[Vision2020] P&Z meeting

[Bruce and Jean Livingston]

So what happened after press deadline?  BDL

>From today's Lewiston Morning Tribune:

Moscow rezone finds few friends


By DAVID JOHNSON
of the Tribune


MOSCOW -- Nobody mentioned Wal-Mart. But a steady stream of people voiced their opposition Wednesday night to a proposed zone change that could open the door for the world's largest retailer to build a super center here. 

One man warned that "the nose of the camel is in the tent" and urged members of the Moscow Planning and Zoning Commission to recommend denial of an application to rezone 77 acres on the southeast corner of town to motor business. 

Four people spoke in favor of the rezone. 

By press time, commissioners were still listening to opposition testimony at the public hearing and it remained unclear whether a decision would be reached. 

"This is our home and we want to defend it," Chris Norton of Moscow said, testifying against the proposed zone change. 

"This location for a motor business zone makes sense," said resident Shelley Bennett, a local Realtor. 

The land is owned by the Gene Thompson family and is currently being farmed. It's located directly across from the Moscow City Cemetery adjacent to State Highway 8 and was annexed last June as an extensive commercial site. 

Shortly after, Wal-Mart announced intentions to build a super center on the site. A conceptual plan filed with the city shows, in addition to the Wal-Mart Supercenter, the potential for two additional big box retailers and upward of a dozen smaller retail stores on the site. 

Jim Demeerleer, whose Furniture West business lost it's retail site on the west side of town amid expansion of Tri-State, said he welcomed a new place for motor business. "Give businesses an opportunity to expand," he urged the commissioners. 

But Bill Parks, a downtown businessman, said a large motor business complex on the east side of Moscow would all but kill the central business sector. He likened Moscow's downtown to a garden dependent on a steady flow of vehicle traffic that would be siphoned away by a large scale retail development. 

More than 100 people crammed their way into the hearing, held in the Moscow City Council chamber. Many people sat on the floor, or stood in the hallway as testimony was heard. Chairman Jerry Schutz pounded his gavel a number of times to quiet the crowd or admonish them to not react to testimony. 

Schutz also let it be known that the business at hand had everything to do with a proposed zone change, and nothing to do with the possible arrival of any big box retailers. The commission will forward its decision to the city council for final consideration. 

John C. McCullough, a Seattle attorney representing Spokane-based CLC Associates, spoke on behalf of the Thompson family. He's the same attorney who -- through CLC -- represents Wal-Mart's attempts to build super centers in neighboring Pullman and in Spokane. 

McCullough told the commissioners that the proposed zone change is in accordance with the city's comprehensive plan. "This is not an application for any particular development or use," said McCullough. "It's ideally located for a motor business zone." 

Joel Plaskon, the city's community development director, recommended that the commissioners approve the motor business zone change, at least for part of the 77 acres. 

Members of a group called No Super Wal-Mart have vowed to fight construction of a super center not just at the zoning level, but throughout any development proposal. Unlike neighboring Pullman, Moscow has a so-called big box store ordinance that would require conditional use permits for any new retail store over 45,000 square feet. 

Wal-Mart Supercenters usually surpass 200,000 square feet. Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney has said the city council may also consider the question of placing a size cap on big box stores. All retail stores currently in town are under 100,000 square feet, according to officials. 


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