[Vision2020] Alturas again

[edc@moscow.com]

Bill,

I think that it would be of great benefit for you to research Business 
Technology Parks in North America.  Alturas was orginally designed in the late 
1980's and early 1990's and was never intended to soley be comprised of 
technology based businesses.  If you talk with the people who helped write the 
ordinance, their intentions are clear.  RTO was to allow a quality environment 
for high-tech businesses, but was to be flexible enough to change with the 
needs of the community.  The latest Technology Park in the area - Port of 
Lewiston- allows many more businesses than Alturas.  Once again, technology 
parks, as are all business developments, are designed to be flexible and meet 
the needs of the community.  

The Tech Park in Lewiston allows medical and would like the Blue Cross Offices 
to relocate their.  The primary purpose of the Blue Cross office would be to 
serve as a location to accept incoming calls.  The Research Park in Post Falls 
allows much more flexible zoning, than either Lewiston or Alturas.  

Moscow has limitations in the businesses it can attract or retain.  Many or the 
commercial products that come from UI research, are better suited for the Coeur 
d'Alene/Post Falls area - transportation, access to large numbers of employees, 
lower taxes, more liberal zoning regulations, etc.  

Alturas is designed for Moscow and our strengths and weaknesses.  Before you 
drone on and on about what Alturas was suppose to do - take a real look at what 
it has accomplished.  Even though some people thought Alturas was only designed 
for "high-tech" businesses - that was never the intention of LEDC or of the 
URA  (Urban Renewal Agency), the lead agency for its creation.  I suggest you 
do some in-depth research on Economic Gardening, Small Business Job 
Creation/Retention, and the difference between technology parks and research 
parks.  Please research these topics prior to the October 8th meeting, and 
maybe then you will be more willing to look at the facts surrounding 
Alturas,specifically, and business development and growth, in general.

Please use facts Bill - cafeterias, daycares, lawyers, accountants, etc. were 
included in RTO zoning orginally.  The retail sales will be retail from 
technology created in the Park -software packages, etc.  As for negatively 
impacting downtown, Downtown spaces are about 98% full and the second phase of 
University Pointe should start construction in the spring of 2004.  

Barbara Richardson Crouch
LEDC





> 
> Again, I challenge you to state the facts.  You claim Alturas is
> "tax-supported."  Tell us "How Much?"  And don't forget to put in your
> equation the 80+ jobs in Alturas that contribute over $3.5 million in LOCAL
> salaries.  Those salaries that go to pay LOCAL taxes and support many LOCAL
> merchants and LOCAL projects like Latah Trail, Palouse Ice Rink, Kenworthy
> PAC, Farmers Market and many more.  And the majority of those jobs are
> high-tech and many of them are straight out of the University of Idaho
> Business Technology Incubator.  Would you prefer that those jobs and
> salaries went elsewhere?  What's your point?
> 
> B. J. Swanson
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On
> Behalf Of bill london
> Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 9:52 AM
> To: Vision2020
> Subject: [Vision2020] Alturas again
> 
> If you care about the future of the Alturas technology park, consider
> attending the public meeting of Moscow's Planning and Zoning Commission
> set for October 8 at 7:30pm at City Council chambers.
> The P&Z will be considering a rewrite of the zoning rules about Alturas
> (and its Research, Technology, Office zone).  A copy of those changes is
> attached.
> And surprise, the rules are being rewritten to allow more of what has
> already happened.  Originally, Alturas was supposed to be a
> tax-supported park designed to preserve local high-tech jobs.  Now,
> Alturas has become a tax-supported mini-mall.
> Day care centers, accountants, lawyers and even cafeterias, retail
> stores and coffee shops will be OK under the new rules.
> So, it will be official--as Alturas expands, Moscow taxpayers will be
> paying for  further sprawl and for siphoning businesses out of downtown.
> Already half the businesses at Alturas are not high-tech startups, but
> instead are businesses that have moved from downtown to that place.
> This will only encourage more of the same.
> BL
> 
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