Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

The Bridge-to-Bridge/River-to-Rail riverfront makeover project has unanimously brought the City of Kennewick and Port of Kennewick commissioners together in a spirit of cooperation, thus allowing them to begin the process of creating the vision and planning for the future development of Kennewick’s rivershore. The Port of Kennewick has added many upgrades to the Clover Island area and that will feed into future plans. Both agencies also agreed to work together on how development should proceed for the Vista Field Airport and the adjacent Three Rivers Entertainment District. All of these improvements will add much to the economic stability of the Downtown Kennewick area with upscale real estate developments, tourism, business growth and recreational activities.

Last night the issue of keeping Vista Field in Kennewick open for air traffic or close it and use it for future development, came down to the vote – and the vote was YES – Keep it Open!  So the private airport will continue to be open for public use, and also as an alternative for emergency landings, training of pilots and for use if the fog closes the Pasco or Richland airports, because Vista Field sits on high ground.  So now the issue is closed and we can all get back to other development possibilities for the city of Kennewick.

The city council members of Kennewick recently held a retreat to discuss subjects that spanned being involved with the Regional Oversight Committee, potential building of regional facilities and how best to fund them,  the extension of Steptoe Street, development at Southridge and the Bridge-to-Bridge, River-to-Railroad project, and of course, the future of Vista Field.

Tri City business owners, Senske Lawn & Tree Care, has put on its Second Annual Christmas Light Festival at their facility on N. Quay Street in Kennewick in the Vista Field district. This wonderful family friendly event is a delight for the senses with an amazing computerized Christmas light show and accompanying music. The exciting and colorful display brings local folks out in droves and certainly brings the feeling of Christmas to all!

Having personally been 3 nights in a row this past weekend, I can speak to the delight seen in the happy faces of young and old alike. My 93 year old Mother was tickled with the show and we spend quite some time talking about how they must have spent a tremendous amount of hours stringing lights and getting everything timed to perfection! Please take the time to swing by Senske’s facility and spread the word to your friends too! The show begins at 5 pm and stops at midnight – you won’t be disappointed!

The future of Vista Field as an airport is still hung up on whether the city of Kennewick has any right to share proceeds from development if it is closed.

Port of Kennewick commissioners want the city council to give up all potential claims before they decide on keeping the airstrip or converting it into raw land available for commercial, office and retail development.

The council considered the port’s request Tuesday, weighing whether it was wise to surrender the right to control zoning on the land and to claim a share of proceeds if port officials choose to market the property to developers.

“There’s a lot of perception the city has involvement (in what happens with Vista Field),” said Bob Hammond, Kennewick city manager.

“But in reality there is very little for the city to “hang onto.” We need to make it clear to everyone we don’t have any authority over the airport,” Hammond told the council at its workshop.

David Hanson, port president, wrote to the city that commissioners are reluctant to make any decision about the airport until two sticky issues in an agreement between the city and port relating to the 92 acres of airport land are resolved.

The agreement was created when the city gave the land to the port on the condition that it be operated as an airport. The original agreement said the land would revert to the city if the port decided to stop managing the property as an airport.

The port was considering closing the airport last year but balked because of the reversionary clause in the agreement. The council responded by deleting that condition.

But now port officials want two more provisions in the agreement jettisoned: the zoning control and the city’s financial share in any proceeds from land sales involving airport property.

“Failure to remove these provisions leave us with a concern that the city could expect to share in any revenues related to closure. That would be a non-starter,” wrote Hanson in a letter to Kennewick Mayor Tom Moak.

“If this will expedite the port’s decision, then I’m all for it,” said Steve Young, councilman.

Hammond said leaving the two provisions in the agreement was “confusing.” He said taking them out would cause no problems legally because the council had previously rescinded its reversionary rights to the property.

“It would be removing a stumbling block,” Hammond said, noting that he will bring a proposal and motion for the council to consider in a vote in late September.

Hanson’s letter said the port commission will wait for an answer. “Our final decision-making process (about closing the airport) cannot begin until this issue is resolved,” he said.

Vista Field, particularly the 70 acres used for the airport operations, is worth about $5.33 million, the Port of Kennewick Commission was told Tuesday.

Gary Chamberlain of Chamberlain and Associates, which did an appraisal of the port-owned property, said that was the estimated value as of April 1.

Having that information may play a role in the commission’s decision about the future of Vista Field, said Tim Arntzen, the port’s executive director. The appraisal will be a useful tool for port officials, he said.

“We can’t set a budget unless we know what this creature called Vista Field is going to throw at us,” Arntzen said.

Chamberlain said the audit indicates the property after development and improvements would fetch about $9.65 million at today;s prices. But it would take about nine years to sell all the parcels, thereby reducing the real gains, he said. The discounted value, calculated assessing risks, would come to about $5.66 million, he said.

The report comes with a caveat, Chamberlain told the commissioners.

It’s based on an assumption that the land is vacant — and suitable for commercial and industrial development — with access to roads and offsite utilities, and is shovel ready. It also doesn’t include the costs of potential environmental mitigation and asphalt removal if the airport were to be closed.

The report also assumed that a single developer would purchase the entire parcel and be responsible for the master plan, and that there’s no major change in the economic health of the community. From 1998 through 20008, the Tri-Cities had healthy growth, but there’s no way to predict future trends, Chamberlain said. “In reality, the absorption could be 15 years.”

In a separate development, a Benton County pilot who supports keeping the airport open raised the issue of potential conflict concerning Port Commissioner Calvin Dudney, who was elected last year to fill out former Commissioner Linda Boomer’s term through November.

Dudney serves of the board of the Kennewick Public Facilities District, Chep Gaunett told the commission, adding that’s an appointment made by the city of Kennewick, which also is responsible for a budget shortfall of the district.

“I’m not accusing him of anything,” Gaunett said. But there could be a possible conflict on any vote on matters related to Vista Field, Gaunett said. He requested that port commissioners get a legal opinion on the matter.

Dudney said he volunteers with several Tri-City organizations, including the Tri-City Water Follies Association, Tapteal Foundation and Leadership Tri-Cities. It’s his way of serving the community, said Dudney, a Fluor community program manager who estimates he spends over seven hours a week volunteering.

Source: Tri-City Herald