KP Fire Commissioners Vote Against Gas Station Development in Key Center

The Key Peninsula Fire Commission voted unanimously to reject a counteroffer from John Park of Taechang LLC of Gig Harbor to buy the Calahan property at its Aug. 11 meeting, putting an end to the chance of a gas station and convenience store being built on the corner of KP Highway and Olson Drive NW in Key Center.

An audience of about 20 at the meeting erupted into applause when the vote to reject the deal was taken, a contrast to the standing-room-only crowd of 70 in the same meeting room two weeks earlier that used nearly 30 minutes of public comment demanding the commissioners do just that.

The commissioners went into executive session within minutes of starting the Aug. 11 meeting to discuss Park’s counteroffer after KPFD’s response to his proposal to resurrect a deal that had languished for nine months. Park planned to develop a gas station and convenience store on the corner site, as his company has done elsewhere in the region. KP residents responded to the plan by forming the Key Center Working Group to come up with an alternative they thought would be more beneficial, such as a community space or park of some kind.

The commissioners returned within 10 minutes and voted not to accept the deal, and to take the property off the market for six months while they evaluated other options.

Park had agreed to pay more earnest money but asked for more time and to retain a right to assign the sales contract to a third party without department approval, which the commissioners found unacceptable.

During the public comments that followed, Sarah Anderson, co-owner of the Madrona Café, and a member of the Key Center Working Group, said, “We really look forward to going forward with this. We’ve had discussions with (the Pierce County Library System) about this property. We think this could be really fantastic. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“Thank you for listening to us two weeks ago,” realtor Jo Jensen told the board members. “You heard us, and you responded, so congratulations to each one of you.”

Commissioner John Pat Kelly told KP News, “My deal was, if he (Park) balked at any of our additions, I would have to rethink the whole deal, and he did, so I’m done. He had his chance.”

“He wanted two 30-day options for extension,” Commissioner Stan Moffett said. “In addition, he wanted the opportunity to assign it to any one of his companies or corporations, and we’re not willing to do that. I think the board was very leery.”

Moffett also confirmed that the Pierce County Library System contacted KPFD’s broker about the property. Gretchen Caserotti, the executive director, has publicly said the existing Key Center Library is approaching the end of its useful life, and that another location will be needed.

The meeting ended with Chair Randy Takehara reading his letter of resignation from the board for personal reasons. His final meeting will be Aug. 25.

Takehara has served on the board since May 2021; his term ends in 2027. The commissioners have 90 days to announce the vacancy, solicit applications, conduct interviews, and vote to appoint a successor.

For more information on the KPFD property purchases, go here.