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<div><tt><font color="#000000">Corridor growth debate heats up at
UI<br>
<br>
A local activist and a university professor speak to development on
the Palouse<br>
<br>
By Ryan Bentley, Daily News staff writer<br>
<br>
Friday, April 13, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:00:00 AM<br>
<br>
Jeff Harkins said the Moscow community is the only thing that holds
back a change in property use on the Palouse. Mark Solomon said the
Palouse itself is a limitation.<br>
<br>
Both acknowledged the need for growth in the region during a Thursday
night forum at the University of Idaho sponsored by the UI Economics
Club, but that's about as close as the two came to agreement on what
should be done.<br>
<br>
Harkins, a UI accounting professor, and Solomon, a local activist who
recently filed a protest to water right transfers for a proposed
large-scale development in the corridor just west of Moscow, debated
development in the corridor along the Pullman-Moscow Highway. Corridor
development has emerged as a hot topic over the last few years after
Whitman County designated the area as a development zone.<br>
<br>
Thursday's discussion revolved around growth laws, social conditions,
water and how it applied to corridor growth.<br>
<br>
Currently, the Hawkins Companies' proposed 700,000-square-foot
shopping center and the construction of James Toyota's new dealership
constitute the bulk of the emerging businesses in the corridor.<br>
<br>
Harkins advocated a "market-take-charge" approach, where
consumers decide what businesses locate in the area. He added that
Moscow must honor state sovereignty lines if the Palouse is going to
bolster its economic engine.<br>
<br>
Solomon said Whitman and Latah counties must work together and select
businesses that will offer low-impact practices and high-paying jobs
on the Palouse.<br>
<br>
While Harkins said college students need the part-time jobs a new
shopping center would bring, Solomon said students would be better off
studying and diving into the opportunities the university offers than
wasting their time stocking shelves and running a cash register.<br>
<br>
Instead, Solomon said, the Palouse should encourage intellectual based
businesses that could employ students and pay them a living wage while
adding to their education.<br>
<br>
The differences between the two speakers comes from their perception
of the natural resources of the Palouse.<br>
<br>
Solomon believes Palouse residents face a water scarcity problem. He
said growth can occur but it cannot be through a floodgate approach.
Anyone who depends on groundwater will be in jeopardy if the area
doesn't rein in development and quickly work to solve the problem of
overusing the areas groundwater supply.<br>
<br>
Harkins doesn't believe there are physical limitations to development
of the Palouse. He said Whitman and Latah counties should be able to
find an alternative water supply from the two counties that receive
around 24 inches of rain a year.<br>
<br>
The area needs to expand and grow to attract people to the area who
will be able to work on the problem, Harkins said. The increased tax
base will allow the two counties to pay for projects to solve water
problems.<br>
<br>
Part of the area's growth will occur in the corridor, Solomon and
Harkins said.<br>
<br>
Optimally, Solomon doesn't want development in the corridor. He said
it will cause congestion, lead to sprawl and put pressure on the water
supply in an area that is most likely a place where groundwater flows
into the aquifer system. Growth should occur around existing urban
areas and not be strung out along supply routes.<br>
<br>
Harkins said the expansion of the Pullman-Moscow Highway from
two-lanes to four-lanes is a huge step to connecting the two counties.
Growth in the corridor should focus on connectivity between the two
universities. Development should be led by entrepreneurs who foresee a
need and aim to fill it.<br>
<br>
Solomon doesn't foresee endless growth opportunities in the corridor.
James Toyota and the proposed Hawkins Companies development grabbed a
large portion of land available for development in the corridor. Any
more growth will be by businesses that do not demand a large
infrastructure.</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000"><br>
Harkins said it's time for Latah County to destroy its image that it
interferes with Whitman County business and focus on how it can remain
competitive in the Palouse.<br>
<br>
Solomon said Latah County doesn't have to compete. It doesn't need
Wal-Marts and big-box stores to attract new businesses like Schweitzer
Engineering Labs. He likened Moscow to Boise before its building boom.
Solomon said the area's natural beauty, way of life and opportunities
will keep Latah County competitive.<br>
<br>
Ryan Bentley can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 237, or by e-mail
at rbentley@dnews.com.</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><br></tt></div>
<div><tt><br></tt></div>
<div><tt>At 1:14 PM -0700 4/13/07, lfalen wrote:</tt></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><tt>Vary well said, as usual. I missed
last nights debate. I was moving hay until 6:00. How did it
go?</tt><br>
<tt></tt></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><tt>Roger</tt></blockquote>
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