[Vision2020] According to LMT: Wal-Mart has big plans for Moscow

[Nils Peterson]

By JOEL MILLS
of the Tribune 
MOSCOW -- Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, wants to build a
supercenter on the southeast edge of Moscow, the city announced Thursday.

Wal-Mart also wants to build a supercenter in Pullman. Supercenters add
groceries, tire and lube centers, and gas pumps to their traditional line of
discount retail items.

The announcement listed a number of hurdles Wal-Mart must clear before
construction can begin.

Wal-Mart's application review will be overseen by the city Community
Development Department and requests a rezone of 77.6 acres to the city's
Motor Business Zoning District.

Both the rezone and a preliminary plat approval require public hearings
before the city planning and zoning commission and the city council.

The store will also have to comply with a large-scale retail emergency
ordinance the city council passed in August to deal with so-called "big box"
development in Moscow.

The ordinance requires developers to obtain a conditional-use permit for
buildings larger than 40,000 square feet. The proposed supercenter is almost
204,000 square feet.

The permit process requires another public hearing before the Zoning Board
of Adjustment. The board can require that certain conditions be met before
development can proceed.

Wal-Mart's application said it would close its location on Warbonnet Drive
on the northwest side of town. The new store would occupy 31 acres southeast
of the intersection of State Highway 8 and Mountain View Road, an area in
east Moscow recently annexed into the city. It would have more than 1,000
parking spaces and a 10-pump fuel station, according to a news release from
the city of Moscow.

The Pullman supercenter of similar size set to be built on Bishop Boulevard
has won initial approval from the city. But the decision is being appealed
by a local anti-Wal-Mart group.

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Mills may be contacted at jmills at lmtribune.com.