How do we build our economic stability, bring businesses to town but not become the next Bonney Lake? What are your ideas? Thoughts? I’d love to see Orting Citizens and City Officials post their ideas as well as any projects in the works to help this problem.
How can we go about advancing with the times, while maintaining a small town feel?
November 7, 2008 · 13 Comments
Categories: Uncategorized
13 responses so far ↓
Billy // November 8, 2008 at 9:31 am |
That is a real good question & I don’t know if it could have been done. With Gratzer’s Landing coming I don’t think you’ll ever get that “small town feeling” back. I’m not against or with Developement. I almost wonder though if the coming of Gratzer’s Landing will keep or attract more people into town for shopping. You have to remember we are in the “Walmart” age. One stop shopping. If someone has to go shoe shopping, they have to leave Orting to do it. Therefore, they make all of their other little stops elsewhere as well. If they didn’t have to leave Orting to do their shopping, then….. see my point?
patty villa // November 12, 2008 at 10:39 am |
I still think we’re continuing to bark up the wrong tree. It isn’t shopping that will bring economic stability to Orting.
Orting needs to become aware of its innate qualities and capitalize on those. They have a seedling of a start in their desire to have a “western” theme to their buildings in town. There is a disconnect then from that theme to what is a natural draw to this area. When people can start to put the two together, the business plan – the “draw” if you will- will become obvious and the march forward to economic stability will commence.
To me, the nature of the direction the town should go is obvious, but I don’t reside within the city limits and therefore don’t get to have a say.
Noreen // November 12, 2008 at 11:25 am |
Did no one notice that Gratzer Landing pulled out? The signs are gone!
Russ // November 13, 2008 at 3:53 am |
I believe that our future is going to depend on successfully partnering with a large commercial industry. I, personally, want to see Nestle fill that spot. The revenue that the city will be able to obtain from taxing a large business like the water bottling plant will bring in a steady cash flow for many years. Is there a down side to that plan as well? Sure. Nothing is perfect. And I am not going to go into all the negatives as we have heard them time and time agani.
Orting has relied on the money from building new homes and neighborhoods to fund the city for years now. The drop in the housing market hopefully is a wake up call to this city that it cannot rely on this to sustain the city’s cash needs. Where will the city get its’ funding when there is no more room for new neighborhoods? We are all going to have to face the facts that we are going to have do the unthinkable, ask the citizens of Orting to approve some sort of property tax increase for Orting to continue. Do I want this to happen? I would rather pay a little more now to keep Orting moving forward than to find myself in 10 years wondering where my property value went. I believe that by bringing in a large company like Nestle, we can greatly lower the amount that we as citizens will have to chip in to keep Orting running smoothly.
patty // November 13, 2008 at 10:00 am |
I agree that the addition of taxable income from an entity such as Nestle is a necessity for a small town. Doing it in a responsible manner is the key. I think that there is the ability (brain power) here to do so. For those who complain about traffic generated by such a facility, it is far less traffic than that generated by the large housing development otherwise proposed.
In addition, an Urban Growth Area that should be considered is the area near the Hobart-Baxter plant and Lions field. That makes a lot of sense as it is along the highway, easy access to city amenities (water/sewer) and is an area that is already frequently used for community functions. As there pre-exitsts a commercial facility in that area, it makes much more sense than taking existing farmland and turning it into commercial real estate.
Having an area set aside for a little light industry (tax base) that doesn’t interfere so much with our ability to get around our small town will also help to protect and preserve the character of Orting. That’s much better than having it in the heart of town.
Ray // November 16, 2008 at 9:16 pm |
I have to agree a bit with Russ and Patty. In these current times, small towns need a continual source of income in order to survive. We need to grow, even if just a little, to stay afloat and not lose our identity.
I also agree with what Billy had responded with regarding people wanting to do one stop shopping. No one wants to buy some stuff nearby then drive to another city to get everything else, if they can just get everything they need on one trip.
