By Matt Neznanski
Gazette-Times reporter | Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 12:00 am
Corvallis City Councilors approved a resolution creating an enterprise zone in south Corvallis on Monday, leaving final action to county commissioners to decide today.
The zone, similar to many others around the state, would offer temporary tax exemptions on buildings and equipment as a way to attract businesses.
Mayor Charlie Tomlinson said he would be present when commissioners take up a resolution of their own. He said two of three commissioners had expressed concern over a plan to focus on attracting "green companies" exclusively.
The proposed Corvallis enterprise zone is a bit different from others statewide in that the council will create restrictions that encourage companies that have some sustainable aspect to their business to choose the zone for relocation.
Potential industries include solar-energy manufacturing, green building suppliers and biofuel refineries.
The focus for a Corvallis enterprise zone had been on the 192-acre Corvallis Airport Industrial Park and its 42 acres of "shovel-ready" land.
But after public testimony asking for more private land within the enterprise zone, the council obliged and expanded it to include all industrial land from Wake Robin Avenue south to the airport.
The council has not formalized the local restrictions on the type of industry that would be allowed to build within the zone.
If County Commissioners approve the zone, the two have until July to create such restrictions. That is when the state Economic and Community Development Department will announce which cities were awarded new enterprise zones.
In other business:
* The council adopted a resolution lowering some system development charges paid by developers in town.
The charges are one-time fees imposed on new or re-development projects that are intended to recover a share of the costs for extending services to new growth in the city.
System development charges for water and sewer service decreased by a few cents. Street and parks charges increased slightly and charges for drainage of impervious surfaces will remain the same.
* Tomlinson announced recognition by Country Home magazine naming Corvallis the "Best Green Place to Live" in America.
The magazine named the city's waste management, land use, water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, recycling and green building practices as reasons for the distinction.
Participation in renewable power programs and recognition by the Environmental Protection Agency as a "Green Power Community" last year helped tip the scales.
"I realize some people like to keep us a secret to the world," Tomlinson said. "I'm pleased to be mayor of a city that's doing such important work in sustainability."
The magazine partnered with Sperling's Best Places, a Portland ratings firm, to develop the list.
All told, four of the top 10 cities were in Oregon.