Port advised of pending changes for N. Pullman bypass, airport site

Two pending changes on properties which adjoin Port of Whitman holdings were discussed Monday afternoon in a joint meeting of the Whitman County commissioners and the Port of Whitman commissioners. The two boards meet from time-to-time to talk over topics of joint concern.

One of the properties is a strip of land which stretches across the north side of Pullman. The property was acquired by the state for a once-proposed bypass route around the north side of Pullman.

Mark Storey, county public works director, started the report by describing State Route 276. As he began his report a question surfaced: what is SR 276?

Storey noted the right-of-way has been under state ownership for possibly 40 years. The Pullman bypass at one time was a disputed topic in the county, and the project was eventually shelved.

Storey noted the state land for the bypass varies from 300 to 900 feet in width. It is located on rural farm fields, although expansion of apartments in the Terre View area has brought urban Pullman closer to the strip of bypass land.

The bypass at one time was charted to stretch from Highway 195 near the Armstrong Road intersection to Moscow. Some of the bypass land has been acquired for the Moscow-Pullman Airport project, but most of the property remains in state ownership from 195 to the Pullman Airport road.

Storey told Port commissioners he has received reports that the state intends to sell off the property and the first priority will be public agencies who might have a use for the land.

The other piece of property is an unfinished building which stands on private land at the Colfax Airport which is now the Port of Whitman Business Air Center.

County Commissioner Michael Largent told the Port board he receives an update about every two months on the status of the property which was once owned by Brad Goodspeed.

The building on the property could be subject to county condemnation action because it has been determined to be unsound. Storey noted they have determined the builder received a permit for the foundation but never received a permit for the actual structure.

Largent reported the property has been the subject of court disputes, and at present the county remains uncertain of the ownership. Largent added one other hangup with the property is the number of pieces of equipment which have been parked around it. Determining who holds title, or titles, to the equipment could be another problem.

Development of the Port’s Business Air Center has generated interest in property at the airport, and some contractors have expressed interest in the site, Largent commented.