This is a map of potential road infrastructure changes as part of a development agreement proposed to Clark County Council in July. The Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association, which has residents near the proposed project, have expressed concern that they are not adequately represented in any planned development in the area.
Concerns over development near the Clark County Fairgrounds have residents calling for a seat at the table as survey data show members of the Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association want a say in what happens.
In a comparatively small meeting of the Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association, Bridget Schwarz, president of the association, went over data both from a survey of neighborhood association members, as well as from a presentation on a development agreement between the county and the Three Creeks Infrastructure Partnership.
Part of that presentation focused on work along 179th Street east of the Interstate 5 interchange, roads surrounded by property owned by the partnership. Schwarz explained that the state has allocated $50 million for a Interstate 5/179th Street interchange project, though that money wouldn’t be available until 2023.
“People don’t want to wait that long” on getting projects moving, Schwarz said.
The survey, which Schwarz said garnered hundreds of responses, showed that apart from open space and parks, something she admitted wouldn’t be a developer’s priority, business parks for family-wage jobs and mixed-use developments were a priority among respondents.
“Based on these results, there’s a problem between what the county government wants and developer priorities we have expressed,” Schwarz said, saying that a lot of what is held in the planned project to the east was more service-commercial, lower-paying and part-time jobs.
Possible annexation into Vancouver at a later date was also addressed, with 66 percent of respondents stating they didn’t want to become a part of Vancouver. There is a sizeable amount of land near the neighborhood in Vancouver’s urban growth boundary, which would allow for annexation.
Ultimately there was frustration with those in the fairgrounds feeling they didn’t have a voice. Ninety-five percent of respondents wanted a strategic plan for the interchange area as a first step before diving into development agreements.
A good example of that disconnect were roundabouts, which Schwarz said had been defeated as a possibility prior. Now the plan presented in July has four total roundabouts along 179th Street, from the Interstate 5 southbound on and off ramps to 15th Avenue.
Although the project presented in July doesn’t deal with the interchange proper, that project was listed on the county’s newest Transportation Improvement Program. It was listed as priority 3, which designated it at the top of projects that can be completed as funds became available. Other projects ranked alphabetically signified projects with funding already secure, which the 179th interchange was below.
As far as steps forward to ensure their voices are heard, Schwarz suggested setting up a work session with the county to go over their survey, much like how the developers had theirs earlier this year.
Schwarz also discussed the Discovery Corridor, a group of two dozen stakeholders, of which she represented the neighborhood association, which other members suggested could be a point for relief. Specifically, Clark County Councilor Julie Olson was named as a possible help, being the elected representative of the fairgrounds residents as well as someone on the council who would approve developer agreements.
Ultimately, Schwarz and the fairgrounds members want to be heard.
“We don’t have a seat at the table, but I certainly think we need to be sitting down the County Councilors,” Schwarz said.
