Port of Kalama Comprehensive Plan

Port of Kalama Comprehensive Plan 

June 1, 2015 

 

Page 42 

relatively high wages, and would provide a boost to the local economy.  In addition, the 

investment in plant and equipment associated with this type of manufacturing would increase 

the total assessed value of the county, and could increase tax revenues. 

Retail Uses 

Highway retail, accommodations, restaurants, and big box retailers may represent 

additional potential markets for the Spencer Creek Business Park. 

Figure 18 presents a snapshot of taxable retail sales per household in Cowlitz County as 

compared with sales per household in Washington State.  In this figure, if Cowlitz County has 

higher sales per household than in Washington State it is labeled “over-served”, if sales per 

household are lower than in the state it is labeled “under-served”.  Using this metric, Cowlitz 

County is over-served in the following sectors: 



 

Restaurants, food service and drinking places, 



 

Gas stations and convenience stores with pumps,  



 

Building materials and heavy industry 



 

Motor vehicle and parts. 

Cowlitz is under-served in the following sectors: 



 

Furniture & Home Furnishing,  



 

Electronics & Appliances,  



 

Food & Beverage Stores,  



 

Drug/Health Stores,  



 

Apparel & Accessories,  



 

Sporting Goods, Toys, Book & Music Stores,  



 

General Merchandise Stores,  



 

Miscellaneous Retailers, 



 

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation,  



 

Accommodations,  



 

Repair & Maintenance and  



 

Personal Service. 

It is important to consider the impact of Kalama’s, and Cowlitz County’s, proximity to 

Interstate 5 in this data.  Gas and food service establishments are located in high concentration 

at interstate highway exits.  These are mostly fast food establishments and not designed for 

local family and professional dining, nor are they establishments to draw visitors to the 

community.  Family/professional dining options continue to be an under-served sector in 

Cowlitz County.  Interstate 5 also presents opportunity in evaluating uses for the Port’s 

property located on I-5 exit 32, where no gas or food service establishments are currently 

located.   

It may be possible to attract retailers in both under- and over-served sectors.  According to 

a recent analysis performed for the City of Olympia, “(a) household can, on average, support 

about 15 square feet of retail space.  This means that 2,000 households will support a business 

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Port of Kalama Comprehensive Plan 

June 1, 2015 

 

Page 43 

district with approximately 30,000 square feet of retail space.”

9

 

The average grocery store in the U.S. measures less than 50,000 square feet.  Home Depot 

stores average about 100,000 square feet, and the typical Costco or Walmart Supercenter—

generally considered the biggest of all big box retailers—runs 100,000 to 150,000 square feet.  

Attraction of larger retailers may be possible at the Spencer Creek Business Park. 

Figure 18 – Cowlitz County Retail Sales per Household 

(under-served and over-served sectors) 

 

Source:  BST Associates 

Despite increasing competition from e-commerce providers, big box retailers continue to 

expand.  For example, in 2013 Costco announced plans to build 150 new stores over two years, 

including 55 stores in the United States.  The excellent freeway access and the visibility of the 

site may make the Spencer Creek Business Park an attractive site for big box retailers. 

Case Example:  Retail Outlet 

The Woodburn, Oregon retail outlet mall presents an example of rural retail development 

becoming a popular destination for travelers and pulling in customers from a wider market 

region.  The Woodburn Company Stores are located in rural Marion County, 34 miles south of 

Portland (I-5/I-405 interchange) on Interstate 5.  The total development footprint is 36 acres 

(15 acres of structures, 21 acres of parking/roads).  When the development opened in 1999, 

Woodburn’s population was 15,713 and the annual average daily traffic at the nearest exit was 

approximately 35,000.  By 2013, Woodburn’s population grew to 24,395 and traffic to 84,300.  

The development is built with attractive architectural features and landscaping, consistent with 

the natural surroundings.  

                                                 

9

    Source:    City  of  Olympia,  Capitol  Boulevard  Planning  Project  “Some  Tentative  Rules  of  Thumb  for  Fostering 

Neighborhood Business Districts” 

-$1,500 -$1,000 -$500

$0

$500

$1,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 $3,000

Motor Vehicles & Parts 

Furniture & Home Furnishing 

Electronics & Appliances 

Building Materials, Garden Equip & Supplies 

Food & Beverage Stores 

Drug/Health Stores 

Gas Stations & Convenience Stores W/Pumps 

Apparel & Accessories 

Sporting Goods, Toys, Book & Music Stores 

General Merchandise Stores 

E-Commerce & Mail Order

Miscellaneous Retailers

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 

Accommodations 

Restaurants, Food Services & Drinking Places 

Other Services 

Repair & Maintenance 

Personal Service  

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