Station Out Of Space?

DAYTON - Visible progress is being made at the Blue Mountain Station site at the west end of Dayton on Highway 12 and Jennie Dickinson, the manager of the Port of Columbia, is hoping to have more commitment letters signed soon.

"I've got more inquiries than I've got space for," Dickinson said last Friday.

In July, Dickinson announced two letters of commitment had been signed from businesses interested in moving their food operations into the first build- ing of Blue Mountain Station. The station is being visioned as Dayton's first organic and natu- ral food processing facility that will be managed by the Port of Columbia.

Landscaping and improve- ments to the parking lot are underway, Dickinson said. The landscaping will not be lush, green lawn, but will be low-water use, native plants that fit in with the organic and natural theme of the facility, she said.

The planning for the first building, planned to be 7,000 square feet, is underway. Dick- inson said it has been "challenging" to get through the planning process. She expects the building permit to be secured by Jan. 1 and the project should go out to bid after.

The Blue Mountain Station team is still working to find out how to work a flour mill into the first building. But, the building will include a retail area to sell the goods manufactured in the station and includes a dozen, 576-square-foot spaces that will be leased to businesses.

The two committed business- es are still being kept confidential and of the 12 spaces, nine are already filled, Dickinson said. Be- cause there's not much space left, she said she will be pushing for companies to sign commitment papers to keep moving forward.

State funding secured in April jumpstarted the construction process of the first-planned building that would provide spaces for com- panies to develop and create their natural and organic food products. However, last Friday Dickinson said the port needs more money to possibly expand already. She said she may look into obtaining grant money from the Economic Devel- opment Administration to expand the project.

Gary White, the marketing consultant for the station, said obtaining this kind of federal funding is "very competitive" and added he hadn't yet discussed this option with Dickinson.

But, he said the project is off and running and they will be secur- ing more businesses from some interested parties.

Dickinson asked the members of the Economic Development Steering Committee last Friday to help clear up "confusion in the community" regarding the station. She asked the members of the committee to help spread information and support the project vocally in Dayton.

"I need advocates in the com- munity," she said.

Dickinson will be dissemination fliers in the community to help clear up questions. The flier's content is as follows:

Q: What's happening at the Blue Mountain Station site? Why is it just sitting there? A: Project development and construction takes a long time. But things are happening that you can't see. Preliminary land- scaping installation has started and will be completed in the fall of 2012, and the Port is working on obtaining the necessary per- mits to construct the first building in the spring of 2013.

Q: Will the project hurt downtown? A: No. It will help downtown. The business locating at Blue Mountain Station are primarily manufacturing businesses, and zoning rules do not allow that type of business downtown. Increasing the industrial base, promoting agri-tourism, and creating new jobs will bring much needed new customers to Dayton's downtown. Downtown businesses can also sell and use these local products.

Q: Why is the Port using tax- payer funding on this project?

A: That is why our Port Dis- trict was formed - to use public funds to help create an environ- ment that allows private busi- nesses to operate. The Port does that by making sure there is land zoned correctly for industrial and commercial development, and that the land has the appropriate infrastructure. That is why we used a portion of taxpayer money to buy land and put in roads, wa- ter lines, and sewer lines. This is what all ports do.

Q: Did the Port really need to buy so much land?

A: Yes. The Port bought what was called the Oliver Farm in the early 1980s. It has taken 30 years for this property to be developed into the Rock Hill Industrial Park. There are now 9 buildings and 13 businesses operating in the park with about 70 people employed. Three parcels along with the buildings, which employ over 30 people, have been sold to private business owners. The Port needed more appropriately zoned land to continue this successful model of providing space for businesses.

Q: Why did the Port pay so much for the land? A: By Washington State Law, the Port is required to pay fair market value for property. Therefore, an appraisal was done on the property, and the Port paid the exact dollar amount listed in the appraisal. Based on the appraisal, this property has high value because it is located in the Urban Growth Area, has access to city water and sewer, is located on Highway 12, and is adjacent to the rail line.

Q: Can the Port afford this? A: Yes. Even without any new revenue, the Port can cover the costs of land and infrastruc- ture. We are conservative budget- ers and always make sure we live within our means.

Q: But should the Port be subsidizing private businesses?

A: The Port is not subsidizing private businesses. We are required by Washington State law to charge market rate rent. The Port is allowed to buy land and construct buildings, but must charge the same rent a private building owner would charge. Also, we pay 12.84 percent leasehold tax to the government instead of property tax to keep things fair.

Q: When will Blue Moun- tain Station be finished? A: BMS will be working eco- food processing park by autumn 2013 and will continue to grow and develop with demand. The project will appear "finished" as each building is added, crops will be grown on the remainder of the site in the interim. It takes a long time to develop a property, just like the Oliver Farm did, so we expect this project to take at least 20 years to complete, if not more.

Q: Is it true this is just some idea a outside firm is pushing down our throats? A: No. This idea came from a survey of local citizens, who value agriculture and thought that value-added ag was the best fit for the existing culture and for new development in our coun- try as part of an ongoing effort to create jobs and improve the economic vitality of Columbia County and its communities. The Port agreed with citizens and has been working to develop the project since. Outside help hired as needed for specialty services and to keep the project moving forward.