More heavy rail traffic ahead for Cheney

The Spokane County Planning Commission took a step closer to the possibility of increasing train traffic on the West Plains — and consequently through Cheney — by approving a proposal at its Feb. 26 meeting to change zoning in the rural and resource lands zones to allow the siting of intermodal freight transfer/railroad yards.

The commission made a pair of changes to the proposal that went through a public hearing at the Feb. 12 meeting, adding the requirement for a conditional use permit and “expanding the use from strictly the transfer of intermodal containers to all types of freight transfer,” county planner Steve Davenport wrote in a March 2 email.

The proposed zoning changes limit siting of these yards to the rural traditional and rural conservation areas in the rural zone, along with large tract and small tract agricultural in the resource lands zones. The minimum lot size is set at 10 acres, must be located within one and a half miles of a state highway and a main line and/or short line rail line and would not be allowed to transfer any hazardous waste.

Several speakers told the commission the main reason behind the proposal is economics. Dwight Hume, of Land Use Solutions and Entitlement LLC, said the changes would allow short line railroads, such as the Palouse River Coulee City line that runs through Cheney, to diversify their products from just agriculture, which no longer is capable of helping short lines make their financial ends meet.

“The need to diversify is, we feel, a very important element to keep our short line system operating,” Bob Westby, PRCC railway systems manager for the state Department of Transportation, said.

Westby said locating intermodal yards near existing rail lines is needed due to the costs associated with building new lines. Locating them in rural zones will reduce traffic congestions in urban areas, making them more desirable for businesses that would use the facilities.

It could also eventually lead to short lines reducing their reliance on public funding to maintain operations.

“We want to reduce the amount going in, and maybe get to a place where we’re not public,” Westby said.

Zoning criteria in the proposal opens up sizeable tracts of land as potential yard locations. Those include the small tract agricultural and rural traditional lands along either side of SR 904 from Four Lakes to Cheney, north of Interstate 90 along the Medical Lake-Four Lakes road, small tract west and southwest of Cheney, along SR 195 from just north of Spangle to the Whitman County line and along Highway 27 around Rockford and Fairfield.

The West Plains has been identified as a prime location due to the proximity of the interstate, Spokane International Airport and the Geiger Spur rail line. Spokane Realtor Dick Edwards said these are all viable transportation methods making the West Plains attractive to future industrial growth, the opportunities for which would be enhanced by building an intermodal yard.

“If not, they’re (businesses) going to go somewhere else,” Edwards said.

The commission received written correspondence regarding the proposed changes, both for and against. In its comments, the city of Cheney wrote that “non-resource related industrial developments” are inconsistent with the county comprehensive plan’s described uses in rural and resource lands.

Cheney “strongly” encouraged the commission to reconsider the request, and that rail facility project proposals be considered on a case-by-case basis to allow for more comment by those who would be affected by the use.

The county Planning Commission is currently preparing its recommendation for the zoning changes to be sent to county commissioners for further consideration.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.