Meeting will outline plans for port development with RKm
WASHOUGAL — The Port of Camas-Washougal is set to hold a community open house on Aug. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will be held at the port office meeting room and will cover the development of the waterfront property with RKm Development.
“I’m really excited about one word, it’s possibility,” said Mark Miller, the director of planning and development for the port. “I really believe it’s going to change the identity of not just the port, but all of east county.”
Miller said the port is looking for community input during this meeting, with specific focus on residents preferences on the look and feel of the design and amenities therin.
The potentially $300 million plus development will be headed by RKm Development and YBA Architects. Matt Brown of YBA and Roy Kim of RKm have made presentations to the port board and will have representation at the open house.
Three concepts will be presented, with the final product likely being the best elements of all three, Miller said.
“The end result is probably not going to look like any of these three,” he said. “This process of going through and developing these concepts is incredibly important, but it’s somewhat frustrating. People … see these concepts, and they will get attached to it. The intent is to get a feel for what everybody wants and blend all those thoughts together to come up with the end result.”
Concept A is a boulevard style design, with buildings surrounding and direct connection the the Waterfront Trail. Concept B is designed in a block system with city streets and the grid layout. Finally, Concept C presents a roundabout design approach, which mimics the infrastructure in Washougal’s downtown.
“Hopefully it will really put us on the map as far as on the national level,” Miller said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity, the setting couldn’t be any more perfect.”
For more information of the open house or the design concepts, visit the port’s website.
