By Dian Ver Valen
The Times
County Considers Port Development
Blue Mountain Station's future tied to agreement
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Dian Ver Valen
Photo by Dian Ver Valen Workers with Walla Walla Electric install solar panels atop Blue Mountain Station earlier this month. The Port of Columbia, owner of this artisan food center just west of Dayton on Highway 12, is working with Columbia County Commissioners on a development plan that will ensure the future of the building and surrounding property.
DAYTON – Port of Columbia Manager Jennie Dickinson is quite proud of the document she shared with The Times last week – the Blue Mountain Station Development Agreement. She and planning consultant Bill Stalzer collaborated at length to produce this "road map" for the Port's continued commercial development on Artisan Way.
"This document explains in detail how everything we have planned at Blue Mountain Station fits within the county's current comprehensive development plan and zoning restrictions," Dickinson said.
In other words, if the Columbia County Commissioners sign this agreement, they will be allowing the plan to stand for 20 years, regardless of how the county's development plan as a whole evolves. "We don't want something big to change in the county plan while we're in the middle of working on this project," Dickinson explained.
The commissioners are reviewing the plan now; a public hearing on the development agreement is planned for 1:15 p.m. on June 3, during the commissioners' regular board meeting. A copy of the agreement for public review should be available through the commissioners' office, Dickinson said.
The port owns the Blue Mountain Station, where an Artisan Food Center is currently located, and plans have been laid for several more food-processing and retail-sales buildings.
Blue Mountain Station's proposed development agreement covers everything from project phase maps that work with the existing infrastructure to an explanation of the port's planning principles (to focus on the economy, sustainability, community, and more). Various chapters and appendices address signage, parking, street layout, performance standards (such as lighting, buffers, delivery hours, traffic movement, the water and sewer service plans, and more).
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