Cashmere Planning Commission discusses plans for economic growth and development

CASHMERE — Addressing concerns about Cashmere's business development and economic growth, Christina Wollman, Contract Planner for Perteet, Inc., urged the Cashmere Planning Commission to consider grants for a comprehensive economic development study. During a March 4 meeting, Wollman highlighted the town's growth challenges, including a lack of dedicated staff for planning and economic development, and pointed to the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update as a critical opportunity to define Cashmere's future vision. The discussion also covered the scarcity of land for business and industrial use, high rates charged by the Port, and the need for a more connected network of city pathways.

Wollman added that a challenge for Cashmere, is that the town is a growing community but lacks staff dedicated to leading the planning and economic development processes. Wollman told the Commissioners that Cashmere will have a good opportunity to really define its vision when the required update to the Comprehensive Plan begins. She expressed her view that the City’s current Comprehensive Plan lacks a vision of the future. Citing specific examples, she pointed out that the plan does not include the locations of future road connections or utilities. 

Commission Chair, Zak Steigmeyer, reported back to the other Commission members a summary of the joint meeting of the Commission and City Council. He explained that he made it clear that the CPC was seeking input and direction from the Council. However, Steigmeyer said that at the meeting the Council did not provide a clear direction or set of tasks, although a Council member did suggest that the CPC could develop a plan for additional pathways in the city. Commissioner John Torrence asked about the Council’s interests in change. Director of Operations Steve Croci, responded that they are pro-business.

The lack of land that is available for business and industrial use, was a topic discussed throughout the evening. Torrence suggested asking developers why they are not coming to Cashmere would be a good starting point. He argued that the city’s expenses are increasing and additional businesses located in town can help the city increase its revenue to help cover those costs. Croci told the Commissioners that businesses have left Cashmere because they cannot find property on which to expand. He explained that the Port owns 2 “downtowns” worth of property and that the city needs to find a way to have commercial enterprises built on Port property. Concern was expressed that the Port properties are not bringing in or retaining industry. According to Croci, the rates charged by the Port appear to be high and the Port seems to be difficult to work with; as a result, he said that businesses frequently inquire but go elsewhere. He acknowledged that environmental clean-up concerns and costs are an issue on some of the Port’s properties. Croci added that the city does not receive any property tax from the port property, which are the port-owned buildings. He argued that if buildings on the port’s property were privately owned, the city would receive property and sales tax from any businesses in the facilities. Steigmeyer suggested that talking with business owners who had left or who had decided not to locate at the Port property could be helpful in understanding the problem.

Wollman provided additional advice to the CPC for their meetings and as they begin updating the Comprehensive Plan later in the year. She suggested 1) that the Commission have specific actions and tasks to keep the meetings focused. 2) Determine good places for multi-family zoning in the UGA. 3) Investigate the feasibility of expanding the UGA. 4) Investigate and plan the expansion of the city’s pathways.

The CPC revisited the topic of city codes and if they are standing in the way of development. Steigmeyer asked the city’s Director of Operations, Steve Croci, to request that a city planner from Wenatchee come to the April meeting to describe the lessons learned from a recent major code revision. Wollman agreed that hearing from a Wenatchee city official would be useful, however, she also suggested that since businesses are not coming to Cashmere and being turned away, the codes may not be preventing businesses from locating to Cashmere. She hypothesized that the issue may be a lack of infrastructure or available land.

As an additional action item for their April meeting, Commissioners asked for maps of the city’s current trails and pathways so that they could sketch in potential connection points. Croci explained that creating a multi-use pathways plan would help the city apply for grants to create a more connected network of pathways.

Croci announced that a Public Hearing will be held to receive comments regarding the proposed changes to the city’s RV Parks and Campground codes.