o What: The Port of Camas-Washougal celebrates its 75th anniversary, with an open house, new marketing initiatives and opportunities to mingle.
o When: 10 a.m. Friday.
o Where: 24 S. A St., Washougal.
o Information: http://www.portcw.com/.
“The door is open,” said Port of Camas-Washougal Commissioner Mark Lampton, describing the attitude of port officials as they prepare to celebrate the port’s 75th year in business Friday.
It’s a short description, but it also accurately sums up the port’s efforts to adopt new plans for economic growth and to make sure the public has opportunities to be involved in the creation of those plans.
With an open house beginning at 10 a.m. at the port’s administrative offices, Friday’s event is an opportunity to highlight the history of the port, which launched in 1935 and now boasts 550 acres of industrial land, a 79-hangar airport and a 350-slip marina, among other assets.
o What: The Port of Camas-Washougal celebrates its 75th anniversary, with an open house, new marketing initiatives and opportunities to mingle.
o When: 10 a.m. Friday.
o Where: 24 S. A St., Washougal.
o Information: http://www.portcw.com/.
But it’s also another chance for the public to meet the people who run the port. Those elected leaders and administrators will, in the months and years ahead, decide everything from the future of one of the largest undeveloped, industrially zoned parcels left in Clark County to the details of a proposed economic development council that would represent east county interests.
The port’s emphasis on being open to the public should come as no surprise. Plans for a Columbia River waterfront development fell apart in 2008 after a state auditor’s report said port commissioners signed the development agreement for the RiverWalk project without holding enough public discussion. The controversy influenced the last two port election cycles, in which all three seats on the port’s board were won by the current members, each of whom made public involvement a priority during their successful campaigns.
The port’s other commissioners are Bill Ward and Bill Macrae-Smith.
David Ripp, the port’s executive director, was chosen to lead the port’s administration well after the RiverWalk controversy arose. He succeeded former longtime executive director Sheldon Tyler, who was terminated amid problems surrounding the proposed development.
These days, Ripp said, the port is “trying to be as open and forthcoming” as possible. That includes holding numerous public hearings to rewrite the port’s comprehensive plan, which will guide future development. A final decision by the port’s board is expected in December.
And there is plenty more work ahead. One of the port’s long-term projects is to figure out how to encourage development of its Steigerwald Commerce Center, 120 acres of undeveloped, industrially zoned land west of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge and just north of the Columbia River.
Area residents told the port they want the site to be developed in an environmentally friendly way, Ripp said, and a draft master plan for the property reflects that view.
“It’s not going to be your stereotypical industrial park,” he said. “In our development standards, we really want to adhere to the beauty of the area.” The port expects to take on stormwater planning for the site next year. The hope is to start marketing the tract to developers in the second quarter of 2012, Ripp said.
Meanwhile, the port has teamed up with the cities of Camas and Washougal to propose a new economic development council with a specific east county focus. The council would focus on creating jobs by helping existing businesses grow and by promoting the region to new companies.
“East county needs its own identity,” Lampton said.
The proposed regional agency could be up and running by summer 2011, Ripp said.
For now, the port is focused on celebrating 75 years in the community. It has invited the public, as well as city officials from Camas and Washougal. And it plans to announce new marketing initiatives, including a community treasure hunt with online clues. Lampton said it’s the latest move by the port to continue a conversation with the public.
“It isn’t they talk to us, and we talk at them,” he said. “We actually have a dialogue with the community.”