So, here’s how I see it. In order to get all the people to shop in the Orting community, we’ll have to bring in some large name businesses. This may be either a Wal-Mart or even a Fred Meyer. If not something as generic as those, it will have to be several specialty stores. Essentially, we’ll have to create a strip mall or two. Either one of these ideas would take away the small town feel. They would also increase our already heavy traffic congestion along SR 162. I doubt anyone wants this to happen.
Since neither of those are currently feasible (given the idea of keeping a small town feel and with the current state of the economy and building markets), we need to look elsewhere for revenue.
That is where industry comes in. Nearly every small town in America is built around one type of industry or another. Yes, the problem with that is “as the particular industry goes, so goes the community”. The problem is though, our community is already going, because of lack of industry.
I agree with everyone that says having industry in the city takes away from the natural beauty and the incredible views many of us enjoy. A lot of industrial plants are ugly, no doubt. But how ugly will our City become if we lose our abiltiy to finance our own City and have to be absorbed by Pierce County? Then all of the decisions effecting our little corner of the County will be made by thousands of people that don’t even know where Orting is.
Patty’s idea on having it in the Urban Growth Area is fantastic. However I have two concerns for that area. One, it is not yet within the city limits of Orting, therefore how much revenue will we really see from them as opposed to it all going to Pierce County. And two, that is an area that is in direct line of site of the Mt. Rainier from our entire city. I’m not convinced it can be built in a manner that would not be noticeable when any of us look out of our windows at the beautiful mountain.
My vote is for the lesser of two evils. Allow a large industry to come into Orting. We can still stay a small city, but will have the financial means to support ourselves without giving up valuable City resources and departments.
Thank you for your ear……
Conerned Citizen // November 17, 2008 at 6:46 pm |
Nestle would be a terrible choice for the town and bring down land values.
Who will want to live in a town with 24/7 trucking, loud noise, air pollution, pollution from plastics, and future water rationing because of Nestle? We will be known as the citizens who did nothing to stop this from happening.
We have an obligation to the future to protect our public water resources–that’s what at stake when it comes down to it, public water taken over by private enterprise.
We don’t want to be known throughout the country as leaders of irresponsible civic planning. We don’t want to be used in textbooks as an example of how a town sold out its public water commons to private enterprise. We will be an example of irresponsible land use and zoning. We don’t want to be known as “sell outs” to corporate America that has shown itself to be irresponsible time and time again.
Think Love Canal. Google Nestle and Fryeburg, Maine or its Calistoga plant, or McCloud, CA. These aren’t frivolous examples but a pattern of irresponsible corporate behavior.
Nestle isn’t the answer. The answer is in promoting our natural gifts: good fishing, lovely bike trails, nice parks for picnics, safe streets, good people. If we were smart we’d create a place where people will want to come to get away from places such as Bonny Lake and Puyallup–the reason many of us chose to live here. We’d be best to model Leavenworth, WA, or Sausilito, CA, small towns with much appeal.
More housing instead of Nestle will not generate the kind of traffic large trucks will 24/7 on a single lane highway for the next 20 years.
Single-family housing will create a stable tax base of people who also shop, eat, buy gas, and recreate in town. Good neighborhoods would be best for our city and its long term health. We will be known as a great place to live, perhaps even make a list of top places to live in an ever more crowded Puget Sound.
The appeal to possible lower taxes because of Nestle is a false one. Long term taxes will not come down. There would be little benefit per person from Nestle. The expense would come at the cost of our total quality of living.
Pam // November 18, 2008 at 4:52 pm |
let’s face it people, the issue is not Nestle whether or not they come to Orting or not. I here so much talk about the Orting businesses and their failure to thrive. I moved to Orting 3 years ago and was so excited prior to moving here to move to a smaller community and one with such charm as I thought Orting had, how very wrong I was.
The businesses in Orting don’t thrive because the owners of the businesses don’t know they’re running a business in a small community, they lack the hometown service and variety and they lack consistancy. For example, most recently I had forgot to order some flowers for a special ocassion so I called a local Orting Florist about a dozen times that morning, no answer. After not getting an answer I decided to drive there although the sign said they were supposed to be open they weren’t. So I drove to Puyallup to a shop where I was immediately greeted with a smile and a special order was put together while I waited all done with a smile.
