[Vision2020] Buildings old and new + taxes
Jeff Harkins
jeffh at moscow.com
Mon Apr 11 09:29:52 PDT 2005
Mark and Debbie raise some interesting points for all to consider. At the
County level, there are many of us that have concerns about the proposed
zoning standards for home occupations. Again, it is that focus on
preventing "negative" activities rather than encouraging "positive" growth
that drives the regulatory machine.
One element that needs to be brought into the equation - we really need to
focus on those businesses that add value to products and services which are
then exported out of the county. Bringing in new dollars is the only means
of growth that will enhance our ability to have a sustained economic
base. If we can achieve this, goods and service businesses that serve the
local market will prosper as well.
Finally, while everyone considers the pros and cons of big box stores,
please remember that they are only a means of distributing goods (produced
elsewhere) to the local consumer. It is interesting to note that a lot of
the discussion has focused on comparing Walmart, Home Depot, Costco, etc.
with Tri State, Moscow Building Supply and JJ Building Supply. At one
level, they are all "big box stores". Remember, Tri-State is tied to the
Ace Hardware Supply network (a mega distributor), Spence Hardware is tied
to the True Value Distributor system, Moscow Building Supply is tied to the
"Do It Best" distribution system. All of these "distribution" models are a
means of competing for your retail dollar and are necessary to lower the
costs of acquiring goods at volume discounts - so that you can benefit by
lower costs. WalMart, the nations largest retailer, has simply done a
better job of managing the distribution system.
Markets run best when demand is the driving force for the operation of the
market. An unfettered demand (that invisible hand) will allocate goods and
services to their appropriate values. For those that fear the appearance
of "new" box stores, they should put their fears at rest. If the box store
is serving the needs of the market, it will survive. If it doesn't serve
the interests of the consumer, it won't. Even in Moscow, we have had the
box stores come and go - Ernst, K-Mart, Lamont's, "big" style Sears, even
Tidyman's.
Just as we should not regulate consumers who are willing to pay more than
going price for a good or service, we should not prevent consumers from
seeking the lowest possible price. This thinking is a cornerstone of free
enterprise - and if consumers do their part (ponder carefully their
consumption decisions) the market will operate appropriately. Resources
will find their way to their highest valued use.
At 10:36 PM 4/10/2005, you wrote:
>Debbie,
>Thank you for the resource listings. I'm also encouraged by your outlook.
>
>It's too bad that these "recent trends" have not taken hold in Moscow, Latah
>County and the rest of the Palouse. From what I have observed, the area
>economic development groups tend to be of the mindset of mostly wanting to
>attract a "big" business in to provide 30-50 "living wage" jobs. I would
>much rather see greater diversification in our economies by the "gardening"
>(apparently an economic development term) of local businesses. I envision a
>much greater return to community by helping 15-50 area businesses to grow &
>hire 1-2 employees. Area businesses know the community, want to be here,
>have a built-in interest and a host of so many other "advantages" over
>bringing in a brand new big one. In my experience during the five years
>since my transition from employee to business owner, I have not seen much
>agency effort to promote entrepreneurial development. Maybe it is up to the
>entrepreneur to venture ahead without a support structure, or maybe it is up
>to the entrepreneurs to group together and develop their own. This is a
>concept Heather & I have talked about over the years (for home
>occupationists, but could be more inclusive); if there are people interested
>in developing such a group, please send me email or call.
>
>As a member of the Board of Adjustment, I have attended hearings for home
>occupations and I agree with Debbie that current Zoning has the potential to
>be detrimental to many positive & low-impact businesses. I have a difficult
>time justifying a "right" decision just to follow the Code, when I
>personally believe a specific situation to be entirely justified by common
>sense and reason. I look for answers from a variety of sources, and I have
>yet to fully resolve how I can improve this situation while waiting for the
>Code to be updated. I can envision many great community and neighborhood
>assets that could be developed within Moscow; much better that the poor
>growth patterns brought about by the "single-use" Zoning model. I would
>love to see a more "open" ordinance that allows greater flexibility for
>project-specific determinations to be made by the Board. I would anticipate
>this to also encourage citizen involvement - both by increasing the Board
>size, as well as increasing hearing attendance. Imagine a Zoning model that
>encourages positive growth, rather than a model that tries to prevent
>negative growth. The processes for positive outcomes from these two
>perspectives are vastly different and I think a model that is supportive of
>desired efforts is better than a model focused on prevention of the
>unwanted.
>
>I thought it was interesting to see an article in the Daily News about
>regional lawmakers lamenting the loss of tax revenues in areas surrounded by
>large chunks of tax-exempt federal lands. Butch Otter was quoted," If the
>government can't be a good neighbor, it has no business being in the
>neighborhood." This is because of the US Dept. of Interior is not making
>required cash payments to compensate local governments to offset losses to
>the private property tax base. Apparently the Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes
>(PILT) Program has tried to fix the tax-loss problem since 1976. This
>sounds very similar to the situation Moscow has with its tax-exempt
>entities, but as yet, we have no PILT program. This seems like something to
>be worked towards.
>
>Mark
>
>Mark Seman, Architect
>Heather Seman, Landscape Architect
>1404 East 'F' Street Moscow, Idaho 83843
>v 208-883-3276 / f 208-883-0112
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
>[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Debbie Gray
>Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 11:29 AM
>To: Vision 2020
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Buildings old and new
>
>
>It is becoming increasingly unlikely that rural areas can rely on only
>attracting one or two big businesses to support a local economy. Recent
>trends are pointing towards local entrepreneurship, creating clusters of
>smaller businesses that revolve around a specific niche (eg recreation or
>service or medical), and identifying and supporting local and unique
>assets. How does Moscow promote and support small, locally
>owned businesses and promote entrepreneurial development? Look at the
>limits on in-home businesses in Moscow. Resources available for small
>business owners and those who want to start one, etc.
>
>I'd like to recommend a few sites that look at poverty and rural
>development, esp in the northwest. Disclaimer, I am partially funded by
>the Northwest Area Foundation. However, they have a wealth of resources
>and a strong focus on poverty reduction and population decline in the
>rural northwest. Also check out the indicators website for demographic
>data for the inland northwest (http://www.indicators.nwaf.org/)
>
>Northwest Area Foundation http://www.nwaf.org/default.aspx
>
>Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (Kellogg Foundation)
>http://www.ruraleship.org/index_html
>
>USDA Rural Development http://www.ruraleship.org/index_html
>
>Economic Research Service: Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources
>and Rural America (USDA) http://www.ers.usda.gov/
>
>This is just a brief sample of resources but I think communities need to
>shift their focus from looking for someone to come in and rescue the
>economy (eg another Schweitzer Engineering Lab) and instead grow their own
>entrepreneurial climate.
>
>Debbie
>
>%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%
> Debbie Gray dgray at uidaho.edu
> We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
> so as to have the life that is waiting for us." --Joseph Campbell
>%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%
>
>_____________________________________________________
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>
>_____________________________________________________
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
>
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.5 - Release Date: 4/7/2005
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.5 - Release Date: 4/7/2005
More information about the Vision2020
mailing list