Firms present vision for port property

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Feb 22, 20180

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Port Charrette

Planning for port properties

Left to right: Port commissioners Kristine Meyer, Tom Kammerzell and John Love listen as Daniel Iacofano, Dan Amsden and Alisa Pyszka present their vision for the future.

Port of Whitman Commissioners sat through two presentations Friday as the beginning of a planning process for port property north of Pullman.

“I’m excited for what it could mean eventually,” said Kristine Meyer, port commissioner, during the presentations.

The port is trying to determine what to do with its Pullman Industrial Park-West property at the corner of Pullman-Albion Road and Highway 27. Port executive director Joe Poire said the Port has never started a formal planning process like this before; it has always been done in-house by port staff.

They are going through what is known as a charrette process which is an intensive planning or vision session for development.

Poire began researching firms to handle the planning about 60 days ago. He noted it was harder to find firms with experience in handling port properties. He contacted three firms which became two when MIG and Leland Consulting Group joined forces for the project. The third firm is Community Attributes, Inc.

Daniel Iacofano and Dan Amsden from MIG and Alisa Pyszka from Leland noted the two firms have worked together in the past with MIG focused on the physical design and Leland on the economic and marketing design.

The MIG/Leland presentation focused on the premise of bringing the Port and WSU together. They envisioned creation of an innovation park or science park on the port property which would primarily be to attract and retain talent. They noted getting WSU to the table would be critical.

Poire noted in the past WSU upper management has not shown interest or followed through on such endeavors.

Port commissioners expressed an interest in incorporating the positives of rural life the county has to offer and having short-term milestones on the way to the long-term goal.

Commissioner John Love stated he was a little concerned about the focus on Pullman and asked how the development could be of assistance to the rest of the county. Commissioners and firm reps discussed that Pullman could be an anchor community; it would create a ripple effect out to the rural communities. The reps identified WSU as an asset and stated the Port had to “own” the agricultural heritage of the area for development.

The first presentation wound down with some discussion of the port’s goals and role.

Mark Goodman from Community Attributes, Inc., stated they would start with understanding the port’s role and how it fits and what partnerships could be created. He recognized WSU as a stakeholder and large driver for development by the port, but the particular use of the port property could deviate from a direct connection with the university. While the firm would have a similar strategic framework, it would develop strategy for development and economics from studies of the area. Goodman noted the work would be data and market driven.

Port commissioners will discuss the firms at a workshop at their next meeting, March 1. After a decision on which firm to select, negotiations and costs will be discussed. The work will initially start with the Pullman Industrial Park-West property, but could extend to other properties as well.