College Place reports multiple active development projects; roundabout funding and Martin Airfield remain key hurdles

City planning staff provided a monthly overview of active development projects across College Place, reporting progress on commercial, residential and industrial proposals and noting connections between some projects and planned transportation improvements.

Mr. Rizzitello (development activity report) outlined several projects by informal code names used in staff materials: Project Murph (planned gas station near a Walmart corridor), Project Palouse (commercial developer exploring a site near the high school), Project Cobble (hotel and convention center proposed behind Home Depot), and Project LK (senior assisted living site adjacent to the Villages of Garrison Creek). He said the sale for Project LK’s site closed.

Rizzitello said a roundabout tied to the hotel/convention concept did not receive award from the State Transportation Improvement Board in this funding cycle; however, the city budgeted funds for engineering work so the city can reapply for the state grant later this year. As a backup the city may consider a pay-as-you-go tax increment financing approach.

He listed other active proposals and their status: Project Bullseye and other dining concepts (linked to increased traffic from proposed hotel development); Project Y and Project FM (grocery store prospects at different locations tied to access and a future roundabout on Highway 125); Project MP and another hotel proposal seeking investors; Project Smile (light industrial/warehouse anticipated at Martin Airfield pending the infrastructure report); Project Flight (another Martin Airfield light-industrial prospect tied to a development agreement); multiple residential projects including Homestead/Haven Homes, Northwest Residential (apartments on Southwest Sixth), Villages of Fort Wallowa Whitman, Sermon development in Spitzenburg (three buildings near occupancy) and Lakeside (a large upcoming development expected to proceed through hearings this spring). He also noted Villages of Garrison Creek phases 11 and 13 pulling first permits and Deer Meadows at Southwest Twelfth performing minor grading.

Rizzitello said urban growth area adjustments will be part of a comprehensive-plan update later in the year; he cited a Project Derry (university-owned land) and Project Saad (a developer-led affordable housing proposal north of Wallula) and described a mapping quirk where a third of Project Saad’s parcel is currently within the city UGA and two-thirds are not, which staff expects to address as part of the UGA update.

Why it matters: The list of projects indicates substantial private investment interest across commercial, residential and industrial sectors; several projects depend on transportation funding, infrastructure analyses and development agreements before moving forward.

No formal votes were taken on these items; staff listed statuses and next steps and said they will follow through with required permitting and agreements.