About Ridgefield Roundtable

Thank you for your question.

It is a common misconception that the City is picking and choosing individual businesses to build here. This is not how the development process works.

Through tools such as zoning, land use, and permitting the City sets standards for what kind of development (land use) will be permitted for specific zoning and the level of quality that buildings must meet. It is up to business owners and developers to choose whether they would like to build here.

When the City receives an application for a new business building permit, our job is to make sure it is an allowed land use at that location and ensure, through design standards, that the location with be the highest quality version of that business. We are not able to tell a business they cannot build here if the land they would like to build on is appropriately zoned and they are meeting design standards with their building.

That being said, we do have a local bakery that participates in the Ridgefield Farmers Market. The market just had their opening weekend and will be at Davis Park on Saturdays through September: https://ridgefieldwa.us/305/Farmers-Market

The developer for this property is still working through the regular development process prior to beginning construction on the site.  

Thank you for your enthusiasm about the new pump track at Boyse Park! Establishing connections between neighborhoods and parks through trails is a vital aspect of the long-term vision for the park system. The comprehensive planning and construction of parks follows the City's Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) Plan, last updated in 2020, with an upcoming update later this year. 

While we can't commit to specific trail plans at the moment, your input is greatly appreciated and hasn't gone unnoticed. Your valuable input plays a significant role in shaping the future of our neighborhoods. Thank you for sharing your perspective. 

The YMCA of Columbia-Willamette will be building a YMCA facility in Ridgefield thanks to a partnership with the City of Ridgefield and a private developer. The city has provided land and helped to fund site design. The YMCA has shared that there have been significant cost increases in the last several years. They are currently finalizing the design and looking for ways to bring the total cost of the project down, while seeking additional funds from donors. We hope to learn more this month. 

The City of Ridgefield will continue to support YMCA efforts to construct a Ridgefield facility and bring highly desired services to Ridgefield families.

Thank you for your question. 

I am not certain which proposed trails you are referring to, so I will try to provide as much general information as possible. If you have additional questions, please contact our Public Works Department at 360-887-8251. 

The Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan identifies gaps in trail connectivity and includes a map (page 89) that plots potential linkages. This guide establishes a path forward and serves as a strategic plan for recreation opportunities.

Current City Trail Development projects include:

1. Mayor's Meadow Multi-Use Trail - The project plan is to develop a multi-use path along SR 501 from Mayor's Meadow on the SE corner of Abrams Park to the intersection of Pioneer Street and N Reiman Rd. This is a city and WSDOT project that is currently pending funding.
2. Gee Creek Trail, Heron Drive to Main Avenue - This project adds a northern segment to the Gee Creek trail, following the creek through to Main Avenue. It is currently in the planning process with construction not expected until 2025-2026.
3. Hillhurst Multi-Modal Trail - A multi-modal trail, for pedestrians and bicycles, along the north side of Hillhurst Road stretching from Ridgefield High School to just past 22nd Circle. This project is still in the planning process.

Another way that new trails are built are by developers building new neighborhoods. New neighborhoods in Ridgefield are required to set aside 25% of the whole site for parks, trails and open spaces. 

Trail maintenance responsibility can vary depending on the neighborhood. If you see a trail in need of attention, please submit the information through an online service request - https://ridgefieldwa.us/207/Access-Ridgefield. If it is a city maintained trail our Public Works team will know that it is in need of attention, and if it is HOA maintained we can reach out to them about the issue.

Ridgefield envisions an interconnected park, trail and greenway system providing recreation opportunities to our community. In order to work toward this, trails are built in several different ways. If you have questions about a specific trail or trail segment, please contact us at 360-887-8251.

Thank you for your question. 

The Pioneer Widening Project between 56th Place and Royle Road is currently scheduled to go to construction in mid 2024 with the goal of being completed before the end of the year.

Currently, there are no projects being planned in the next 2-3 years to widen the segment of Pioneer between 35th and 39th. Next year, we will be working on an update to our Transportation Capital Facilities Plan which will produce a 6-year priority list of improvements as well as an updated 20-year plan. The community will have opportunities to engage in the update process in 2024, and this segment could be identified as a location prioritized for bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

Hello, thank you for reaching out.

