The site for Columbia's proposed two-story headquarters projectis one block away from their leased space, in the 14400 block ofSoutheast First Street, on the north side of Evergreen Airport. Thecompany is meeting with the City's site plan review committee nextweek to discuss potential roadblocks. Columbia's Mike England saysthe biggest potential roadblock is a moratorium on projects thatwould increase peak hour vehicle trips on Mill Plain Boulevard, towhich First Avenue is connected. A bigger issue to the city,however, may be the potential of losing a significant and employerif it cannot accommodate them.

Chad Eiken, supervisor of the city's planning review team, tellsGlobeSt. that a portion of Mill Plain has been "closed" to new PMpeak hour trips such that, technically, any projects that send newPM peak hour trips onto Mill Plain in that area wouldn't be allowedto go forward. "The applicant will have to demonstrate that theirproject won't result in new trips during PM peak hour," says Eiken,adding that the city's transportation department may be able tocome up with a viable solution. "We'll know a lot more after theDec. 7th meeting."