[Vision2020] In Support of Alturas Park
Barbara Richardson Crouch
edc@moscow.com
Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:43:51 -0800
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_006E_01C3A909.DC70B6C0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Let's talk in terms that everyone can agree upon. We compete locally,
regionally, nationally, and internationally for business development.
Moscow has always focused on the University of Idaho for its financial
well-being. As the economy changes and the University changes, there is a
significant negative impact on the local economy. To offset that impact, we
try to diversify the economy. If you look at our neighbors -
Lewiston/Clarkston and Pullman. They have public funded Port Districts
leasing space- long term - for .65 to .80 per square foot per month. The
higher rate is the beginning lease rate for the Incubator! We must stay
competitive!
Alturas' business plan is the legal document that states the intent of
Alturas - not a Zoning Code. RTO is a zoning code and not the business plan
for Alturas. Please separate the two. Mike please give me the name of
local business people that state their business has been hurt by Alturas or
the RTO zone.
Part of the reason many businesses do not locate here is because the fear of
negative publicity. Orofino is the home to a light manufacturing company
expected to employee more than 100 people in living wage jobs with benefits
because of the fear of negative publicity.
We constantly talk about "quality of life" but ask the people who are making
less now than they did 4 years ago or the people working 2 jobs to afford a
home in Moscow if their "quality of life" could be enhanced by better jobs.
Barbara
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On
Behalf Of Mike Curley
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 10:07 AM
To: rawoods@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com; Robin Woods
Cc: JoAnn Mack; steveb@moscow.com; jmhill@moscow.com; jon@n-k-ins.com;
griedner@ci.moscow.id.us; mtethoma@moscow.com; peg_hamlett@sbcglobal.net;
lpall@moscow.com; johnd@moscow.com; nchaney@moscow.com; comstock@moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] In Support of Alturas Park
Robin Woods, BJ Swanson, and Greg Mann have written notes to which I
respond:
Greg: i didn't even know your business was in Alturas. Guess I wasn't
specifically referring to you in any prior post.
BJ: you chastised Bill London for misstating the purpose of Alturas. You
said it was designed to provide jobs and make the economy less dependent on
the U of I. Maybe you have a different document than I have used for my
reference. The Zoning Code says the RTO zone (Alturas being the only area so
zoned) is "created to take advantage of technology developed and expertise
available at the University of Idaho and the transfer of technology to the
private sector... Permitted uses include but are not limited to those
directly involved in research and development, manufacture [or tech
products], and a limited range of office uses that could provide services to
the research and development functions or could be converted to research and
development uses as the market for such space warrants."
Among the permitted uses are "Professional, executive and clerical offices
intended to support the research and technology purposes of the zoning
district."
So, I'm not sure BJ that judged by that language you can properly accuse
Bill London of misstating the facts when he talked about "failure of the
initial idea of the business park." Clearly from those statements, the
initial idea was a research and technology park with supporting businesses
allowed.
Robin, and others: The question that I raised in this iteration of
"Alturas--the Saga Continues" was very simply whether the city was doing the
right thing to expand the types of businesses that could locate in
Alturas--a publicly-funded technology park. It did not raise any issue with
Anatek or any other tech/research business currently located in the park or
that may want to locate there in the future. And frankly, there is only one
issue that makes me care about what businesses can locate there--the public
bonds, and diversion of taxes to pay for them, from non-tech businesses.
There is one lot remaining in Phase 1 of Alturas. Will there be are request
of the Urban Renewal Agency for another bond for Phase 2 or will all the
financing be private? If the latter, then I don't really care who we let
into the RTO Zone. We can call phase 2 the Moscow Business Park and expand
significantly the permitted uses and ease restrictions so that businesses do
not need to have a tech-supportive function. That way, if lawyers,
accountants, and engineers move there, the property taxes they pay will
(continue to) go to the city rather than to retirement of bonded
indebtedness. THAT is the issue. It isn't about downtown. As someone has
pointed out, it's about the entire community. If an existing Moscow business
moves to phase 1 of Alturas (and I think there is no disagreement that this
has happened), the taxes that business previously paid to the city are now
going to retirement of the bonded debt. I have NO PROBLEM with Anatek doing
that; no problem with businesses that could otherwise not have gotten a
start without that public bonding of the park, but I do have a problem with
an expansion of non-tech/research businesses locating in Alturas UNTIL after
the bond is paid or Phase 1 is full and Phase 2 is opened without a public
bond.
