County should benefit from our towns as "Enterprise Zones"

[Tom Lamar <lamar@pcei.org>]

Dear Commissioners,

As executive director of the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute,
and a member of both Pullman and Moscow Chambers of Commerce, I am writing
to urge the Whitman County Commissioners to set aside their current
proposal to "develop" the corridor as an "enterprise zone".  Whitman County
has been viewing development of the corridor as a fundraising tool to help
them out of their financial crisis.  The Commissioner's belief is that
development will not only pay for itself, but will generate a profit.  I
believe that economic development should take place within the incorporated
cities of Whitman County and NOT the corridor.  The corridor's most
significant support for the local economy is providing safe transportation
between Pullman and Moscow.

County Tax Base:
The main reason cited by the County for choosing to "develop" the corridor
is a need to generate revenue for the County.  I agree that the County
needs to do something to meet this need, but the current direction is
severely flawed.  Developing the corridor will not provide the county with
the tax base it believes will come from such an endeavor.  Furthermore,it
will generate new problems for this region.

Additional costs:
The County will acquire additional expenses as it will be in the position
to provide some municipal services (fire, police, water and sewer) to these
new businesses.  Access roads will also need to be built and maintained by
the County.  These costs will consume all or more of the sales tax revenue
generated.

Future annexation:
The City of Pullman will be in the position of considering annexing
developed land next to its border.  The County will then lose the tax
revenue that it is seeking to gain.

Negotiated tax settlement:
The County should seek a joint solution with the City of Pullman,
Washington State University, the State of Washington and the Pullman School
District to negotiate a better allocation of tax dollars collected in the
County.  The County has expense obligations that exceed its ability to
fund.  All of these entities share the responsibility in ensuring that
development is encouraged within the incorporated boundaries of Pullman,
and not spread out across the countryside.  (e.g.: The County should not
have to develop the corridor to pay for criminal prosecution and defense
for crimes occurring in Pullman or on the WSU campus).

Economics:
Most of the businesses that will choose to locate in the corridor will come
from either Pullman or Moscow and will bleed the tax base of those towns.
A relocation of business to the corridor  is NOT economic development for
the region, but rather economic dispersion. Pulling businesses out of our
incorporated cities and putting them out into the County is NOT a positive
economic trend.  Economic growth should happen within the incorporated city
or within well planned annexations of the city.  Growth throughout Whitman
County should be a coordinated effort with local city government to ensure
that growth benefits all the parties involved.  The ordinance should be
re-written to encourage growth WITHIN the existing communities of Whitman
County.

Transit/Public Transportation
Development away from the our city cores ensures a greater dependency on
the automobile to access these facilities.  We currently have a unique
situation in our area where most of the transportation between our
communities starts and ends within Pullman and Moscow.  Such a condition is
ideal for public transportation to serve commuters, shoppers, and students.
Any growth and development of facilities between Moscow and Pullman
threaten the possibility of maintaining the efficiency of the current and
future public transportation system.  Amendments of the current
comprehensive plan should include explicit encouragement of public
transportation in the corridor.

Automobile Traffic/Parking
Development of the corridor will mean more automobile trips into the
corridor.  Even with a proposed widened highway, this will translate into a
more dangerous condition of increased cross traffic and slowed traffic.
The impact to travel times and safety will have a negative impact on
University cross listed courses and local businesses who now depend on
quick drive times between the two communities.

Quality of Life
Development of the corridor and the above mentioned concerns will have a
negative impact on the quality of life that Palouse residents have come to
enjoy.  We can expect to see increased stress on the lives of people
commuting between Pullman and Moscow if development is allowed to increase.
The added inconvenience to Pullman residents driving in the corridor to
settle business will also not be worth the presumed benefits.

Chipman Trail
The Chipman Trail is growing to be the most commonly used park in Whitman
County.  If we add even some of the businesses allowed for conditional use
permits in the ordinance, the Trail will be less likely to satisfy the
needs of its users to get a park experience close to home.  Non-motorized
transportation on the trail could be threatened.

Flood Control
Businesses locating into the corridor will not be required to address storm
water issues to the satisfaction of the City of Pullman.  Development of
new parking lots, roadways, roofs and other impermeable surfaces not
mitigated by catchment basins will have a negative impact on the City of
Pullman's central business district.  Corridor developments should not be
allowed to have storm water or sewage treatment requirements weaker than
Pullman's requirements.

I urge you to not turn the Pullman-Moscow Corridor into an "enterprise
zone".  Such a move would not generate the much needed tax revenue for the
County, but would, instead, result in a series of problems that will need
to be solved by your successors.  Please do not leave such a legacy, based
on a quick-fix "solution" to your economic woes.  It will not benefit the
land, the people or the long-term economy of the Palouse.  Thank you for
considering these concerns.

Sincerely,

Tom



Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director

===================================================================
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
P O Box 8596; 112 West 4th St; Suite #1
Moscow ID 83843-1096
Phone (208)882-1444; Fax (208)882-8029
url:  http://www.moscow.com/pcei

Please note our individual staff email addresses below:

Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director: lamar@pcei.org
Kimi Lucas, Office Manager lucas@pcei.org
Laurie Gardes, Financial Manager:  gardes@pcei.org
Anita Grover, Watersheds: grover@pcei.org
Peggy Adams, Watersheds/Food Systems: adams@pcei.org
Ashley Martens, Environmental Education: martens@pcei.org
Jon Barrett, Idaho Smart Growth:  smartgro@micron.net
Elaine Clegg, Idaho Smart Growth:  eclegg@micron.net

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