[Vision2020] Zoning is All About Fairness

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (December 8, 2005) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with a special
thanks to Joann Muneta.

As David Williams so easily stated at Monday night's council session, "It is
about following the letter of the law."

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Zoning is all about fairness

I wonder what evidence Steve McClure and the Daily News editorial board used
to decide that all objections to allowing schools in downtown Moscow were
being "hijacked by those seeking to debate religion or politics or those who
are trying to make a political point." (Opinion, Dec. 3 & 4) If there is a
political point being made, it is that the city's zoning code should be
implemented fairly or it is no zoning code at all. This is a fair point for
citizens to make and should not lead to name calling and finger pointing on
the part of the editorial board. 

Another point that is being made that has nothing to do with religion and/or
politics is the fate of Moscow's downtown retail/service core. Fortunately,
and largely thanks to the downtown merchants, we have been able to keep our
downtown district viable and vital in spite of the establishment of two
malls and one Wal-Mart. 

More challenges are on the horizon. Many residents want to be sure that
there is space downtown for the purposes which are protected by the zoning
code - business and service. Another nonpolitical/religious point is the
need for parking so that people can shop/eat/do business downtown. Zoning
that would allow current schools to expand and new educational institutions
such as the University of Idaho to locate downtown might end the retail core
business district we have all worked so hard to maintain. I hope the City
Council takes these points into consideration, and hopefully the editorial
board will consider them as well. 

Joann Muneta, Moscow

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For those who could not either attend the session or watch it on television:

http://www.tomandrodna.com/Zoning

Take care, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

PS - I understand that there is an excellent selection of music at David
Williams' Paradise Ridge CDs and Tapes.  Would anybody care to join me
tomorrow to browse their inventory?

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Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

- Author Unknown
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