to ensure the most productive and beneficial use of this tract of land.”

C & R Tractor and Landscaping, Inc. will construct changes to the roundabout to accommodate oversized vehicles approximately 125-long

The Port of Kalama board of commissioners has approved a change order in the amount not to exceed $300,000 to implement changes to the roundabout at Spencer Creek Business Park—all to accommodate vehicles approximately 125-feet long and 14-feet wide. C & R Tractor and Landscaping, Inc. will provide construction services to retrofit the roundabout which is a part of the Spencer Creek Business Park Phase 1 development project.

The roundabout design changes include:

• Installing and delineating areas outside the normal design drive lanes that will accommodate oversized equipment when necessary;
• Extending asphalt for these oversized vehicles to utilize when required, moving curbs, re-locating utilities, and installing the required stormwater facilities to treat additional runoff from these expanded impervious areas.
• Installing additional pedestrian and vehicular safety measures in the extended pavement areas.

After studying many alternatives and much coordination with the City of Kalama (City), the initial roundabout plan was designed to accommodate a typical American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) WB-67 truck and trailer which together are 73.5-feet long. That design was approved by the City based on guidance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and complies with the Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards of the City (available on their website). As with any traffic improvement, the number one goal is public safety. The final design was a balance between the safety of the expected users over the 20-year build-out of the area, sight-lines, traffic speed, and avoiding the adjacent critical areas.

Years of thought and design by the City, Port, and engineers have been invested in this roundabout and traffic pattern project in conjunction with Cowlitz County Public Works and Engineering review. The Port commissioners heard concerns about equipment that may have a challenge in the area when they are loaded with very heavy and wide equipment—and we take those concerns very seriously.

The Port took a conservative approach when first designing the roundabouts, modeling a reasonable drive path for the apparent longest and widest loads. When concerns regarding accommodating larger vehicles, approximately 125-feet long, arose, the Port halted the construction project for further review of the design.

The final lift of asphalt was delayed to accommodate these changes—as was road striping. Adding the lift to the entire project at the same time makes the finish stronger and will help avoid maintenance issues on the finished road surface.

These delays have brought the project into fall and winter months where asphalt installation is impacted by weather, so the Port will need to schedule further construction based on availability of asphalt and weather temperature and rain.

The Port asks for patience from the community as teams work toward the best long-term, low-maintenance solutions that will support industry in the area. The Port understands the inconvenience and is working diligently to complete the next phase as quickly as Mother Nature permits.

C & R Tractor and Landscaping, Inc. will construct roads, a roundabout, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping in the first phase of construction at Spencer Creek Business Park

The Port plans for construction of roads, roundabout, sidewalks, landscaping and rain gardens among other site preparation activities

Port issues Request for Interest to develop highly visible multi-use commercial property right off I-5 in Kalama

The Port of Kalama has been honored with the Pathways 2020 Community Champions Award for Economic Vitality. The ‘economic vitality’ category awards organizations that excel at creating jobs, employee wellness, training, employable skills, new or expanding business, transportation, financial security, reducing poverty, and higher wages. Pathways 2020, a Cowlitz County nonprofit, also awards individuals and organizations that lead in the areas of education, housing, social cohesion, health and access to healthy foods.

“This award reflects our planning and collaboration with community and business partners to ensure environmental and economic balance to create good jobs, investments in community amenities, and a quality of life like none other,” said Troy Stariha, president, Port of Kalama Board of Commissioners.

Port of Kalama contributes to a thriving and livable community

The Pathways 2020 award for economic vitality celebrates the Port of Kalama’s contributions to ensure a healthy economy and community assets that improve Kalama’s quality of life:

• Marina renovation project is under design to perform maintenance and upgrades while enhancing safety and environmental protection, American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, facility aesthetics and overall attractiveness of the entire marina.
• Parking facilities will be expanded at Marine Park to accommodate more recreational visitors and serve marina traffic.
• McMenamins new hotel and brewpub located on the Kalama riverfront, which honors the town’s Hawaiian heritage and founding pioneers, is under construction and is expected to open to the public in early 2018.
• Initial property development and preparation of the mixed-used Spencer Creek Business Park are underway to expand business opportunities in Kalama.
• In response to demand for more light industrial space at the Port, the board of commissioners recently approved the expansion of Kalama River Industrial Park with a new 110,000 square foot building. Permitting and construction will start soon.
• In an effort to develop a closer relationship between the students and faculty of the Kalama Schools and the Port’s business partners on the waterfront— the Port played a leadership role in a student career fair that offered an opportunity to meet members of the business community and learn about jobs and career opportunities right there in Kalama.

Pathways 2020 is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Cowlitz County through collaborative partnerships, resource mobilization, strategic planning and program development. Its mission is to promote and improve the health and wellbeing of Cowlitz County by fostering community partnerships that provide the fabric and support each person needs to be a healthy and contributing member of the community.

Site preparation and preloading commences work this month at Spencer Creek Business Park at the Port of Kalama. The Port recently awarded the $1.2 million contract to Tapani, Inc. for Phase 2 site preloading and ground improvement at site which is now underway.

Residents and visitors will see the piles of sand being moved onto the site at Area 3 for the ‘preload’ phase of the ground improvement process. After Area 3 settles the preload material will move on to Area 4. The area is well-marked with signs to help explain the process.