And while it seems fashionable to demonize everyone who even asks a question
about Alturas and the RTO zone as "anti-business" and/or "anti-growth," the
truth is that by trying to maintain the original intent of the zone (as
stated in the zoning code rather than from BJ's memory), one may actually
consider that s/he is keeping the rest of the city a viable place to
locate/continue a business. And is giving other landowners an incentive to
develop their commercial property privately.
In the not-too-distant future the bond on Phase 1 will be paid. Let someone
tell us there will be no need for the URA because we are expanding Alturas
to a business park and won't use publicly-funded bonds to develop it, and
the opposition to expanded uses will go away so long as the park is not
disadvantaging other economic interests, businesses, and landowners in town.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mike Curley
_____________________________________________________ List services made
available by First Step Internet, serving the communities of the Palouse
since 1994. http://www.fsr.net mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.538 / Virus Database: 333 - Release Date: 11/10/2003
------=_NextPart_000_006E_01C3A909.DC70B6C0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<?color><?param 0100,0100,0100><HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dwindows-1252">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1264" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT color=3D#0000ff>Let's talk =
in terms that=20
everyone can agree upon. We compete locally, regionally, =
nationally, and=20
internationally for business development. Moscow has always =
focused on the=20
University of Idaho for its financial well-being. As the economy =
changes=20
and the University changes, there is a significant negative impact on =
the local=20
economy. To offset that impact, we try to diversify the economy. =
If you=20
look at our neighbors - Lewiston/Clarkston and Pullman. They have =
public=20
funded Port Districts leasing space- long term - for .65 to .80 per =
square=20
foot per month. The higher rate is the beginning lease rate for =
the=20
Incubator! We must stay competitive!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT color=3D#0000ff>Alturas' =
business plan=20
is the legal document that states the intent of Alturas - not a Zoning=20
Code. RTO is a zoning code and not the business plan for =
Alturas. =20
Please separate the two. Mike please give me the name of =
local=20
business people that state their business has been hurt by Alturas or =
the RTO=20
zone.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT color=3D#0000ff>Part of the =
reason many=20
businesses do not locate here is because the fear of negative =
publicity. =20
Orofino is the home to a light manufacturing company expected to =
employee more=20
than 100 people in living wage jobs with benefits because of the fear of =
negative publicity.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT color=3D#0000ff>We =
constantly talk about=20
"quality of life" but ask the people who are making less now than they =
did 4=20
years ago or the people working 2 jobs to afford a home in Moscow if =
their=20
"quality of life" could be enhanced by better jobs. =
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D997482618-12112003></SPAN><FONT face=3DTahoma =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D997482618-12112003><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" =
color=3D#0000ff=20
size=3D3> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D997482618-12112003>Barbara</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D997482618-12112003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D997482618-12112003> </SPAN>-----Original =
Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]<B>On =
Behalf Of=20
</B>Mike Curley<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 12, 2003 10:07=20
AM<BR><B>To:</B> rawoods@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com; Robin=20
Woods<BR><B>Cc:</B> JoAnn Mack; steveb@moscow.com; jmhill@moscow.com;=20
jon@n-k-ins.com; griedner@ci.moscow.id.us; mtethoma@moscow.com;=20
peg_hamlett@sbcglobal.net; lpall@moscow.com; johnd@moscow.com;=20
nchaney@moscow.com; comstock@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: =
[Vision2020] In=20
Support of Alturas Park<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>Robin Woods, BJ Swanson, and =
Greg=20
Mann have written notes to which I respond:<BR>Greg: i didn't even know =
your=20
business was in Alturas. Guess I wasn't specifically referring to you in =
any=20
