[Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to Whitman(ordo they?)
g. crabtree
jampot at adelphia.net
Sat Jan 13 17:41:26 PST 2007
Bruce, by "a sensible place for commercial development that will not cut-off Alturas Business Park from expansion," I assume that you are referring to the Thompson property which would have made such an excellent location for a new Wal-Mart store. Considering that the phase one development of Alturas is still not 100% filled (even with a legal office and day care center poached from downtown) and that there is absolutely nothing in the phase two development, I've got to wonder just how much future vision you are applying to this endeavor. I also wonder why the many acres to the immediate south of Alturas are not considered adequate for future expansion. At the rate Alturas is filling up, and considering phase two and the afore mentioned southern parcel, we would be well into 2200 before additional property was required. Planning ahead is swell and all but this seems to be carrying things to an extreme. Or are you considering a SWM as the anchor for phase 3?
g
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce and Jean Livingston" <jeanlivingston at turbonet.com>
To: "Matt Decker" <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>; <msolomon at moscow.com>; <thansen at moscow.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to Whitman(ordo they?)
>I completely agree with you on the need to put time and effort into a
> reservoir, Matt, and the Moscow Civic Association does too. That is why we
> had a forum in October entitled "Is It Time For a Resrvoir?"
>
> On the other hand, I think you are wrong in thinking that the Moscow City
> Council wants to stop all growth except "high tech" industries.
>
> Plainly, "high tech" growth is desirable, in the sense that it tends to pay
> better and use less in the way of scarce resources. Mayor Chaney and the
> City also just obtained a grant worth around a half milliion dollars to pay
> for the installation of a fiber optic circuit connecting downtown to the
> Alturas high tech park and Eastside Market on Hwy 8, on up Mountainview to D
> Street and the Eggan Youth Center, and then back to downtown. Successful
> development efforts like this encourage growth that may offer the best
> returns to the City in terms of the demand for city services and local
> resources from the new growth and the return in taxes paid by the newcomers.
>
> However, "high tech" growth is not the only growth that is desirable or
> encouraged by the City Council. For example, the City Council recently
> supported the redevelopment of the land between the Gritman end of downtown
> and the university, including the grain elevators.
>
> I think you will find that when proposals come forward for commercial
> development of the land that is behind the Palouse mall, that the City
> Council will be receptive to that, too. It is a sensible place for
> commercial development that will not cut-off Alturas Business Park from
> expansion.
>
> Bruce Livingston
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Matt Decker" <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>
> To: <msolomon at moscow.com>; <thansen at moscow.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 1:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to Whitman(or
> do they?)
>
>
>> Maybe it is time that Moscow city council really puts some time and effort
>> into the idea of a resevoir or alternate means for water, rather then
>> trying
>> to stop all growth except "high tech" idustries.
>>
>> Matt
>>
>>
>>>From: Mark Solomon <msolomon at moscow.com>
>>>To: "Matt Decker" <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>, thansen at moscow.com,
>>>vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to Whitman
>>>(or do they?)
>>>Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 10:46:55 -0800
>>>
>>>I'll refrain from commenting on issues other than water supply to the
>>>Hawkins proposed development as they are not my focus of concern, but
>>>as regards the Whitman County determination of non-significance re
>>>environmental matters, Whitman County specifically did not make a
>>>finding on water supply leaving that to the WA DOE if/when Hawkins
>>>applies for a water right.
>>>
>>>There is a factual matter regarding additional water withdrawals from
>>>the upper Wanapum aquifer at this site that is of concern to the
>>>Idaho side of the line and not to the WA side: the Wanapum aquifer
>>>that underlies this site currently provides 30% of the City of
>>>Moscow's water supply. The same rocks are essentially dry further
>>>west providing little water to Whitman county residents or
>>>businesses. This is believed due to the thinning out of the sediments
>>>of the Latah and Vantage formations in the vicinity of the state line
>>>combined with a dipping to the east of the Wanapum that begins in the
>>>same area. Contact with the sediments is believed to be the recharge
>>>mechanism although the specific areas of recharge are still to be
>>>determined. An additional large well at the Hawkins site will
>>>directly effect Moscow, but not Whitman.
>>>
>>>This very significant issue will be heard fully at the DOE hearing
>>>if/when Hawkins finds a suitable water right to purchase and applies
>>>to transfer it to their site. They've been looking for one for over a
>>>year now and have still not found one.
>>>
>>>There is no environmental green light for Hawkins. It's still solid red.
>>>
>>>Mark Solomon
>>>
>>>At 8:04 AM -0800 1/13/07, Matt Decker wrote:
>>> >Tom,
>>> >
>>> >What a great post. I only hope more of these come out in the near
>>> >future.
