[Vision2020] P&Z meeting

[Mark Solomon]

After press deadline (@ 9:00 for the Trib) another two hours of 
opposition testimony was given followed by a ten minute rebuttal from 
the applicant. Public hearing was closed and deliberations set for 
the next p&z meeting on March 8, 7:30 City Council Chambers. Mark the 
date and come bear witness to the decision.

Mark Solomon

At 11:15 AM -0800 2/23/06, Bruce and Jean Livingston wrote:
>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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