County asked to consider smaller lots in P-M corridor

Whitman County commissioners have been asked to consider reducing the minimum size of commercial lots in the Pullman-Moscow Corridor.

Planner Alan Thomson Monday told commissioners he had been asked by a potential developer if county zoning laws could be changed to allow for developments under the current three-acre minimum size.

Thomson said a realtor will soon come to commissioners to ask for the change to minimum lot size to accommodate a potential developer who would like to site four businesses in the corridor zone.

Realtor Shelly Bennett of Palouse Commercial Real Estate said Monday she was in “very preliminary” talks with a developer who had expressed interest in setting up an office-type building in the corridor.

Public Works Director Mark Storey said the ordinance when created in 1999 initially required developments in the corridor to be larger than 10 acres. Thomson said that was reduced to the current three-acre minimum in 2004.

Commissioner Greg Partch noted the minimum lot requirement was set because county leaders “wanted to stay away from a strip-mall look.”

Thomson noted septic system requirements may limit the minimum size. Storey estimated at least two acres of ground would be needed to accommodate a septic sewer system for an office building.

Thomson added lots in the long-proposed Hawkins shopping center may be on lots smaller than the three-acre minimum.

“I have the Hawkins development in mind, too, if that ever materializes,” said Thomson.

Thomson said he would bring the proposal to the planning commission. If a change is made to the code, he said it would likely be decided next year by the new board of commissioners, with Art Swannack and Dean Kinzer having been elected to replace Partch and Pat O’Neill.

Also Monday, commissioners received a report from Storey on the long-proposed tax split with the city of Pullman.

Under the plan, the city and county would share sales tax revenues from new businesses in the corridor. The deal would allow the county to keep half of the revenues if Pullman annexes new developments.

Revenue from the Hawkins development would not be included in the tax-split deal.

Partch said officials hope to present the finalized version of the plan, in the works since 2005, to the Pullman City Council for approval at its December meeting.