The Port of Camas-Washougal commission will present three preliminary concepts for waterfront development at its meeting Monday.
Ideas for the concepts came from residents throughout the last few months, when the port hosted five events on the project and sent out a survey, collecting about 890 responses, according to David Ripp, executive director of the port.
Ripp said more details about the three plans will be unveiled at the meeting, which will take place at 5 p.m. Monday in the port meeting room at port offices, 24 S. A St., Washougal. He said some of amenities residents repeatedly asked for were access to the water, smaller-scale buildings, walking trails and places to sit outside, both throughout the property and restaurants with outdoor seating options.
The port, along with RKm Development and YBA Architects, developed the three preliminary concepts for the roughly 26.5 acres the port owns east of Waterfront Park. Ripp said the final plan will most likely include bits and pieces from all three concepts. Ideally, he’d like to see it developed as a multi-use space with space for outdoor recreation, dining, shopping and living.
If you go
What: Port of Camas-Washougal commissioner meeting, where they will unveil three preliminary concepts for development at the waterfront.
When: 5 p.m. Monday.
Where: Port meeting room in the Port of Camas-Washougal office, 24 S. A St., Washougal.
Nearby is about 8.5 acres owned by Killian Pacific to the east of the waterfront property, where the Vancouver-based commercial real estate developer will develop a residential complex. The port and developer are working through stormwater planning for the entire site currently, Ripp said.
He added that the plan for the port is to discuss the three options, approve a preliminary concept in November and approve a final master plan with details on the plan’s first phase in December. If all goes according to plan, Ripp said he could see construction start in mid- to late-summer 2021, which is also when he anticipates construction starting on the Killian project.
According to a request for proposal the port sent out in 2018, the former Hambleton Bros. Lumber Co. site was appraised at $13,734,000 in May 2017. Roughly $16.3 million has been invested in the waterfront so far, according to the proposal. The property cost $12 million, building the waterfront park and trail cost $3.3 million, a Department of Ecology cleanup of the site cost $785,000, and conceptual design, master planning and infrastructure design for the site cost $215,000.
Earlier this year, the port opened a new natural play area near the waterfront, which features a 9-foot tall Sasquatch statue for kids to climb on.
