If a dentist could save $2,700 on tenant improvement fees, would he expand his office? If manufacturers learned they could save several hundred-thousand dollars in development fees, would they build new plants in Clark County?
The Clark County Board of Commissions hope the answers to those questions are yes. That's why they recently passed a resolution waving various fees on certain projects in the area.
The program focuses on private sector development and job creation in industrial, mixed-use, business-park, commercial and office zones. Specifically, the resolution mentions businesses that are in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), properties adjacent to the Chelatchie Prairie railway line and projects in the following "Focused Public Investment Areas":
- Highway 99
- Salmon Creek Research Park
- The Discovery Corridor (both sides of Interstate 5 from north of the county fairgrounds to 209th Street)
- Barberton/St. John's area
- NE 117th Ave
Fee waivers do not apply to government or non-profit projects, and are in effect through December of next year. Affected projects must obtain their first building inspection approval before June 30, 2012, and a certificate of occupancy before December 13, 2015. Failure to meet these deadlines will result in all waived fees being due, plus 12 percent compounded interest.
Waived fees include preliminary plan and development engineering plan reviews, as well as building and fire inspections. Transportation impact fees are not currently waived, as that would require amendments to the county's comprehensive plan and related documents.
"[The fee waiver program] signals that Clark County is open for business and will do what it takes to create jobs for our community," said Steve Horenstein, a partner at Vancouver-based law firm Miller Nash.
However, despite the County's good intentions, Horenstein wonders how much real impact the program will have on Clark County development and jobs.
"This will really apply only to small projects that are currently in the pipeline," said Horenstein. "There are no big projects that I'm aware of that would benefit."
Horenstein explained tight financing and a dearth of tenants are not addressed by the "fee holiday." He also noted that land owners are reluctant to sell property in the current climate of down land values.
Larry Schlecht, president of Schlecht Construction Inc., with offices in Vancouver and Kelso, agreed that the fee holiday is a positive step, but said he wasn't sure it's enough to generate any long-term economic stimulus.
Clark County Community Development Director Marty Snell pointed out that just because a project is small, doesn't mean it doesn't create a number of jobs. In addition to the permanent employees of the establishment, small projects create opportunities for site consultants, framers, electricians and landscapers, to name a few.
"The fee holiday is not the only or the final solution to our economic recovery," said Kelly Sills, economic development manager for the Clark County Board of Commissioners. "But it is a vivid example of the board's intent to act boldly toward creating jobs and economic opportunity for Clark County residents."
