HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2004-058Resolution against commerce corridor SPONSORED BY:
PROPOSED BY: Seth Fleetwood
INTRODUCTION DATE: 101761904
RESOLUTION RESOLUTION NO. 2004 -058
OPPOSING ANY CONSIDERATION OF A "FOOTHILLS ELEMENT" IN FUTURE
WASHINGTON STATE COMMERCE CORRIDOR PLANNING
6 WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation Freight Strategy and Policy
7 Division and the Washington State Legislature considered a financial feasibility
8 study of a massive commerce corridor to be located along the route of State
9 Highway 9, through Whatcom County's South Fork Valley, to be privately
10 constructed and operated for profit; and
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12 WHEREAS, the Commerce Corridor Feasibility Study was designed to see if
13 private parties can build the commerce corridor, even before any technical study or
14 needs assessment for the corridor has been conducted; and
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WHEREAS, the Feasibility Study defined the locale for the corridor as Western
Washington without first considering how the corridor would fit into the national
strategic picture and without first considering the comparative value of aligning the
corridor in Central or Eastern Washington; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan places a high premium
on protecting and enhancing agricultural lands in Whatcom County, the good health
of which would be endangered by construction of the Commerce Corridor as
envisioned; and
WHEREAS, the impacts of such a project on wildlife and salmon habitat along
the South Fork of the Nooksack River and the Samish River is contrary to other
state programs designed to protect salmon and wildlife in these regions; and
WHEREAS, the pastoral setting found in the South Fork River Valley presents
a special example of the best places in the Pacific Northwest that represent the
highly prized values of aesthetic beauty and unsullied, rural charm cherished by
landowners and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, reducing agricultural lands and natural resource productivity
contradicts the foothills region's goals of preserving agriculture, forestry, fisheries,
and tourism; and
WHEREAS, the
massive size, up to
700 feet wide,
of the proposed corridor
would have destroyed
most communities
in its path.
I NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council
2 strongly opposes any future consideration of a "Foothills" segment of the Commerce
3 Corridor; including opposition to any proposals for expanded rail, highway or
4 electrical utilities.
APPROVED this 26th day of October , 2004.
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23 Civil Deputy Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY WASHIN(