[Vision2020] Objections to Big-Box Stores Under Review

[Tom Hansen]

Rom today's (January 6, 2007) Lewiston Tribune with thanks to David Johnson
of the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow mayor Nancy Chaney -

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Objections to big-box stores under review

By DAVID JOHNSON
of the Tribune 
Whitman County Planner Mark Bordsen said Friday that he may complete by next
week his review of comments, including those of Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney,
regarding proposed development of a shopping center on the eastern edge of
the Moscow-Pullman corridor. 

The comments, offered in separate letters by Chaney and Latah County
resident Mark Solomon, raise concerns about Bordsen's earlier decision that
impacts from the development would not be significant. 

Among other things, Chaney wrote that "several issues of concern to the city
of Moscow have not been adequately addressed." She listed water use,
groundwater protection, traffic congestion, air quality and the availability
of emergency services. 

Chaney and other Moscow officials have been criticized by people who say
they're trying to stand in the way of the development when they should be
tapping into the potential economic boom. 

Bordsen said Friday that he's giving all comments serious consideration. "I
want to be careful and make sure," he said of a pending decision. If Bordsen
stands by his original mitigated determination of nonsignificance, the
Hawkins Companies development proposal would go to the county's Board of
Adjustment for a conditional-use public hearing. 

If his affirmation is appealed, both the appeal and the conditional-use
hearing would be before the board at the same time, Bordsen said. 

The Hawkins proposal calls for a shopping center of more than 600,000 square
feet of retail store space on 110 acres. A Lowe's home improvement center
and other potential big-box stores could be located at the site that abuts
Moscow's western edge at the state line. 

Last spring, Moscow officials voiced similar concerns in an appeal to the
Whitman County commissioners. But Bordsen said Hawkins withdrew its original
request after the county's appeal process was found to be at odds with state
law. The Board of Adjustment, not the commission, is the proper place for
appeals to be heard, Bordsen said. 

"Urban developments require urban services such as water provision,
wastewater treatment, public street maintenance, sanitation services, snow
removal and police, fire and emergency medical services," Chaney wrote, "few
of which are readily available to the proposed development." 

At one point, there was talk of the potential for Moscow to provide water
across the state line for the development. But it now appears that a well is
proposed for the development. "The city of Moscow is concerned with this
proposed well location," Chaney wrote, "due to its proximity" to a planned
new Moscow well.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho