 |
|
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
||||
|
|
For Immediate Release Contact: Maureen Chan-Hefflin, Communications
Manager PORT OF VANCOUVER, USA LOOKS TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT Click here to download an Aerial Photo. (424 KB jpeg)
July 13, 2004 -- The Port of Vancouver, USA Board of Commissioners authorized $5.9 million today for the purchase of 265 acres of light industrial and agricultural zoned property from a neighbor farm owner, Rufener Farm, L.L.C., to accommodate future business development opportunities.
The Rufener Farm property is located on the north side of Lower River Road, adjacent to the port’s operating terminals. About 58 acres of the land is zoned light industrial, and 207 acres zoned agricultural. “Land continues to be a scarce resource in the maritime industry,” said port commission president, Arch Miller. “Additional property contiguous to the port’s current operating facilities will allow us to expand and enhance our competitive edge in the global marketplace, which in turn benefits our local community.”
The port anticipates some infrastructure improvements to the industrial-zoned property including water, power and sewer connections; internal roadways; and some fill to bring the land above the flood plains. Until development occurs, the entire property will continue to be farmed by the current three tenants involved in ranching and berry farming activities.
“The Rufeners are pleased to entrust this property to the Port,” said Mark Stoker from the law offices of Heurlin Potter Jahn Leatham & Holtmann, representing the Rufener family. “They have every confidence that the property will benefit the community under the Port’s stewardship.”
The Board authorized port executive director, Larry Paulson, to sign the purchase agreement upon the amendment of the Port’s Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements and Industrial Development. Required by law, the Port’s Comprehensive Scheme describes marine and industrial concepts, and shows possible future expenditures for improvements or expansion. Amendments to the Comprehensive Scheme also require a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) non-project review. A public hearing on the comprehensive scheme amendment is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. at the Port’s administrative offices at 3103 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver, Washington. Action will be taken at the meeting following the public hearing.
“The Rufener property will help us accommodate some of the near term business opportunities until Columbia Gateway is ready for development,” said Paulson. “The Port continues to focus on economic development, and job creation is paramount to our local economy.”
The port’s proposed Columbia Gateway project is undergoing a strategic master planning process to meet the long-term economic, infrastructure, marine, and industrial needs of the Port of Vancouver, City of Vancouver, Clark County, and the region. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a Revised Subarea Plan is scheduled to be completed in early 2005. The port will begin work shortly on transitioning into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process which is anticipated to take at least another three to five years before any development can begin. More information on port projects is available on the Port of Vancouver Web site at http://www.PortVanUSA.com. For more information, please contact Maureen Chan-Hefflin, Communications Manager at (360) 992-1107 or email: mch@PortVanUSA.com.
The Port of Vancouver, USA, created by Clark
County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific
Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile
cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable
labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers
and community. |
|
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |