[Vision2020] Downtown Zoning Decision Could Follow Public Hearing

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (December 3, 2005) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with a special
thanks to Megan Doyle, staff writer for the Daily News, and Rosemary Huskey.

The P&Z Committee chose not to redefine "school" as reflected in the city
zoning code.

Simply put: A non-retail, non-commercial school is NOT permitted within the
Central Business District.

It truly is just that simple.

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Downtown zoning decision could follow public hearing; Months of hearings and
debate have led to Monday Moscow City Council meeting 

By Megan Doyle, Daily News staff writer

The Moscow City Council may approve new zoning regulations for schools as
early as Monday.
 
After almost a year of debate and a proposed ordinance bounced around
between council and commissions, the City Council will host a public hearing
Monday. A decision could follow immediately after the hearing. 
City Council has a wide variety of options, said Councilwoman Linda Pall.
There is the possibility the proposed regulations could be sent back to the
Planning and Zoning Commission for more work. 

"It would not be my preference to see that happen," Pall said. 

A January complaint about New Saint Andrews College in the downtown district
spurred discussion of a zoning code revision. Subsequent complaints were
filed regarding Paradise Creek Regional High School, Atlas School and Moscow
High School. 

"I just believe very strongly we have good zoning laws on the books," said
Rosemary Huskey, one of those questioning the operation of Atlas School
downtown. 

The primary use for downtown should be business, not a Bible college, she
said. 

The proposed regulations have been sent back and forth from City Council to
P&Z, which held its own public hearing in November. 

The ordinance regarding schools in nonresidential zones was designed by P&Z
with special interest paid to parking requirements and use. If approved,
commercial schools and educational institutions in the downtown area would
be required to have off-street parking outside the central business zone.
Publicly owned parking would not be allowed. 

It also would require schools, commercial schools and educational
institutions to apply for a conditional-use permit in most nonresidential
zones. 

All school facilities would be permitted, with a conditional-use permit, to
operate in the neighborhood business, general business and motor business
zoning districts. Commercial schools and educational institutions may be
conditionally permitted in the central business zoning district. Only
commercial schools may be conditionally permitted in the research,
technology and office zoning district. 

Though New Saint Andrews representatives have some concerns with the
ordinance, they admit changes to the zoning code are needed. 

"We're supportive of the ordinance in that the zoning code needed
clarification and the ordinance does that," said Bob Hieronymus, executive
vice president for administration and advancement at NSA. 

There are a couple of changes they'd like to see before the ordinance is
adopted by the City Council. "We see (the parking requirement) as unduly
burdensome to one particular business or one group of businesses,"
Hieronymus said. 

An unofficial parking survey completed by students and staff of the college
determined that there were an average of 58.5 parking spaces available in
the downtown area during regular working hours. 

"I think there's a parking management problem, but there's not a parking
space problem," Hieronymus said. 

Operation of NSA downtown brings more customers into downtown, using fewer
spaces than any previous occupant of the building, he added. 

Huskey questioned the validity of the parking study. "The parking should
absolutely be away from downtown," she said, adding the students could hike
into downtown. "They should be miles away," she said. 

Parking isn't NSA's only concern. 

"We'd also want to encourage the council to grandfather in both NSA and the
alternative high school," Hieronymus said. "Let's stop looking backward and
start looking forward." 

Huskey disagrees. "I don't want to see schools in downtown Moscow," she
said. "I'll be happy when it all gets settled."

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Take care, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


"I think one of the best ways to support education is to make successful
private schools like Logos prosper through tax exemption."

- Donovan Arnold (July 11, 2005)