KINGSTON — Developing an area, any area, can be tricky business. Inevitably, someone disagrees, gets upset and does everything they can to prevent the work.

Olympic Property Group, headed by President Jon Rose, is trying to avoid that in its proposal to redevelop Port Gamble by talking with the public before solidifying any plans.

To do this, OPG made having an open house with the public a priority and pulled out all the stops Wednesday in the Kingston Junior High commons.

“The purpose of this open house is to introduce and reintroduce the idea of resettlement and rebirth for Port Gamble,” Rose said. The event was divided into Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow booths. Each showed a different step in Port Gamble’s growth process, with the Tomorrow booth showing how OPG would like to develop the area.

“We plan not to show a bunch of designs and plans and say, ‘This is what we’re doing,’” Rose said. “We want to get comments, ideas and concerns from the public before we do that.”

In addition to the booths, there was a table where ideas could be written down and a video crew, which recorded people’s stories about Port Gamble. There is also a contest for best development idea and best Port Gamble story. Submissions can be made online by July 15.

“We are taking oral histories tonight,” Rose said. “Everyone has a Port Gamble story.”

“I was born and raised in Port Gamble,” said Eloise McRoberts Neilson, who is still a resident of the area. “My dad worked in the mill. I went to school at North Kitsap High School and Port Gamble Grade School. I had wonderful times in Port Gamble.”

“I want to see the Puget Hotel rebuilt, and a world-wide conference center,” said Kingston resident Margaret Joyce Smith. “I don’t want to see a Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Costco, then 10 miles down the road another Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Costco.”

“There’s no plan yet, this is just an introduction seeking ideas,” said Richard Shaw, OPG principle designer. “So far, we’ve gotten a lot of positive interest.”

Everyone OPG has hired to work on the Port Gamble area was available to the public, from project managers to marine biologists. Rose stressed that he wants to make sure the public gets to have input and express their concerns before a plan is even drawn up.

“We are going to make mistakes,” Rose said. “It’s going to happen. But I don’t want one of them to be that we didn’t ask the people what they wanted.”

“I think it’s a good thing for them to do,” said Baker Stocking, a Kingston resident. “People appreciate openness and involving the community.”

“So often, developers just come in and get the permits and do their thing. They ignore the public and do what they like,” said Paulette Degard, who has worked with Rose to bring new businesses to Port Gamble. “Jon is taking the time to have a conversation with the public, and I think they’re reacting to that really well. You won’t get 100 percent agreement between everyone, it just doesn’t happen. But at least Jon is trying.”

Rose said about 160 people attended the open house and made their desires and concerns known. The biggest concern, he said, was traffic and questions as to whether or not a Highway 104 bypass might be created were raised. All of this will help contribute to OPG development plan OPG.

Kurt Armbrust, who grew up in Port Gamble, feels positive about the methods OPG is using as well.

“It’s a magical place,” Armbrust said. “It needs to be developed, but carefully. I think a restaurant and hotel would be nice in the area. But I wouldn’t want to see it over-commercialized.”

“Newcomers come to Port Gamble and see a quiet place,” Rose said. “That’s not historically accurate. In 1995 and 1996, there was an outcry that Port Gamble might go the way of other endangered species, under the blade of a bulldozer. We don’t intend to let that happen.”