The Kitsap County Investment Brokers Association (KCIB) meeting was hosted by Tim Wing of the Belfair office of Reid Real Estate.

The meeting was held in the nearly completed Belltowne Square Complex across from the McDonald’s and Kitsap Bank branch on Hwy. 3 at the entrance to Belfair from Kitsap County. It was a whirlwind briefing on North Mason issues.

Belltowne Square has space for a 4000 sq. ft. restaurant and 2000 sq. ft. of retail/office space. A 2000 sq. ft. laundromat and a full and self service auto/RV wash are nearing completion.

The complex has three phase power, natural gas, fiber optic connections as well as cable, phone, etc. Two additional 2000 sq. ft. buildings are planned for the near future. The restaurant space and office/retail space are available for lease or purchase.

The details of fiber optic availability were presented by Jay Spurl of the PUD #3 of Mason County. Many in attendance were surprised to learn the ultra high capacity, high-speed broadband service is available now throughout the business districts in both Belfair and Allyn — something only available on a limited basis in Kitsap County. The PUD provides the fiber with local providers such as Hood Canal Communications and others providing the retail interface with the homes and businesses in the area.

The Belfair Bypass was next on the agenda with Mason County Engineer Jerry Hauth presenting maps and discussing the timetable for construction. The project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2002 and will be built in three phases. Phase one will leave Hwy. 3 just North of Belfair and will open large parcels of what Mason County calls “mixed use” areas. These areas are suitable for development of residential and light industrial sites.

Phase two is a connecting road (Romance Hill) from the Bypass to mid Belfair, including a railroad underpass. Phase three will continue South to connect again to Highway Three at a point now occupied by the North Mason School District’s bus barn.

While the Bypass will reduce congestion in the current town of Belfair it is not likely to weaken the town’s viability as a business location.

That’s because most of the local resident’s pass through the old part of Belfair enroute to and from their homes. The Bypass will mostly re-route pass-through traffic.

The Belfair Village Plan was presented by Don Cady of Reid Real Estate. This developing plan aims at redesigning the face of Belfair, making the town more pedestrian friendly and attractive.

Sidewalks, parks, side streets and planned development are all part of the Village Plan’s effort to convert Belfair into a residential area which compliments the Urban Growth Area designation the town has in the County’s Growth Management master design.

North Mason School District’s Superintendent Debbie Wing and Technical Director Jack Smither addressed the gathering regarding the high caliber of the school system with its continuous progress in academic achievement and many technical courses being taught. Wing made it very clear that the district was ready and willing to sit down and visit with business owners who might want to consider a North Mason location.

Wing stated that, “Whether they want to know where their children will be going to school or if they want to know what kind of graduates are produced who might become their company’s employees, we have good things to show them.”

Smither detailed several technical courses of study taught at the High School which prepare North Mason graduates to be certified Microsoft Systems Engineers. The program, now in its third year, currently has 38 students headed toward certification.

The Port of Allyn (which encompasses the Belfair area) was presented by the Port’s Executive Director Bonnie Knight, who detailed the Port’s plan to provide a Business Park in the “mixed use” area near the new Bypass. She also pointed out that there are several tax incentives available in North Mason that are not available in nearby counties. These include manufacturer’s use of tax exemptions, sales tax deferrals, B & O tax credits, and high tech tax breaks. The mixed use area’s close proximity to Bremerton National Airport and Highway 16 make its low cost land and special tax breaks particularly attractive to future businesses.

As the meeting ended, Doug Kitchens, who had chaired KCIB gathering said, ‘I personally am planning to spend a lot more time and energy in the North Mason area. We all learned today that this community is ready to go. They are connected to the world, their future looks good. Growth is going to come to North Mason in the very near future and from what we saw today this local community has good planning under development or in place now. I was impressed!”

Inquiries about Belltowne Square should be made to Wing at (360)275-2868 or Kitchens at (360) 692-3000.