[Vision2020] NSA

[DonaldH675 at aol.com]

The practical effect of Joel Plaskon's zoning decision is to open the  
central business district to all institutions of higher learning, including the  
University of Idaho.  In fact, the 1991 zoning revisions were predicated  upon 
the desire to restrict the University of Idaho from further  encroachment in the 
downtown area.  The then recent sale of Murdocks, a  night club, to the 
University of Idaho (now housing Human Resources), the sale  of Cavenaugh's 
Landing, a large motel complex, (now housing Parking and  Information Services in 
addition to graduate student apartments), and the  desire of the University of 
Idaho to purchase downtown space for the Pritchard  Gallery, were significant 
factors in the 1991 reconsideration of zoning in the  central business district. 
 At the time there was a very real fear that the  University presence would 
significantly erode the tax base.  This is  perhaps the most compelling reason 
that the map of the central business district  extends west on 6th Street to 
Deakin Avenue, which at first glance seems a  rather silly construction.
 
It is certainly my hope that an appeal to this ruling will be forwarded to  
the appropriate review commission.  Business owners in the central business  
district have my sympathy.  Not only is this decision a remarkable  extension of 
the city zoning administrator authority in overriding existing  ordinances in 
favor of ordinances which have been revoked, it may well serve as  the 
killing blow to many small business in downtown Moscow who are not able to  manage 
an increase in property taxes.  Maybe the central business district  should be 
abandoned to the tender mercies of NSA and University of Idaho.  
 
At a time when a BID is a controversial issue,  why would any  thoughtful 
business person, welcome central business district  occupancy by tax exempt 
organizations?  Is this what the Daily News, by  endorsing the presence of NSA 
intended?  Is this what Pam Hayes, (Hodgins  Drug) intended when she expressed 
support for NSA?  At what point will the  business people in downtown Moscow, get 
up on their hind legs, show a little  backbone, and unite against this 
decision.
 
Rose Huskey
 
"One cannot  level one's moral lance at every evil in the universe. There are 
just too many  of them. But you can do something, and the difference between 
doing something  and doing nothing is everything." Daniel Berrigan


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20050223/1f707819/attachment.htm