If all goes well we could possibly break ground on the new store early next year!
The city council this week approved our new site plan. Your co-op altered plans to include a new access road from 23rd Street, because neighbors were concerned about the previous plan to use a more narrow street called Steam Whistle Way.
Three Mill Pond residential property owners had appealed our project and even though the city council had sided with the co-op, we wanted to avoid another possible appeal. Further, as a community-owned store, acceptance from our future neighbors is important.
According to the Daily Astorian, “City Manager Brett Estes said it is the first time in his career he has witnessed this kind of peaceful compromise after an issue has reached the battleground of the appeals process.”
It has been a challenging land use process, so the city manager’s positive comment is especially great to hear. We hope you are as proud as everyone on our development team to be a part of a project that’s moving forward with integrity!
Now it’s a matter of finalizing plans and getting permits so we can build our new store which could be open by early 2020. Timing is in line with a goal in the co-op’s strategic plan to open much-needed bigger new store.