Council OKs warehouse limits

TUMWATER — A bitterly divided and unusually testy City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday in favor of a permanent warehouse ordinance that limits building sizes, building locations and truck traffic.

Proponents say the ordinance protects residents and the environment; opponents say it effectively posts a "keep out" sign for business and economic development.

"We're not banning large warehouses in light industrial zones," said Councilman Pete Kmet, who voted in favor of the law along with council members Karen Valenzuela, Ed Stanley and Joan Cathey. "We're just saying, 'Keep them away from our homes.' To me, that makes sense."

'Health of our citizens'

Kmet, backing residents who worried about diesel fumes polluting the air and water near their homes and schools, added, "I don't think we have to sacrifice the health of our citizens for economic development."

Councilman Neil McClanahan called the measure a moratorium on development and a death knell for the city's efforts to achieve financial stability.

"We either grow or we die," said McClanahan, who was joined in opposing the measure by council members Judi Hoefling and Bruce Zeller. "If you vote for this, you're going to be the ones handing out pink slips to our employees."

Hoefling said the council was "saying to the business community, 'Don't bother to come to Tumwater, because we'll just block you.' "

The vote came after a half-dozen developers and business people appealed to the council to extend a temporary warehouse ordinance, due to expire April 2, for six months to give more time for review and design guidance. The temporary ordinance was less restrictive than the permanent law, which was developed after four committee meetings, a public hearing and an environmental appeal about the issue — all since last summer.

"I don't think we're going to hear anything new," Kmet said in rejecting a motion to extend the temporary law. "The time has come to make a decision."

Cathey said she was "not opposed to growth," only to the negative effects of the warehouses.