[Vision2020] New Developments for Moscow

[Mark Seman]

The City of Moscow is currently undergoing the process of rewriting its
Subdivision ordinance.  This has been occurring over the past 1-2 months and
has gone from a 10 page chapter to close to 30 pages.  I encourage all
people that have concerns with past development around Moscow to take a
close look at the draft copy available on the City's website
(http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/CommDev/SubdivisionCode_10-1-04.pdf).  Read it,
try to understand it - not only what does it outrightly allow, but try to
imagine what positive aspects of growth does it dis-allow.  Provide any
input you might have about it to City Planner, Joel Plaskon.

On or near December 8th, the P&Z Commission will have on its agenda to hear
testimony and discuss areas of Moscow's current Zoning ordinance that might
need revision.  I have written to the City requesting that parts of this
Code be revised in 2005.  Having recently participated in a few processes
concerning home occupations, I feel the current wording is disallowing very
low impact economic & community growth.

If this community is truly interested in promoting "Smart Growth" and
bettering the direction of its physical & economic development, mechanisms
that are obstructing the potential for positive growth patterns need to be
eliminated and mechanisms for eliminating negative growth patterns need to
be in-place.  In order to do this, community action needs to happen.  And
the time for some of this important action is in the very near future.

Next year the City will be looking at its Comprehensive Plan and receiving
comments about how to improve it.  Part of the process will involve
identifying core values that this community holds.  It is from these core
values the Plan will address Moscow's direction for community & economic
growth.  I hope there will be broad community participation in this process
that will help set an example of what real community development can be.

Community development is not limited to some concepts of how will we grow,
but rather it should be viewed as the real actions by how we grow.  If this
action is manifest only by those that have an interest, then what is that
interest?  The land developer?  The business promoter?  The local economic
engine?  Yes it is - and it also should include all the other parts of the
community as well.  We all live busy lives and need to prioritize our
involvement.  I view these issues as having high priority.

See ya there,
Mark
***   *****   ***
Mark & Heather Seman
Full Circle Studios
1404 East 'F' Street
Moscow, Idaho 83843
v 208-883-3276
f 208-883-0112
FCS at Moscow.com