March 2019
Volume 18 • Issue 3
Rezone would pave way for Richland housing, school BY ROBIN WOJTANIK
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Hospitality
Hospitality industry employment could get boost Page 11
Real Estate & Construction
Boiada Brazilian Steakhouse coming to Kennewick Page 21
Business to Business
Tri-Cities Local Business Association builds relationships Page 33
he Said It
“The people you work for make the difference. I owe it to my team to be the best director I can be.” -Tim Krantz, director of operations for Olive Garden’s Northwest division Page 13
Hundreds of acres north of the Queensgate Drive shopping area are poised to be rezoned by the city of Richland to pave the way for future development and a new school. The 314-acre parcel, which has been owned by Washington since its statehood, is currently zoned agricultural. The state Department of Natural Resources requested the rezone to allow for low-, medium- and high-density residential housing, as well as earmarking some land for public use. A decision could come by April. The city’s hearing examiner held a public hearing on the matter March 11 and will make a recommendation to the Richland City Council in about six weeks. “The proposal is so consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, it’s very unlikely it would not be approved,” said Shane O’Neill, senior planner for the city of Richland. Once the process is complete, the DNR said it will keep the commercial-zoned parcels, totaling about 55 acres, but sell all the residential-zoned parcels at auction. The residential zoning would cover about 200 acres, with nearly three-fourths of that zoned as low-density. “Rezoning this property is a win-win for Richland and our children,” said Hilary Franz, the state’s Commissioner of Public Lands. “New development will lead to more jobs, amenities and homes. And because this is state trust land, new development also means millions of additional dollars for public school construction.” Two parcels totaling about 45 acres are set to be zoned for public use or open space. The DNR said the larger parcel, comprising 40 acres, is intended to be transferred to the Richland School District, with the remaining acreage either intended for the school district, or to be developed as open space. “We do not yet own the parcel and there’s no official decision on what it would be used for. Its size indicates it would likely be a uLAND REZONE, Page 4
A retail complex overlooking the Columbia River is under contract after being listed for $6.4 million. (Courtesy AGM Real Estate)
Sale pending for prime Richland commercial development BY ROBIN WOJTANIK
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
A sale is pending for a sizable commercial property adjacent to the Columbia River at the north end of Columbia Center Boulevard, within Richland’s city limits. Two tenants vacated the 101,000-square-foot Rivers Edge Plaza in the last year, including anchor tenant Chuck E. Cheese and All-American Gymnastics. Neither space has been filled in the complex at 2600 N. Columbia Center Blvd. It is zoned C-2 for retail businesses but was being marketed to buyers for possible re-development with the opportunity for mixed-use/multi-family hous-
ing. If a new building was to go up on the site, it could be multi-storied with expansive river views. Total land available is 8.82 acres. The property is owned and listed by AGM Real Estate for $6.4 million and has been home to a number of businesses over the years, including Roy’s Western Smorgy restaurant, Brutzman’s Office Solutions and Chuck E. Cheese. Roy’s closed and its space was at occupied times with a billiards store and the gymnastics studio, but has been vacant for nearly a year. Both Brutzman’s and Chuck E. Cheese relocated to their own new buildings, with Brutzman’s just across the street on Columbia Center Boulevard. Neither of the available uCOMMERCIAL, Page 29
Independent contracting issue remains hot button at state level BY ARIELLE DREHER
for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Hairstylists and salon owners around the state got Washington legislators’ attention this session when they turned out in massive numbers to oppose measures that targeted booth rentals, as well as independent contracting. In the Washington state Senate and House, Democratic lawmakers introduced bills to change and tighten the definition of an independent contractor in state law. Hairstylists and salon owners, who often work as independent contractors or own salons that independent contractors work in, were concerned about how such measures could affect their business models. Tina Taylor of Kennewick, who has worked as a hairstylist for 18 years, said the experience has taught her to pay better attention to what’s happening in the state Legislature. She
contracts a booth at Haven Hair Studio & Spa in Kennewick where she pays rent for her booth space, her own business license, liability and health insurance and her own taxes. “They’re trying to make it harder for people to make a living as a small business for some reason, but some of us love being a businesswoman and doing these things,” Taylor said. Two Moses Lake-based stylists and salon owners Heather Kerekffy and Jenny Treutle spoke with House lawmakers during a Jan. 28 public hearing on House Bill 1515. Both raised concerns about the part of the bill that would require an independent contractor’s services be “outside the usual course of business for which the service is performed,” which could present problems for salons that hire stylists as independent contractors, potentially. uCONTRACTING, Page 34
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