You are correct that the 35th roundabout does not have any design, and thank you for the suggestion. When the roundabout was constructed, there was not budget available for a center design.

The City is currently creating a process for deciding the center design for each of the roundabouts. The goal is to have roundabouts that are unique for Ridgefield, their specific location, and are attractive and safe. The process will include an opportunity for community input, and City Council will make the final decision. Once designs have been finalized, funding will need to be secured before any projects will be undertaken.

Thank you for your question. 

Property Taxes:

The City of Ridgefield is considering the formation of a Tax Increment Allocation Area (TIA). The proposed Ridgefield TIA includes the property on either side of I-5, north of South 20th Way and south of North 20th Street. A TIA adds an additional funding source to complete needed infrastructure projects. These projects will provide the infrastructure needed to enable new development that will provide services and jobs for our community. The TIA would not raise tax levy amounts for existing parcels. 

If adopted, the property taxes being levied on the current assessed value within the TIA boundary will continue to go to the overlapping taxing districts. In the proposed Ridgefield TIA, some property tax revenue from increases in assessed value after the TIA is established will go to the City to pay for improvements within the TIA boundary. This tax allocation revenue is from new development in the TIA and increases in assessed value from appreciation of existing properties. Again, a TIA will not increase the taxes that a property owner pays. 

The projects being considered for TIA funding are new streets and the construction of a regional stormwater facility at the I-5 interchange. 

Additional public outreach regarding the Tax Increment Allocation Area will be completed in the upcoming months. 

Currently, the City of Ridgefield has the lowest levy rate per $1000 of assessed value in the county. 

Senior Residents:

Ridgefield does not have a Senior Center, however, some services typical of a Senior Center are available through various community organizations. On our website you can find a Senior Resource Guide with general resources to our local seniors: https://ridgefieldwa.us/things-to-do/senior-resource-guide/. On this page, you can also find a link to the Clark County Commission on Aging and their Aging Readiness Plan to improve the community's capacity to support its growing older population.

In addition, the City is currently embarking on an update to the Comprehensive Plan. This effort will include updates to the Transportation and Parks Capital Facilities Plans with safety and "all ages and abilities" objectives. 

Thank you for your question.

In past years (2016-2018), land use plans, civil engineering, and building plans were approved for a 3-building commercial site plan (retail, restaurant, office) However, the land was sold and a new owner purchased the property in December 2020. 

At this time, the new owner has not moved forward with previously approved plans or submitted any new development proposal.

Code Enforcement has been monitoring the location, and was most recently out in December 2022. If you'd like to submit a service request directly to City staff and receive follow up on your request, you can do so here: https://ridgefieldwa.us/accessridgefield/.

Thank you for your question, and I apologize the response has been delayed.

We also believe that Downtown Ridgefield is the soul of Ridgefield and that maintaining a healthy downtown is critical to keeping our small town feel as Ridgefield grows. Some of the work that the city does to support Downtown includes hosting and supporting community events in the downtown core, partnering with organizations such as Ridgefield Main Street to support downtown businesses, and public investment in enhancing Downtown. Improvements have been made at Davis Park, removing an old building and expanding the parking lot to provide additional parking opportunities. A splash pad is going to be built at Overlook Park, a highly requested amenity that will bring families into the area to recreate. Each month, we host Ridgefield First Saturdays in downtown to bring residents new and old into the area and promote the local businesses.

Our Public Works staff spend significant time cleaning our parks and streets. If you see an area that is city property that needs attention, please let us know so that we may address it by submitting an online service request or calling 360-887-8251. Looking at the intersection of Main Ave and Heron Drive, I am not certain that what you are seeing is on city property, but we would be happy to talk with you about it and figure out the problem.

Per the Ridgefield Municipal Code 12.04.080, maintenance of all sidewalks and curbs is the responsibility of the abutting property owner.

If you see a storm drain that will not properly drain due to vegetation, please let us know by submitting an online service request or calling 360-887-8251. Our crews simply cannot be everywhere at once, so we appreciate it when our community can let us know about any issue that they have seen.

There are limitations to the type and size of debris the Street Sweeper truck can pick up. For specific questions, please contact our Public Works Department at 360-887-8251.