Phil Smith is the land developer who hoped to sell his 190-acre property near Winlock along Interstate 5 to be used for a massive equestrian center, complete with 7,000-seat arena.
Costs for the entire project were never pinned down, but numbers bandied about went from a low of $60 million to a high of $220 million. The project came alive after the state Legislature back in 2007 approved seeding the proposed horse center with $8 million in state sales tax revenue. To qualify for the money, project developers are required to acquire the needed land and break ground by Jan. 1, 2011.
Smith, however, hurt his efforts to sell his land when he allegedly illegally cleared and filled in much of the land, which is about 65 percent wetlands.
In reaction to that clearing effort, the state Department of Ecology fined Smith $232,000 in May of 2008, and issued a stop-work order. At the time, officials from Ecology said they could have levied fines of more than $1 million. They also ordered Smith to restore the wetlands.
Ecology Director Jay Manning said for proponents of the horse center to successfully acquire the Smith land for the project, it would take a lot of time and a lot of money.
Last week Smith found himself in deeper trouble when the Seattle office of the United States Attorney filed four federal charges against him, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act. His arraignment is set for Sept. 18. If convicted, he could face three years in jail and fines as much as $50,000 per day.
Equestrian center project director Larry Hewitt said they would continue to pursue the Smith property, and also look at other possible sites in South Lewis County. Hewitt said along with the land owned by Smith at Exit 63 along I-5, they are also looking at another possible location at Exit 71 near Napavine.
Hewitt still has hopes for the horse center on Smith’s site, telling a reporter that Smith’s legal trouble could complicate the project if that site is chosen.
We can’t see Smith getting in much of a worse jam, and believe however well intended, this horse arena is a misguided venture.
This newspaper editorial board has a long track record of supporting development as this area needs to expand its job base. We support logical development and job growth.
But it has never made sense to us that an expensive horse arena would bring in needed jobs and a rich tax base. We believe there are manufacturing, commercial and retail development that will eventually fill in at the valuable land along I-5 in South Lewis County.
It is time for the horse arena project to ride off into the sunset.
Dave Smith
Regarding Mr. Smith's original land purchase: Caveat emptor.
Sam Spade PI
The horse arena idea seemed strange from the beginning. There are many people who built their own arenas in the area with their own money and are reaping the rewards, even if few.It never made sense to for the Government to build its own arena and let some favored company operate it.If the arena is such a good idea, let Lewis County investors build it, and see if "they" come.Apparently Lewis County investors also do not believe the arena is a good idea.They have kept their powder dry.
Sam Spade PI
Nobody owns a creek or river running through their property. Pushing dirt into the stream damages people and fish downstream. Nobody has a "right" to damage or hurt things, especially other people's rights.A lot of folks in the County think the same way they did back in the 1950s and 1960s when they did anything they wanted. Dam a creek. No problem. Create your own swimming hole. No problem. Push dirt into the creek. No problem. Today, you cannot get away with that kind of stuff. When you work with Ecology on these matters, they can guide you to a successful conclusion.When you ignore them, you will be fined.Take your pick. You have a choice of how to behave.
darkwingdave
Here we have a person who wants to develop or sell their property. That they paid for, and presumably continue to pay for in the form of property taxes. But no, he's told - "65% of it is wetlands." If I've done the math right, that's 123.5 acres that he has no control over. If I were him, I'd ask for a refund and see who's going to be paying for it since it's obviously not his do with as he wishes.