Disincorporation may be best answer

Recent letters appearing in the Voice have asked why we would want to disincorporate. Why not just vote for different leaders or attend meetings and make our feelings known to our current leaders?

Well, we have been to meetings. In large numbers. We have voiced our opinions against the Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Project, with over 80 percent of us opposing this plan. I look at the candidates who are running for election. Thus far, they have not voiced the ideas we (the 80 percent) are looking for. It appears that disincorporation may be the best solution.

Moving on, I would like to comment on business along Sprague-Appleway. We have heard quite a bit of dialog about the one-way traffic hurting businesses. This appears to be a hit or miss proposition because many businesses seem quite satisfied with the current traffic.

How about what happens if the Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Project goes into effect? What will the new zoning laws mean? Suppose an individual came to the Valley around 1980 and started a small business a block or so off Sprague Avenue. This person bought the land and built a facility adequate for that business and has earned a good living. Now, after 30 years, that person is thinking of retirement. They wish to sell the business or at least the building as a large part of their retirement nest egg. However, they now find that location will be zoned as a glorified residential area rather than commercial. Their building cannot be sold as commercial property, it has become nearly worthless.

Folks, this is not a bad dream. It is about to happen. Why has this not given rise to protests from the Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Spokane Valley Business Association? Haven’t you accepted the membership fees from these businesses over the years? Are these businesses just casualties of battle? With one sweep of the magic wand, they will become worth a fraction of what they are today. If we are truly a community, why would we put up with this? We need to protect our small businesses from this treatment. They have served us well for so long and have paid their taxes faithfully. They need our support now.

The City Council has now approved the Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Project even while admitting there could be flaws and that it may need some revisions later. Based on this, how is a businessman supposed to plan and make decisions? Where is the stability and consistency that drives a successful free market?

Does this help answer why we favor disincorporation?

Bill Behrens

Spokane Valley