Port to request rezone

PULLMAN — The Port of Whitman County accepted 184 acres on Wawawai Road in Pullman last week, and its elected commissioners voted to seek a rezone of a portion of the property for an Agriculture Advancement campus.

The rezone application will be presented to the Port Commissioner at the Feb. 13 Commission meeting at 9 a.m.

The zoning change is for 88 acres to heavy industrial and commercial. The commercial portion of the property would act as a buffer between industrial operations and nearby Pullman residencies.

If approved, the Port plans to create a campus for businesses in the agricultural technology industry, in which private partner and startup company AgTech OS would serve as the anchor tenant.

If the application for rezoning is successful the Port will then initiate the planning, engineering and permitting for site development occurring as soon as this summer.

On Jan. 19, the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) awarded the Port a $5 million load to purchase and develop approximately 100 acres of land for the campus. According to reports the Port had not identified the property yet when the grant application was submitted.

The Port is matching the $5 million CERB loan for the land purchase, site preparation and utility construction with $1.25 million from its general fund.

The Port reports that it may be up to a year before progress is made on the proposed facility, with opportunities for public input being presented during important parts of the planning and environmental permitting processes.

Those who would like to be notified of public hearings as they are scheduled should email communications@portwhitman.com to be included on a distribution list.