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Land Development Tehaleh

Tehaleh is more than a housing development; it’s a thoughtfully planned community rooted in connection and growth. Located in unincorporated Pierce County, Washington, this 4,700-acre site is transforming into a vibrant place to live, learn, and work. What began as undeveloped land is now home to parks, schools, businesses, and expanding infrastructure, all guided by a long-term vision.
Entrance monument sign reading “tehaleh by Newland Communities,” surrounded by landscaped rocks and greenery with evergreen trees in the background.
Project Location
Bonney Lake, WA
Client Newland Communities
Market Sector
Project Type
  • Residential
Services Provided

The Past The Challenge and Early Vision

Before Tehaleh began taking shape, the land had been largely untouched for several years. Yet regional growth created a demand for housing, schools, and safe transportation. In 2011, MacKay Sposito collaborated with Brookfield Properties and a stakeholder group to develop a comprehensive master plan. The process evaluated site infrastructure, schools, open space, and trails that would connect the community over the next 20 years.
A landscaped boulevard with young trees and ornamental grasses lining a bioswale beside a small pond, with a snow-capped mountain in the distance under warm evening light.

Education and parks were prioritized early, with the first major milestone being the planning and development of Tehaleh Heights Elementary School—the school design aimed to meet the existing community’s needs while supporting future residential growth. Trails and recreation zones were integrated into the plan from the start, recognizing that accessible open space and opportunities for community gathering would be essential to Tehaleh’s long-term success.

Families gather at Hawks Landing Park, featuring a covered picnic pavilion, winding paths, and a large green playground surrounded by tall evergreens.

Education and parks were prioritized early, with the first major milestone being the planning and development of Tehaleh Heights Elementary School—the school design aimed to meet the existing community’s needs while supporting future residential growth. Trails and recreation zones were integrated into the plan from the start, recognizing that accessible open space and opportunities for community gathering would be essential to Tehaleh’s long-term success.

Families gather at Hawks Landing Park, featuring a covered picnic pavilion, winding paths, and a large green playground surrounded by tall evergreens.

The Present Building a Community With Purpose

Tehaleh Heights Elementary School is now open and serves as a focal point for the community. MacKay Sposito provided civil engineering and land surveying services to support grading, utilities, and frontage improvements. The site design was coordinated with the District’s transportation team to ensure efficient site access.

Across Tehaleh, outdoor spaces are thriving. Nineteen parks and over 40 miles of trails are already complete, with more in design for the future. Highlights include Discovery Park, a 19-acre STEM park and community center, and The Trek—a 204-acre mountain bike park with 6.5 miles of trails.
Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood bordered by forest, highlighting a modern single-story building with a white roof, red bay doors, parking lot, and landscaped grounds along curving streets.
Aerial view of a landscaped multi-lane roundabout with crosswalks and a few cars, surrounded by evergreen trees, a small pond, and nearby suburban homes.
Aerial view of a single-lane three-way roundabout with a landscaped central island, marked crosswalks at each approach, and surrounding suburban homes and dense greenery.
Landscaped roundabout with yield signs, pedestrian crossing signs and button, directional arrows on the roadway, and evergreen trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
Modern blue climbing play structure with rope nets in a suburban park, with benches and maintenance tools in the foreground and houses under a cloudy sky in the background.
Aerial view of a new suburban neighborhood, with rows of completed and partially framed houses along winding streets, bordered by dense evergreen forest and a drainage corridor.
Craftsman-style gray single-story home at dusk with warm exterior lights, a curved concrete walkway through lush landscaped garden beds and potted plants, and tall evergreens in the background.
Shaded picnic pavilion with tables in a forested park labeled “Expedition Grove,” beside a curving path, a small play structure, and a grassy lawn under tall evergreens.
Aerial view of a suburban housing development with curving streets and rows of modern homes bordered by dense evergreen forest.
Landscaped stormwater retention pond with a domed metal drain inlet, mulched banks planted with young shrubs, and a surrounding path amid tall evergreen trees on a clear day.

The Post at Tehaleh has become a central gathering place. Located at the crossroads of the street and trail network and near the local elementary school, it offers residents coffee from Caffé D’Arte and outdoor patios with gas fireplaces. MacKay Sposito provided grading and accessibility solutions to support the site’s integration into the landscape.

Modern wood-and-stone house with a steep metal roof and large windows, surrounded by lush evergreens along a gravel path, with a snow-capped mountain glowing at sunset in the background.
Modern wood-and-stone house with a steep metal roof and large windows, surrounded by lush evergreens along a gravel path, with a snow-capped mountain glowing at sunset in the background.

The Post at Tehaleh has become a central gathering place. Located at the crossroads of the street and trail network and near the local elementary school, it offers residents coffee from Caffé D’Arte and outdoor patios with gas fireplaces. MacKay Sposito provided grading and accessibility solutions to support the site’s integration into the landscape.

The Tehaleh Commerce Center is a 113-acre commercial development supporting light industrial and employment uses. MacKay Sposito designed roads, stormwater facilities, and utility systems to serve this area, representing nearly 25% of Tehaleh’s required employment space. As of 2024, 271 acres of the Employment Center have been established, supporting economic growth and prosperity.

Falling Water Boulevard, part of the region’s traffic mitigation plan, was completed in 2024, along with improvements to 198th Avenue East. These upgrades, which included lane expansions, new traffic signals, pedestrian accommodations, and wetland reconnections, represented an investment of approximately $30 million. As part of this effort, two key roundabout projects were also completed, including the design of a new multi-lane roundabout and the widening of an existing multi-lane roundabout along Cascadia Boulevard. These enhancements were implemented to support residential development and safety.
  • Aerial view of a large suburban community with a central clubhouse, ponds, parking lots, and blue pickleball/tennis courts, surrounded by winding roads and forest as the sun sets behind a distant snow‑capped mountain range.
  • Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood greenbelt with winding gravel walking paths, a circular picnic area, boulders and a dry creek bed amid drought‑tolerant plantings, bordered by lawns and single-story homes near a forest.
  • A landscaped roundabout with crosswalk signs and a tree-lined boulevard leads toward a distant snow-capped mountain under a clear blue sky.
  • Craftsman-style gray single-story home at dusk with warm exterior lights, a curved concrete walkway through lush landscaped garden beds and potted plants, and tall evergreens in the background.
  • Open-air picnic pavilion with a wooden roof and stone columns, surrounded by green lawns and trees, with picnic tables and barbecue grills in a suburban park under a bright blue sky.
  • Row of modern townhouses reflected in a calm pond, bordered by reeds and grass under a clear blue sky.

The Future Planning for the Next Generation

Looking ahead, Tehaleh plans to expand housing across multiple types. The community currently includes 2,600 single-family homes, with over 7,000 planned for the future. Similarly, 80 multifamily units, with over 1,300 planned for the future, including townhomes and rental apartments near future middle schools and the employment center. Expanding the range and availability of housing supports a diverse population and ensures that Tehaleh remains a place where families of all sizes and incomes can thrive together.

Transportation continues to evolve. Final design and permitting are underway for new connections between Rhodes Lake Road and Falling Water Blvd., and new road segments will increase access to State Route 162. These improvements will ease congestion, enhance safety, and support the efficient movement of people and resources. Improved access to Route 162 also strengthens connectivity outside of the community, linking Tehaleh residents to surrounding towns, employment opportunities, and services.

The land use planning process provided guidance and a fresh perspective for what the community could become over the next 20 years; a vision that continues to evolve and unfold through the addition of every new home, trail, and road.