The Phase 2 project at Spencer Creek Business Park will complete site preloading and occur in several phases with a land settlement period between each phase. (A project map is included below.) The project includes:

• Removing all sand above 26.5′ elevation from Areas 1 and 2
• Moving it in phases to Areas 3 through 6
• Permitted clearing of some trees and vegetation, fences and structures
• Compacting sand to 26.5′ elevation.

Upon completion of Phase 2, the entire 70-acre footprint will be prepared for development. General business activity at the Port will not be interrupted during this time.

Watch this video to find out more about what Spencer Creek Business Park will bring to our community.

The Port of Kalama’s East Port initiative is the latest investment in our community’s future. The vision for East Port includes the Spencer Creek Business Park as well as the adjacent recreational areas. Working closely with the City of Kalama, Cowlitz County and other regional partners, the Port has already made considerable progress toward its goal of strengthening Kalama’s cultural, recreational and employment opportunities.

Haydu Park, the first of two major East Port contributions, is now open for community enjoyment with soccer fields, baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, shoreline access and many other recreational amenities. The gorgeous recreational facility is spread over 45 acres in an idyllic setting adjacent to the Kalama River.

The Port’s $4.5 million investment into the development of this regional destination, at no expense to local tax payers, is a prime example of a strong commitment to Kalama’s quality of life.

Haydu Park also serves as the new home for the Kalama Fair and other popular community events including the Amalak Plant Sale and Fair Board Flea Market— and in time, many others. Activities at Haydu Park continue to attract visitors to Kalama resulting in increased local spending, lodging taxes and other revenues.  Above all, this state-of-the-art enhancement for local sports teams and event organizers is a place they can be proud to call home.

Port of Kalama creates economic engine for the region

Work on the second major East Port component, Spencer Creek Business Park, is now underway.  While full development of Spencer Creek will occur gradually over twenty years, the mixed-use economic engine and employment hub—including a variety of commercial and industrial uses—is anticipated to support more than 1,000 new jobs, $40 million in annual payroll wages, $270 million in business revenues and $4.5 million in annual tax revenue.

Current development at the business park includes grading, infrastructure extension, road improvements and landscaping. Next, the Port will replant new trees and vegetation according to a plan developed in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

As the Port of Kalama brings the East Port vision to life, we continue to work closely with the broader community, stakeholder groups, businesses and residents.  As one early outcome of this personal engagement, the Port has purchased several properties located between Kalama River Road and the Kalama River after being approached by property owners there. In each case, the Port has leased back these single-family residences to the original owners while focusing on completing construction at Haydu Park and work on the Spencer Creek Business Park.  While there are no immediate plans for these properties, the intention is to preserve future options including possible improvements and/or habitat enhancement.

Like you, we at the Port of Kalama are residents of this treasured community. We are stewards of the land. And we want what’s best for this place we call home.

As always, the Port will strive to meet or exceed all applicable environmental regulations, community goals and public involvement guidelines as we bring the vision to life. To learn more about East Port and its benefits to the region, please visit www.PortOfKalama.com.

Let’s celebrate our successes together and give thanks for all we share as residents of Kalama!

For more on East Port plans, watch this! Spencer Creek Business Park video

Kalama locals may see truckloads of sand moving from the Steelscape warehouse site across the freeway to the future home of Spencer Creek Business Park in the next few weeks. Sand has been used to compact the land for the building of the new Steelscape warehouses. That sand now transitions to provide the same land compacting at the proposed business park. Should you have any questions about the process, please call 360/673-2325.

The City of Kalama Planning Commission has approved the Port of Kalama’s Master Plan to develop 70 acres of Port property to make way for the anticipated Spencer Creek Business Park. The City and Port together earned the 2014 Governor’s Smart Communities Award for their collaboration on planning the multi-use business property which is expected to boost the region’s available commercial property, economy and job opportunities while strengthening the city’s revenue base.

The Spencer Creek Business Park will encompass about 70 acres (3 million square feet) and over 500,000 square feet of space when built-out. The mix of light industrial, office, commercial and retail uses is a boon for a region lacking in developable land. The proposed site uses may include:

• Office/flex
• Light industrial
• Commercial/retail
• Hotel
• Convenience store
• Dining

Click for aerial video of Spencer Creek Business Park.

The Port of Kalama and City of Kalama, who worked together to craft a new City Code to enable the flexible, multipurpose development, will collaborate now on the permitting processes for developing the site infrastructure. An economic evaluation is pending to develop the facility in order to create jobs and local revenue in an environmentally responsible fashion.

“This annexation offers terrific benefits to the city and our residents as it expands Kalama’s tax base. We can expect a substantial economic impact and additional funds for important city projects going forward,” said Mayor Pete Poulsen, City of Kalama.  “This partnership between the City and the Port is an excellent example of what can be accomplished with a shared common vision for the future of this fine community.”

The Port envisions a 20-year build-out that started with the creation of a regional recreational draw, Haydu Park.  New business activity will significantly increase employment opportunities and add millions of dollars to local tax revenue rolls. “The City and the Port have worked together to create common planning goals for future development, and we’ve created a road map for establishing a vibrant mixed-use district,” continues Mayor Poulsen.

“The development of this business center—and expansion of neighboring recreational facilities at Haydu Park—support our strategy for economic growth in the Cowlitz region and position Kalama as a relocation destination for diverse industries,” says Randy Sweet, Commission President, Port of Kalama.