Maddox is seeking a developer’s agreement with the City of Battle Ground to support a multi-phase project to bring more jobs, amenities and long-term investment into the city.
On Monday, Aug. 4, the Battle Ground City Council heard a proposal from Maddox, the local transformer company and developer, to formalize plans for a long-term expansion of Battle Ground Village.
Max Booth, Maddox’s director of community development and engagement, outlined the proposed development during a work session, emphasizing the company’s ongoing commitment to building where its employees live and work.
“This is where we're raising our families, and our goal here is really to steward Battle Ground's growth and help retain its character and small town charm,” Booth told the council.
The project, which stretches across more than 60 acres north of Maddox’s current operations, includes a range of light industrial, office and mixed-use spaces. The company’s first priority: two new buildings at the northern edge of the property — a 14,000-square-foot chapel and a 25,000-square-foot conference center.
Booth said Maddox plans to submit the site plan for land use review in September, with building permits and groundbreaking expected in early 2026. While those first two buildings will be permitted through existing code, Maddox wants a broader developer's agreement to support the longer-term vision.
“If we get to, you know, year 10 or 15 to build our last building in there, and some council far away from here filled with other people decides that the property should be used for something else … the developer's agreement will help us have a predictable runway,” he said.
Councilmembers responded largely in support of the concept, even as they discussed the potential to build a formal master plan into the city’s development code in the future.
“I think it's a good opportunity to set the pace for a new development that works going forward,” Councilmember Jeanie Kuypers said. “I’m just really happy to have a company that's not just investing to bring jobs, but they're talking about the lives of the people who are employed there and what they experience in this community … It's the whole life experience and so I think that's what really is something for us to grab on to and be excited about.”
Several councilmembers noted the importance of growing the city’s tax base while protecting against unintended consequences from long-term agreements.
“I don't have a concern with the developer's agreement. I just know sometimes they can take longer than both sides want and you don't want that to change when councils change,” Councilmember Shane Bowman said.
Mayor Troy McCoy echoed his concern that Battle Ground’s residential-heavy tax structure has limited the city’s funding options.
“People are tired of me saying it, but I still firmly believe that a lot of our issue with funding mechanisms for the school comes down to the fact that we're a bedroom community,” McCoy said during the meeting. “Having jobs come in, I think, is key to making this a livable city.”
During a subsequent interview, McCoy stated that a potential hotel is one aspect of the plan requiring future consideration, especially for parking spaces. Approximately 25,000 square feet of land is designated as “flex” on Maddox's preliminary map, which Booth indicated during the presentation could accommodate a still-conceptual hotel.
“The lead that was buried was the hotel,” McCoy told The Reflector. “Hopefully they look at that really close … I don't think they put too much thought into that in the logistics. That wasn't in the original plan, but long term, I think they're looking at it to see if it makes sense or if it doesn't.”
Overall, McCoy was pleased with Maddox's presentation, especially the long-term job outlook for the 60-acre site. He highlighted the company's investment in the renovated building for Al & Ernie's Bakery Cafe, which opened last November, as a positive sign.
“This is the first piece. People are probably tired of hearing me say we need more jobs … but this will do it … It’s really transformational for Battle Ground,” he said.
In other Battle Ground meeting news, the city council awarded a $718,507.92 contract to Clark & Sons Excavating for the Southwest 20th Avenue Pathway project. The work will add an asphalt pathway along the east side of Southwest 20th Avenue from just south of Southwest Sixth Street to just north of Southwest Scotton Way.
“We're hoping to break ground on that here in a couple of months and probably be done by early next year,” McCoy told The Reflector.