>>> >
>>> >And cheers to Whitman for not allowing Moscow to bully them with
>>> >silly excuses and agendas.
>>> >
>>> >Matt
>>> >
>>> >>From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
>>> >>To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>>> >>Subject: [Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to
>>> >>Whitman (or dothey?)
>>> >>Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 06:47:52 -0800
>>> >>
>>> >>>From today's (January 13, 2007) Moscow-Pullman Daily News -
>>> >>
>>> >>------------------------------------------------------------
>>> >>
>>> >>OUR VIEW: Moscow's growth policies don't apply to Whitman
>>> >>
>>> >>By Murf Raquet, for the editorial board
>>> >>
>>> >>Saturday, January 13, 2007 - Page Updated at 10:20:50 PM
>>> >>
>>> >>Political boundaries on the Palouse are clear.Moscow city limits extend
>>>to
>>> >>the Washington state border as does the eastern edge of Whitman County.
>>> >>
>>> >>Both entities have their own regulations to follow when it comes to
>>> >>development. Often those rules are similar in that they require
>>>development
>>> >>plans to undergo sufficient public scrutiny to protect the environment.
>>> >>
>>> >>It's time for Moscow to recognize that Whitman County is perfectly
>>>capable
>>> >>of determining how and what acreage is developed within it borders.
>>> >>
>>> >>Whitman County has all but cleared the way for the Hawkins Companies of
>>> >>Boise to develop a 600,000-square-foot retail center along the
>>> >>Pullman-Moscow corridor. The center would abut the state line and
>>>Moscow.
>>> >>
>>> >>Moscow registered concerns about the effects the development would have
>>>on
>>> >>the aquifers, wetlands and traffic.
>>> >>
>>> >>Those concerns and others were addressed through the Washington State
>>> >>Environmental Policy Act, an environmental assessment procedure that is
>>>one
>>> >>of the more stringent in the nation.
>>> >>
>>> >>Whitman County had no legal obligation to consider Moscow's concerns
>>> >>but
>>>did
>>> >>so because of Moscow's proximity to the development.
>>> >>
>>> >>That was the right thing to do.
>>> >>
>>> >>"Moscow is our very close neighbor," said Whitman County Prosecutor
>>>Denis
>>> >>Tracy. "We have taken extensive steps to take their concerns into
>>> >>consideration. If they have any concerns that are not part of the SEPA
>>> >>review the county hopes Moscow will pick up the phone and we can talk
>>>about
>>> >>their concerns."
>>> >>
>>> >>Dialogue is a fine way to resolve problems.
>>> >>
>>> >>Now, Moscow must accept the SEPA conclusion and not drag the issue
>>>through
>>> >>the court system.
>>> >>
>>> >>Moscow has every right to determine growth policy within its city
>>>limits.
>>> >>
>>> >>We hope the city can restrain itself in the future if the urge to
>>> >>impose
>>>its
>>> >>standards elsewhere pops up again.
>>> >>
>>> >>------------------------------------------------------------
>>> >>
>>> >>My concern is not with what facilities are built on Washington's side
>>> >>of
>>>the
>>> >>line, but what resources are used by those resources. As has been
>>>discussed
>>> >>here on Vision 2020, Moscow and Pullman share a common aquifer. The
>>>primary
>>> >>concern, in relation to the aquifer and facilities built on either side
>>>of
>>> >>the state line, is the "right to use" of that aquifer.
>>> >>
>>> >>As discussed by guests Rocky Barker, environmental reporter (Idaho
>>> >>Statesman), State Senator Charles Coiner (R-Twin Falls), and Prof.
>>>Barbara
>>> >>Cosens, University of Idaho Law School, when "Mary in Moscow" called in
>>>on
>>> >>Thursday's Idaho Public Television's "Dialogue" program, this decision
>>>may
>>> >>not be made locally, but by the US Supreme Court.
>>> >>
>>> >>http://www.tomandrodna.com/Stuff/Dialogue_011107_01.mp3
>>> >>
>>> >>Thoughts?
>>> >>
>>> >>Tom Hansen
>>> >>Moscow, Idaho
>>> >>
>>> >>"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to
>>>change
>>> >>and the REALIST adjusts his sails."
>>> >>
>>> >>- Unknown
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>=======================================================
>>> >> List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>> >> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>> >> http://www.fsr.net
>>> >> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>> >>=======================================================
>>> >
>>> >_________________________________________________________________
>>> >The MSN Entertainment Guide to Golden Globes is here. Get all the
>>> >scoop. http://tv.msn.com/tv/globes2007/?icid=nctagline2
>>>
>>>=======================================================
>>> List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>> http://www.fsr.net
>>> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>=======================================================
>>
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>> =======================================================
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>
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> =======================================================
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> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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