Candidates seeking election to Mill Creek City Council are divided over plans to develop the city’s east border.
Some see a proposal by the city’s community development department to build a mixed retail and residential development on 50 acres of commercially zoned property along 132nd Street Southwest as a chance to bolster sales tax revenue and make Mill Creek a destination for shopping and recreation.
Others fear the East Gateway development will draw business away from Town Center — a project that took more than a decade to complete from concept to construction.
“It feels like this project is fast tracked to beat the band,” said candidate Ed McNichol, who’s running against incumbent Mike Todd for Council Position 6. “It’s a tremendous opportunity. I’d kill to get that revenue but not at the expense of people who’ve already invested in Town Center.”
McNichol, 43, attributes his caution towards the project to discussions with Town Center merchants, who say they’re still trying to get a foothold in the community and raise awareness of the shopping center.
McNichol said he also is concerned about nearby residents’ objections to the location of a proposed Wal-Mart on the west end of the site.
His opponent, along with candidates Chuck Wright and Mark Harmsworth, who are competing for Position 5, believe Wal-Mart can be dealt with through strict code enforcement and that a new retail center will likely create more interest in Mill Creek and therefore boost business at Town Center.
“This is an opportunity for us to attract new businesses and boost our tax base,” said Todd, 53. “There are a lot of concerns about the impact a proposed Wal-Mart will have on traffic in that area, and because the city annexed this land two years ago, we can control how the traffic flows. We can enforce our noise ordinances.”
A study on development contracted through the city a few years ago, asserts that mixed-use developments like Town Center and the proposed east gateway project generate more revenue for cities than any other type of development.
“It will be a good thing for our town,” said Harmsworth, 37. “But, I want to see businesses in there driving development. I want to make sure we’re doing the right thing by the neighboring residents so their streets don’t become a thoroughfare for customers coming and going from the development.”
Harmsworth’s cautious support for East Gateway is echoed by Councilman Mark Bond, 39, who is unopposed in his bid for a second term.
Bond has voiced his concerns over the projects effect on traffic flow and businesses at Town Center. But, he also applauds the work done by staff in the community development department, as well as the process they’ve followed in gathering community input.
All of the City Council candidates acknowledge the financial rewards Mill Creek stands to gain from the East Gateway project.
“This absolutely is a tremendous opportunity for the citizens of Mill Creek,” said Wright, 62. “During Christmas time, we can make this place a mecca for shopping and community activities. If this thing goes through, we will more than triple our current revenue.”
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