Blaine City Council unanimously voted to amend a contract between the city of Blaine and Boblett Properties LLC to allow the company to sell its property on 1300 Boblett Street to Ben’s Truckstop LLC, which aims to create a new convenience store and fast food restaurant at the location.
In January 2019, the city of Blaine entered a Right of First Purchase (RFP) agreement with Boblett Properties, which required Boblett Properties to notify the city if it intended to sell the land on the Gateway Property. The five-year RFP agreement would have allowed the city of Blaine to purchase the property at a predetermined price, according to a memo prepared by the city attorney for city council.
Boblett Properties, which is owned by Yorkston Oil Company, told the city two weeks before the October 11 city council meeting it wanted to sell its business and the 1300 Boblett Street property and asked the city of Blaine to amend the RFP so the company could sell the property to Ben’s Truckstop.
The city’s decision to forgo its rights in the RFP would hasten development of the Gateway Property at the old airport, an area the city has long sought to develop. Development of the property could increase property sales, retail sales and gas tax revenues, according to the memo. The city saw the new owners as interested in pursuing these goals, and the new owners are better positioned to do so sooner, city manager Michael Jones said in a phone interview.
Boblett Properties will pay for the city’s costs to amend the agreement. The city will create a new five-year RFP agreement after Ben’s Truckstop closes the sale or in the next six years, whichever occurs first, according to city documents.
The city retains the option to purchase the property if the owner does not obtain a building permit within 18 months of the sale’s closing, the property isn’t transferred to the owner by the end of 2021 or the city’s costs are not reimbursed within 10 days of the city giving Boblett Properties an invoice, according to city
documents.
Jones said he believes this is the first time the city has entered a RFP agreement with another business.
Ben’s Truckstop submitted a building permit application to the city for a convenience store and drive-through fast food establishment adjacent to the truck route. Ben Joshi, who is based in eastern Washington, said he will take over the four Yorky’s Markets in Blaine and Bellingham on November 1. Joshi said he expects construction to begin in the spring for the building on the property and the construction will follow plans the previous company already had for the property.
Ben’s Truck Stop was registered with the Washington State Secretary of State on October 7.
Ian Haupt contributed to the reporting of this article.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here