Tax Increment Area

The City of Ridgefield adopted Ordinance No. 1410 designating the Ridgefield Tax Increment Area (TIA) on November 2, 2023 to support the development of Ridgefield as a regional employment center. The Ridgefield TIA includes developable land suitable for commercial and employment land uses. The TIA serves as an investment in critical infrastructure for future development of living-wage employment and desired services.

Project Background

The 2016 Update to the Ridgefield Comprehensive plan, developed with significant community input, outlines direction and policies to accommodate 8,708 new jobs, consistent with the City vision to develop a regional employment center, quality neighborhoods, and complete community. The Junction subarea, centered around I-5, plays an important role in attracting employers who provide high-quality jobs and employment opportunities for residents.

Without critical infrastructure improvements, the area lacks sufficient capacity to accommodate additional development. The TIA will provide the necessary investment in infrastructure to allow the area to reach its potential as a center for employment and services.

The Ridgefield TIA includes the property on either side of I-5 , north of South 20th Way and south of North 20th Street.

View the TIA Boundary Map

As demonstrated in the boundary map, the area is mostly large, undeveloped properties that produce limited property taxes. The streets and the stormwater facility are necessary to allow the area to develop to add living wage jobs and services for the Ridgefield community. These jobs and services will benefit not only residents of Ridgefield, but residents in our entire region.

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

• Build a roundabout at 51st Ave and widen Pioneer to a 4 lane boulevard with center median and multi-modal improvements, similar to the already improved segment in front of Acero Apartments. Include storm water system and water system improvements. Widen Royle Road (45^th Avenue) to minor arterial (3 lanes)
• Build N 5^th Street or Pioneer Canyon Drive as industrial/commercial collector (3 lanes)
• Build N 51st Avenue as industrial/commercial collector (3 lanes)
• Build N 56th Avenue as industrial/commercial collector (3 lanes)
• Build S 51st Avenue as minor arterial (3 lanes)
• Build new east-west collector roadway south of Pioneer Street (SR 501) (2 lanes)
• Regional Stormwater Facility – I-5 Interchange
• North-South connector east of I-5
• Build S10^th /11^th Street Corridor and I-5 overcrossing
• Fire Station Land Purchase

For additional information, please click here to view our published FAQ's.

Public Involvement

The City participated in outreach to educate the community about and seek input on the TIA from stakeholders and the general public. For a summary of all public engagement, read the Project Analysis Report.

Two public briefings were held:

• Public Briefing #1: Thursday, July 13, 5:00PM
  A public briefing was held to educate the public on the Tax Increment Area on Thursday, July 13 at 5:00PM in the Columbia Assembly Room at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center (510 Pioneer St).
  • Listen to Audio Recording of the Meeting
  • View the Presentation Slides
• Public Briefing #2: Thursday, October 26, 5:30PM
  A public briefing was held to educate the public on the Tax Increment Area on Thursday, October 26 at 5:30PM in the Columbia Assembly Room at the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center (510 Pioneer St).
  • Listen to Audio Recording of the Meeting
  • View the Presentation Slides