PULLMAN – The Port of Whitman County Board of Commissioners will review and discuss the preliminary site plan and rezoning application for the proposed Agriculture Advancement Campus on Wawawai Road during their regularly scheduled meeting Feb. 13.

A preliminary site plan is an early step in the process for any development project. It helps capture major engineering and site work needs, including applicable building codes. It also helps the Port assess the feasibility of a project from a planning and land use perspective as well as a budget perspective.

“The preliminary site plan will help inform our rezoning application and provide more information about what could be built here and how it would function with the rest of the community,” said Kara Riebold, Port Executive Director. “This is a very early concept and there are many steps ahead, including the rezoning application, finalizing a site plan, applying for permits, and more. 

“If approvals are received, it could be up to a year before anything is built,” continued Riebold. “We hope the community will continue to follow the process and provide their input.”

On Feb. 13 the Port Commission will also hear an update from staff on the rezoning application for the proposed campus. The Port encourages those interested in the rezone and proposed campus to attend the meeting, learn more, and share their comments with the Commission. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. You can attend in person at 302 N. Mill Street, Colfax, or virtually via Zoom. More information, including agendas and meeting links, is available on the Port’s website.

If the Commission approves the rezoning application and preliminary site plan on Feb. 13, the Port expects to submit its rezoning application and begin the environmental permitting process shortly thereafter. Both the rezoning and permitting processes include opportunities for public input, likely in March or April. 

The Port will continue to share information with the community about its proposed campus. Email communications@portwhitman.com if you would like to be included on a distribution list for regular updates.

About the Agricultural Advancement Campus

The Port of Whitman County has made an offer to purchase 184 acres on Wawawai Road in Pullman for a proposed Agricultural Advancement Campus. The Port is currently in the negotiations and due diligence stage; the property purchase is not final.

The Port plans to apply for a zoning change 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 residences. The Port may recommend that the commercial portion include public spaces, such as a park and walking path, to connect the campus to the surrounding community. 

If the rezone is approved, the Port intends to create a campus for businesses in the agricultural technology industry. Committed private partner and startup company AgTech OS would serve as the anchor tenant. AgTech plans to establish an approximately 550,000-square-foot biofuels facility that will convert a local rotation crop, canola, into sustainable fuels for agricultural operations. The timeline for facility construction once permits are approved is about 12-24 months, according to AgTech OS.

Learn more about this proposed facility at www.farmfuel.tech. 

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About the Port of Whitman County

The Port of Whitman County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Whitman County through industrial real estate development, preservation of multi-modal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities.