There is, it seems, a bit of hyperbole on both sides of the issue.
State Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, said that House Bill 1504, which she championed, “could have potentially created as many as 7,300 manufacturing jobs in Clark County.” Gov. Jay Inslee said the legislation, which he vetoed, “would undermine our long-standing commitment to preserve working farms and promote our agricultural economy.” And while both positions profess to be standing upon a pedestal of truth, the fact is that they are balancing on the two-legged stool often created by partisan politics.
In the end, the fate of a bill to allow development along short-line railroads — such as Clark County’s Chelatchie Prairie Railroad — leaves questions about balancing job growth with environmental protections and the impact of Washington’s Growth Management Act. And while there are no easy answers, the strength of Pike’s position is demonstrated by the fact that the bill passed the House with an 81-16 vote and cleared the Senate 41-8.
Some history: Claiming that Clark County has had to turn away prospective employers looking for a large parcel of land that has rail access, Pike introduced a bill to allow for rezoning of agriculture land along short-line railroads. Local governments would be able to decide that underused agricultural land could be better used for manufacturing companies that would like to locate near a railroad. The Columbia River Economic Development Council, Pike noted, has had four manufacturers inquire about land along the Chelatchie Prairie line, only to be turned away because of growth management restrictions. Hence, the claim of 7,300 lost jobs.
That, said CREDC president Mike Bomar, is a bit of a stretch. It is unlikely there is enough land for all four manufacturers to coexist, and the largest employer would have brought about 1,000 jobs.
