[Vision2020] Unclear P & Z Notice

Thu Mar 16 09:55:32 PST 2006

Kit,

Thank you for the information.

However, the same comments apply to this development proposal as to any.

It doesn't matter who the applicant is, be it the Aryan Nations, the Friends 
of the Sewer Lagoon, or the Anti-Rhododendron League.  The city has a comp 
plan and a zoning ordinance.  Everyone (repeat: everyone) should be held to 
the same standards and treated equally within the parameters of the plan and 
ordinance.

Built into the plan and ordinance is a certain amount of discretion.  This 
discretion needs to be very carefully and fairly exercised.

When any proposal notice contains the language: "The proposal would require 
modification to or waiver of certain
City development standards," especially careful official and public scrutiny 
is needed.  The deviations requested and their effects/consequences on 
near-bys and the general public need to be thoroughly explored and 
broadcast.  For example, is a developer asking for a vacation of a public 
right-of-way or the vacation of a public street in which taxpayers have 
already invested?

As I replied to Dan, the decision to allow "modification to or waiver of 
certain City development standards" should be both allowable under the plan 
and ordinance AND should depend on the benefits (and lack of harm) to the 
general public, and certainly should not solely depend upon the benefits to 
the developer.  I know that this policy has not always been followed in the 
past in Moscow, but one can always hope that the new city council will for a 
change place public benefits ahead of private ones within the parameters of 
the plan and ordinance.

I do not know the details yet of this particular proposal.  When I saw the 
notice, the request for modification/waiver jumped out.  It is a red flag. 
I am also especially leery of proposals which entail sooner or later tax 
advantages for the developer for which the rest of the taxpayers must make 
up.  I do not know if this proposal falls into that category, but any that 
would ought be rejected unless there are overwhelming PUBLIC benefits.

Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com

PS:  Does anyone know why the plan map used in the public notice was 
authorized by the Community Development Director?  The map gives no 
recognizable information about the location of the proposal.  The inclusion 
of a map in a public notice functions to alert those that might be affected 
by the proposal so that they might be motivated to seek further information; 
the map provided could not do this at all.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craine Kit" <kcraine at verizon.net>
To: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
Cc: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 12:01 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Unclear P & Z Notice

>I believe this refers to a development adjacent to PCEI by the same  folks 
>who did the Silos at Styner and Travios Way and the Cottages.  They want to 
>do a truly inovative Planned Unit Development (which by  definition is 
>inovative and requires modification of the normal  standards) that would 
>concentrate housing in such a way that the  leftover land--which under City 
>Development codes would be yards for  the houses--can be donated to PCEI.
>
> I would encourage you-all to take a look at this project. It is  something 
> other than the common ordinary subdivision. It is the type  of thing that 
> gives character to a community.
>
> This is NOT a CCC project. Their’s is a bit farther South on N. Polk  and 
> on the other side of the road.
>
> Kit Craine
>
>
> On Mar 15, 2006, at 5:33 PM, Art Deco wrote:
>
>> Moscow Citizens with an interest in Planning and Zoning and/or  property 
>> tax equity:
>>
>> Does anyone know anything about the proposal referenced in the ad  below 
>> from yesterday's Daily News Legal Notices?
>>
>> The map in the Legal Notice is not legible, hence the location is  of the 
>> proposal is not clear from the map.  [Why would someone even  insert or 
>> authorize the insertion of such an illegible map in a  Legal Notice in 
>> the first place?]
>>
>>
>> The ad contains the following language:
>>
>> "The proposal would require modification to or waiver of certain  City 
>> development standards."
>>
>>
>> Such language should always raise a red flag for citizens  interested in 
>> the equitable and consistent application of planning  and zoning 
>> regulations.  The city has already demonstrated that  they are willing to 
>> look the other way for zoning violations:  NSA  (part of the Wilson & 
>> Family's Cult & Cash Machine).  Creating  another like mess should not be 
>> tolerated.
>>
>> The city has a comprehensive plan and a zoning ordinance.   Deviation 
>> from such should be looked at extremely carefully and  with a gargantuan 
>> amount of skepticism.
>>
>> Hence, it would behoove Moscow citizens to investigate this  proposal 
>> carefully and to make their opinions known, especially  about those parts 
>> of the proposal that would require modification  to or waiver of certain 
>> City development standards.  Persons who  live in the general area of 
>> Rodeo Drive (wherever that is) or might  be affected in some way by this 
>> enigmatic proposal might find it  profitable to visit the city planning 
>> department as the notice  itself suggests:
>>
>> "The file containing information on this matter is available for  public 
>> review (an appointment may be necessary) at the Community  Development 
>> Department located in the Paul Mann Building, 221 East  Second Street, 
>> Moscow, Idaho.  You may also call 883-7022 to get a  meeting agenda, 
>> further information about the application, the  public meeting process 
>> and/or to request a meeting with City Staff"
>>
>> "Additionally, you may obtain further information about the public 
>> hearing process and procedures on the City’s Website at: http:// 
>> www.ci.moscow.id.us/legal/PublicHearings.asp"
>>
>>
>> When making an inquiry about this matter, citizens might also ask  how it 
>> came about that such an illegible map was included in the  Legal Notice, 
>> and since it was so illegible, shouldn't the Legal  Notice be run again, 
>> this time with a map which would give a small  hint about the actual 
>> location of the proposal so that those that  might be affected might 
>> stand a better chance of being informed.   [If the Legal Notice is not 
>> run again with a legible map, does the  notice meet statutory 
>> requirements?]
>>
>> Another question:  Is this proposal another attempt by special  interests 
>> to hijack Moscow citizens' interests and/or to evade  property taxes?
>>
>>
>> Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
>> deco at moscow.com
>>
>>
>>
>> <SNAGHTML14921b0.PNG>
>>
>> <SNAGHTML14921b0.PNG>
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