prior post.<BR>BJ: you chastised Bill London for misstating the purpose =
of=20
Alturas. You said it was designed to provide jobs and make the economy =
less=20
dependent on the U of I. Maybe you have a different document than I have =
used=20
for my reference. The Zoning Code says the RTO zone (Alturas being the =
only area=20
so zoned) is "created to take advantage of technology developed and =
expertise=20
available at the University of Idaho and the transfer of technology to =
the=20
private sector... Permitted uses include but are not limited to those =
directly=20
involved in research and development, manufacture [or tech products], =
and a=20
limited range of office uses that could provide services to the research =
and=20
development functions or could be converted to research and development =
uses as=20
the market for such space warrants." <BR><BR>Among the permitted uses =
are=20
"Professional, executive and clerical offices intended to support the =
research=20
and technology purposes of the zoning district."<BR><BR>So, I'm not sure =
BJ that=20
judged by that language you can properly accuse Bill London of =
misstating the=20
facts when he talked about "failure of the initial idea of the business =
park."=20
Clearly from those statements, the initial idea was a research and =
technology=20
park with supporting businesses allowed.<BR><BR>Robin, and others: The =
question=20
that I raised in this iteration of "Alturas--the Saga Continues" was =
very simply=20
whether the city was doing the right thing to expand the types of =
businesses=20
that could locate in Alturas--a <U>publicly-funded technology park.</U> =
It did=20
not raise any issue with Anatek or any other tech/research business =
currently=20
located in the park or that may want to locate there in the future. And =
frankly,=20
there is only one issue that makes me care about what businesses can =
locate=20
there--the public bonds, and diversion of taxes to pay for them, from=20
<U>non-tech</U> businesses. There is one lot remaining in Phase 1 of =
Alturas.=20
Will there be are request of the Urban Renewal Agency for another bond =
for Phase=20
2 or will all the financing be private? If the latter, then I don't =
really care=20
who we let into the RTO Zone. We can call phase 2 the Moscow Business =
Park and=20
expand significantly the permitted uses and ease restrictions so that =
businesses=20
do not need to have a tech-supportive function. That way, if lawyers,=20
accountants, and engineers move there, the property taxes they pay will=20
(continue to) go to the city rather than to retirement of bonded =
indebtedness.=20
THAT is the issue. It isn't about downtown. As someone has pointed out, =
it's=20
about the entire community. If an existing Moscow business moves to =
phase 1 of=20
Alturas (and I think there is no disagreement that this has happened), =
the taxes=20
that business previously paid to the city are now going to retirement of =
the=20
bonded debt. I have NO PROBLEM with Anatek doing that; no problem with=20
businesses that could otherwise not have gotten a start without that =
public=20
bonding of the park, but I do have a problem with an expansion of=20
non-tech/research businesses locating in Alturas UNTIL after the bond is =
paid or=20
Phase 1 is full and Phase 2 is opened without a public bond.<BR><BR>And =
while it=20
seems fashionable to demonize everyone who even asks a question about =
Alturas=20
and the RTO zone as "anti-business" and/or "anti-growth," the truth is =
that by=20
trying to maintain the original intent of the zone (as stated in the =
zoning code=20
rather than from BJ's memory), one may actually consider that s/he is =
keeping=20
the rest of the city a viable place to locate/continue a business. And =
is giving=20
other landowners an incentive to develop their commercial property =
privately.=20
<BR><BR>In the not-too-distant future the bond on Phase 1 will be paid. =
Let=20
someone tell us there will be no need for the URA because we are =
expanding=20
Alturas to a business park and won't use publicly-funded bonds to =
develop it,=20
and the opposition to expanded uses will go away so long as the park is =
not=20
disadvantaging other economic interests, businesses, and landowners in=20
town.<BR><BR>Thank you for your consideration.<BR><BR>Mike=20
Curley<BR><BR><BR>_____________________________________________________ =
List=20
services made available by First Step Internet, serving the communities =
of the=20
Palouse since 1994. http://www.fsr.net mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com=20
///////////////////////////////////////////////////// </BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_006E_01C3A909.DC70B6C0--