- Home
- Front Page
- City and Matson Fruit can’t agree
City and Matson Fruit can’t agree
- By Martha Goudey
- Published 04/17/2008
- Front Page
- Unrated
The City of Selah is sticking with its denial of the Matson Fruit Company’s plan to expand its operations into an area that is currently zoned commercial in the North Wenas commercial district.
City Supervisor Frank Sweet said the city has tried to work with Matson but that they could not reach a reasonable agreement.
A court date is set for April 25 to determine the LUPA petition Matson filed Dec. 31. The petition appeals the denial of Matson’s application to rezone 8.43 acres of a 14.38-acre parcel in the North Wenas commercial district from commercial to industrial.
Sweet said the entire area east of North Wenas and north of the Matson Fruit Company was zoned commercial in 2002.
“The city did so because commercially zoned property within the city was limited and the only way to ensure the economic viability of the city is to promote commercial development,” Sweet said.
“Commercial development generates sales tax revenues for the city, which goes into the city’s general fund to provide for the needs of the city.”
Sweet said that industrial uses of property within the city generate no sales tax for the city.
“Matson Fruit Company was aware that the property to its north was being zoned to commercial, but did not oppose it at that time,” Sweet said.
According to a City of Selah press release, “the City Council’s decision to deny Matson Fruit’s request for a rezone now is based upon the applicable legal principle that zoning should not be changed absent a change in circumstances to the property and its surrounding area.
“Here the property and the property in the area zoned as commercial are developing as a commercial center. Recent sales for commercial development include: North Park Lodge Hotel, Banner Bank, Helm’s True Value Hardware, Les Schwab, a fast food chain and a medical clinic.
Changing the zoning to an industrial zone would be contrary to the pattern of development occurring in the area.”
Sweet said their decision is not against the Matson family, or to do what is best for one family, but to do what is best for the community as a whole.
“Although the City Council acknowledges Matson Fruit Company’s long-standing presence in the city and though they are sympathetic to Matson Fruit Company’s need to expand, changing the zone to an industrial zone would not be in the best interest of the community as a whole, but would instead only benefit one company,” the press release said.
City Supervisor Frank Sweet said the city has tried to work with Matson but that they could not reach a reasonable agreement.
A court date is set for April 25 to determine the LUPA petition Matson filed Dec. 31. The petition appeals the denial of Matson’s application to rezone 8.43 acres of a 14.38-acre parcel in the North Wenas commercial district from commercial to industrial.
Sweet said the entire area east of North Wenas and north of the Matson Fruit Company was zoned commercial in 2002.
“The city did so because commercially zoned property within the city was limited and the only way to ensure the economic viability of the city is to promote commercial development,” Sweet said.
“Commercial development generates sales tax revenues for the city, which goes into the city’s general fund to provide for the needs of the city.”
Sweet said that industrial uses of property within the city generate no sales tax for the city.
“Matson Fruit Company was aware that the property to its north was being zoned to commercial, but did not oppose it at that time,” Sweet said.
According to a City of Selah press release, “the City Council’s decision to deny Matson Fruit’s request for a rezone now is based upon the applicable legal principle that zoning should not be changed absent a change in circumstances to the property and its surrounding area.
“Here the property and the property in the area zoned as commercial are developing as a commercial center. Recent sales for commercial development include: North Park Lodge Hotel, Banner Bank, Helm’s True Value Hardware, Les Schwab, a fast food chain and a medical clinic.
Changing the zoning to an industrial zone would be contrary to the pattern of development occurring in the area.”
Sweet said their decision is not against the Matson family, or to do what is best for one family, but to do what is best for the community as a whole.
“Although the City Council acknowledges Matson Fruit Company’s long-standing presence in the city and though they are sympathetic to Matson Fruit Company’s need to expand, changing the zone to an industrial zone would not be in the best interest of the community as a whole, but would instead only benefit one company,” the press release said.