Orting businesses complain Orting residence to patronize them, well I’ve tried most every business in Orting and they all lack the small town Lustre.
patty // November 18, 2008 at 10:07 pm |
A note:
An Urban Growth Area (UGA) is an area that can be annexed into the city for the purpose of growth- thus the name. The Growth Management Act specifies that cities absorb a certain amount of growth and plan for future growth. Orting has certainly absorbed a lot of growth in the last few years (population has exploded), but now the question is how to financially support the infrastructure that is necessary for the population without taxing them to death. …Thus the difficulty the city finds itself in today and the need to designate an UGA as well as find viable business options other than the housing and strip malls that have already been done.
I believe that placing businesses/light industrial on the outskirts of town is important to the preservation of “historic downtown” Orting and maneuverability within the city. I believe that it would be a travesty to molest yet more precious farmland for the purpose of placing warehouses, etc., upon them. I believe that since there is pre-existing business in the area to the South of town and the amenities are indeed easily available to the area, that it makes it ideal for the UGA. I also believe that the gorgeous view of Mt Rainier is had throughout Orting, not just on the way out of town. The view on the way into town is fantastic, and I would love to see it protected as it is the “Welcome Mat” to town.
roger // November 29, 2008 at 3:39 pm |
Just to let Noreen know, the Gratzer sign at the NORTH end was indeed pulled out, so the trucks bringing in fill-dirt could maneuver.
I last saw the sign, upside down and backward, leaning against the board fence of the adjacent residential development. The SOUTH sign is still in place.
I don’t shop much in Orting because there isn’t much to be had. I would love it if I could shop in town, but I can’t see how the small storefronts along Washington can accomodate..There is almost NO parking, and what is available is not “convenient”. Does Sausalito have a two-lane highway running thru its heart? I don’t know, I haven’t been there, but I DO know Sausalito is a wealthy suburb of San Francisco…
If Orting could get the highway out of town, we’d have a chance to grow into a destination Western-themed town. But Hwy 162 cannot be re-routed, now that Carbon River Landing on the eastside, and Hidden Lakes on the west have gone in. One benefit of this chokepoint; we will not become a Bonney Lake or South Hill.
The Calistoga bypass, if/when built, will siphon off east/northbound traffic (the Graham and Eatonville commuters), relieving some pressure on the Washington-Calistoga intersection and hopfully make the North Park a bit more attractive, but I cannot imagine any simple way the engineers and planners might reduce the North-South traffic on 162 thru town.
Mike Jones // January 9, 2009 at 5:35 pm |
Orting has a small town feel? What feel is that exactly. My family moved here when i was 13 20years ago. Only thing our family noticed was a highschool with the highest county drop out rate along with the highest suicide rate. 5 students committed suicide when i was attending Orting High. Not exactly the “country” feel we were hoping for.
Not to mention the rampant meth/drug use here and low funding for the schools at the time.
Ive since have the privilege to travel the nation and see all areas of the country. Ive been to the south and seen “real” country towns. I can tell you Orting is nothing even close.
Mike Jones // January 9, 2009 at 5:59 pm |
“How do we build our economic stability, bring businesses to town but not become the next Bonney Lake?”
Well you cannot build economic stability without enticing business’s and corporations to move to your town. Thats how capitalism works. If you want to grow you grow. Simple has that.. theres no magic solution to keeping something small and then expect to grow at the same time. Its a oxy moron.
If a town doesnt want business’s, factories and warehouses to move in.. then theres only one option if it wishes to “grow”
Thats investment in Education facilities. I dont see Orting becoming a destination for higher education anytime soon.. so growing through business is pretty much the only way. IE Bonney Lake.
Ron Godfrey // March 2, 2009 at 10:53 am |
Well for starters the City of Orting can invest in a new billing system. I keep getting water shut off notices and $20 late fees for my rental property, but the City owes me over $135 in refunds!! How can I be late when I have a $135 credit??? And the billing folks don’t seem to know their “apples from oranges” either. This screwed up accounting is one of the main reasons I moved my personal small business out of Orting, and now it looks like I’ll be dumping my rental property too!