Carnation 2000: A Valley City Focuses On Growth Possibilities
Published 2:38 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
“The greatest asset the Northwest has is
open space,” says Senator Alan Bluechel, “but how do
we keep it that way?”
Carnation 2000, a project sponsored by the Carnation Chamber of Commerce, is focusing on
the need to plan growth in the city and preserve
the characteristics of a rural lifestyle.
At a reception for the community held at the
new Celebration Hall, displays from local students rendering their perceptions of a future
Carnation surrounded the room and suggested everything
from more cows to more malls.
Well, whether you favor dairies or
designers, Carnation must face the proposition that it will
turn from the agricultural base that has been its survival
to a different economy, serving a changing population.
“By 2010, 1.1 million more people will move
into the State of Washington,” Bluechel added last
week. “Where will they go?”
According to the state senator representing
the Valley, Carnation now has some of the
least-expensive land in the country and local land values
are cheaper than they will ever be again.
Bluechel presented a highly futuristic but
realistic view of the Northwest region including
Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta, Washington,
Oregon, Montana and Idaho. This “global entity” will
represent a population of 15 million people which
could wield a significant degree of clout in the
world economy, placing 10th of the world’s largest
nations rated by their gross national product.
The picture of global ecomonic posturing
contrasts a great deal with the current and pressing issue
of sewers for Carnation, which has residents in
some conflict and remains unresolved.
The need for a sewer system to replace
failing septic systems in certain parts of Carnation is
the foundation of what needs to be a massive
undertaking towards solving the growth issues for the city.
“If we don’t do something soon,” warned
Bluechel, “we could end up like Orange County, California.
The rest of the state (Washington) has18-24
percent unemployment. There is a conflict in the
Legislature over growth management.”
The next 10-20 years could see the development
of garden spots, green belts and connectors,
Bluechel said. He believes there is a great deal of financial
help to be had from bond issues, block grants and
other funding sources.
Local attorney and Carnation Chamber
President Bill Hollowell describes the Carnation 2000 project
as a window of opportunity for the history and culture
of Carnation: “There is inevitable change. People with
a lot of money are coming here -they’re already here.”
The chamber of commerce is anxious to
choose members for a revitalization committee and to
begin planning for Carnation’s future before someone
else does. Citizens need to help by bringing their ideas
and opinions to the meetings of the chamber and
city council as the process of choosing alternatives begin.
