[Vision2020] Hawkins Development

[French]

Hawkins corridor project rolls ahead
Whitman County planner OKs proposed development with some stipulations 

By Ryan Bentley, Daily News staff writer

Thursday, December 14, 2006 - Page Updated at 11:39:05 AM 

Whitman County gave a qualified go-ahead Wednesday to a Boise company that wants to build a 700,000-square-foot retail shopping center on the Pullman-Moscow Highway, just west of the Idaho state line. 

Whitman County Planner Mark Bordsen determined Hawkins Companies could proceed with its development plans if it meets 26 conditions - 23 more than the planning department's original findings. 


Hawkins must obtain a wastewater discharge permit, construct a storm water control plan and relocate impacted wetlands on its proposed 200-acre site. 


The majority of the requirements focus on traffic access and flow issues associated with a large retail center. It also requires the installation of pedestrian and cyclist avenues. 


Bordsen said Hawkins Companies presented 10 studies completed by its contractors that include storm water reports, geotechnical engineering reports, transportation studies, a fish and wildlife database report and a cultural resource survey. 


Bordsen said Hawkins submitted parts of its packet throughout the summer and presented the final piece Friday. The company requested the county not make its recommendation until its packet was complete. 


Bordsen forwarded the department's recommendation to the Washington State Department of Ecology today for review. 


Hawkins Companies submitted its first application to the county in January. The company's proposed shopping center would be seven times larger than the Palouse Mall in Moscow. 


The city of Moscow appealed the county's initial decision, saying the development would harm the environment and possibly strain the city's emergency response units because of a pre-existing mutual aid agreement. 


In May, Hawkins representatives withdrew the company's application for building permits and its application for a conditional use permit in an attempt to satisfy concerns about environmental impact. 


Another stipulation for approval involves water, which Hawkins has to find for its project. Hawkins scoured the Palouse throughout the summer in search of water rights and is working to finalize a deal with the city of Colton. 


The Department of Ecology must approve the transfer before Hawkins can claim Colton's water rights. 


Bordsen said he doesn't know where Hawkins stands in regard to its water issues. He said the company will have to prove it has sufficient water for the project before construction can begin. 


The proposed development still must be approved for a conditional use permit through the county's Zoning Board of Adjustment. A public hearing date has yet to be set. 


Residents and the state have until Dec. 28 to submit comments to the planning department. 


Representatives for Hawkins Companies could not be reached for comment. 


Ryan Bentley can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 237, or by e-mail to rbentley at dnews.com. 


 




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