The Port of Ridgefield announced earlier this summer that it would pause its plans for a proposed waterfront development to gather community feedback. According to reporting by The Reflector, the port is currently hosting a survey on its website to help shape the future of the site, which has been the subject of environmental remediation for nearly three decades.

The proposed Phase I development is planned for the site of the former Pacific Wood Treating facility. According to the port, the current concept for the first phase includes:

  • A 9-acre public park
  • A 58-room boutique hotel
  • An office building of approximately 25,000 square feet
  • A mixed-use building with ground-floor retail and upper-floor residential units
  • A dedicated residential building
  • Parking and boat launch, kayak, and dock facilities

The project represents a significant shift for the Ridgefield waterfront, which was closed to the public for generations. Pacific Wood Treating operated at the site from 1964 until it declared bankruptcy in 1993. The port subsequently assumed responsibility for the property and has spent roughly $90 million on cleanup efforts. The port’s timeline dates the core cleanup from 1996 to 2015, when the port says the state Department of Ecology declared it complete, though related remediation work has continued since.

According to the port, it adopted a Waterfront Business Plan in 2023, building on planning efforts dating back to 2001. The port says it selected Palindrome Properties as the developer for the project in late 2024. Port Executive Director Ethan Perry stated that no formal development application has been filed yet and that unit counts for the residential components have not been finalized.

The feedback period follows a period of rapid growth in the area. This desk previously reported on August 4, 2026, that the Ridgefield School District is opening its first new elementary school in 62 years to manage overcrowding, highlighting the infrastructure pressures accompanying new development in the city.

In a July 3 email, the port indicated that community input will influence the types of businesses at the waterfront, sustainability features, and the use of the north end of the site near Carty Lake. Once the survey results are analyzed, the port plans to host a second community meeting to share how the feedback informed the project concept.

Residents may provide feedback through the survey at portridgefield.org. According to port communications, the survey is scheduled to close on Monday, Aug. 17. Groundbreaking for the project is currently estimated for late 2027 or early 2028.

Source: The contested Ridgefield Waterfront project explained