[Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?

[keely emerinemix]

The economic Libertarians will try to convince all of us of three things:  One, that only out-of-touch liberals would oppose the mall; two, that Moscow is woefully underserved by big stores selling cheap stuff; and three, that there is an economic/social war going on between Pullman and Moscow, and if we don't "win" by expanding in any way possible, we'll be forever consigned to a poverty-stricken, hillbilly'ed existence.

I would welcome retail as a response to solid, forward-thinking growth, but when growth is primarily retail, it isn't the kind of permanent, sustainable, viable growth that Moscow needs.

Funny, but not really, is that these same Libertarians who want metastasizing growth of any type are so often opposed to facilities improvement for public schools and municipal services.  I would find that interesting if it weren't for the fact that quality of life for people who aren't among their group and associates is always less important in their eyes than more opportunities to eat up land and plop retail outlets on every available inch.  I suppose that "the market" provides a better altar than human services and public infrastructure.

Keely




From: london at moscow.com
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:43:16 -0800
Subject: [Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?











Won't it be grand?  The Moscow-Pullman Highway 
turned into one long strip mall.....
And you can read in today's Lewiston Tribune (below) that 
the first big step in that direction will likely soon be taken.  The new 
Moscow City Council is under pressure to sell use of Moscow utilities (like 
sewage and water, and possibly police/fire protection) to the planned Hawkins 
shopping center located in Washington state on the Moscow-Pullman Highway.  
The new council members (pragmatic politicians that they are) seem to 
be willing to ignore the real issues and fall for a cheap payoff.
If the Moscow council ships utilities across the 
state line to enable this strip mall, Moscow will face a series of problems, 
including:
--depletion of the aquifer that supplies this town 
with most of its water
--massive sprawl that will further uglify the Palouse and 
ravage existing downtown vitality
--bankruptcy of Moscow businesses unable to compete with 
this new shopping mall 
--continuing future upgrades of Moscow 
infrastructure to cover the demands made by this extension of services, upgrades 
that will be paid for by Moscow taxpayers
Is this what Moscow residents really want?
BL
 
-----------------------------------------     

LEWISTON TRIBUNE
Council shift changes outlook for proposed Hawkins 
development
By David Johnson 
Saturday, January 12, 2008

MOSCOW - Politics here may have 
shifted enough after the November election to trigger talks about the city 
providing water and sewer services across the state line for the proposed 
Hawkins Co. shopping center.
A majority of Moscow city councilors, Whitman County 
commissioners and a spokesman for Hawkins told the Lewiston Tribune there's 
renewed potential for cooperation.
This despite Moscow's continued legal challenge of 
Hawkins' attempts to secure water rights to drill its own wells for the 
700,000-square-foot shopping mall.
The situation comes as the first of two public comment 
meetings has been scheduled in Colfax on Monday. The county commissioners will 
take comments, beginning at 1:30 p.m., regarding Hawkins' recent request for 
Whitman County to float revenue bonds of more than $10 million to help fund 
infrastructure (including water and sewer) for the development.
A Whitman County pro-business citizens group, meanwhile, 
Friday endorsed the proposed bond issue and called on Moscow officials to drop 
their water rights appeal against Hawkins.
"It's clear Moscow's appeals are not about water but 
about keeping out particular kinds of businesses," April Coggins, spokeswoman 
for Businesses and Residents for Economic Opportunity wrote in a news release. 
"That attitude was rejected by Moscow voters in November and it is our hope that 
the new Moscow city council will see things differently and seek to cooperate 
with their neighbors."
Moscow's waterlines extend right up to the Hawkins 
property, and the sewage treatment plant is located nearby.
"Hawkins is always open to talking to the city of 
Moscow," said Jeff De Voe, project manager for the proposed shopping center. He 
declined further comment because of the pending legal appeal.
It remains unclear how much money Moscow might make 
(through fees) or Hawkins might save if the two entities can reach an agreement 
about water and sewer services. But City Attorney Randy Fife and Public Works 
Director Les McDonald confirmed that a hookup of services is both legal and 
technically possible.
Whitman County Commissioners Jerry Finch and Greg Partch, 
who continue to champion the Hawkins project as the beginning of retail 
development between here and Pullman, said it's time for Moscow to either join 
ranks or get out of the way.
"Moscow didn't say no, they said hell no," Finch said 
about the city's refusal to cooperate with development of the mall. "Before the 
election, it's pretty obvious the door had been slammed."
Three new Moscow councilors were elected in November and 
appear to have become part of a five-member, pro-business majority. The three, 
Walter Steed, Dan Carscallen and Wayne Krauss, along with council President Bill 
Lambert, all said they are willing to talk with Hawkins and Whitman County 
officials about water and sewer services. Councilor John Weber couldn't be 
reached for comment, but indicated in the past he favors cooperation.
Only Councilor Tom Lamar, who has gone on record opposing 
retail development in the corridor, balked at renewed talks. "I think the best 
way for Hawkins to tap into our sewer and water is to locate in Moscow," Lamar 
said.
Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, who's been accused of 
spearheading efforts to thwart the Hawkins project, said her intentions are 
rooted in environmental and groundwater concerns. That was confirmed by 
McDonald. "The mayor's driving concern," he said, "is the water resource that 
the whole region relies upon.
"Moscow has always been open to talking," said Chaney, 
adding that the table for such discussion has already been set through the water 
rights appeal. She said the city has proposed mediation as a means of settling 
the issue.
But Partch said talks, if they happen, shouldn't happen 
in a legal arena. Withdrawal of the appeal, he said, would be the best way for 
Moscow to show good faith. "That would be a huge gesture on their part," he 
said, "and we would certainly like to work with them."
The water rights appeal hearings are scheduled to begin 
in March.
"You can't build without water," Finch said, adding that 
many people think Chaney is simply using the water issue as the only legal lever 
available to stop retail development in the corridor. "She's the one who seems 
to be dead set against it."
A shopping center, said Finch and Partch, is not 
necessarily a big water consumer. But it would surely be a big revenue producer 
for the county.
According to county records, the undeveloped Hawkins 
acreage, which abuts the Moscow city limits and the Washington-Idaho state line, 
currently generates about $1,400 in annual tax revenue. If the mall is developed 
to full capacity, it could produce nearly $1.8 million in annual property and 
sales taxes for the county, De Voe told the commissioners when making his pitch 
for the $10 million in infrastructure bonds.
While Moscow couldn't directly tap into those tax 
dollars, councilors here said the city might be able to negotiate a fee for 
water and sewer services that translates into a profit.
"If it's going to happen and we can sell them something," 
Lambert said, "why not?"
"I'm very anxious to get together with entities across 
the border," said Krauss.
"I would be interested in talking about the possibility 
of extending services to Hawkins," Steed said.
"I think that I would," Carscallen said about talking. 
Whether Hawkins connects to Moscow or drills its own wells, he said, doesn't 
seem to make a lot of difference. "They're going to get it out of the same tub 
we're getting ours."
Researchers have said the underground aquifers on the 
Palouse have been steadily dropping. But, lacking data about just how much water 
is available, the same scientists have said a water management challenge is at 
hand, not a crisis.
Finch suggested its up to Moscow officials, since they've 
filed the appeal against Hawkins, to propose new talks. "If they send us a 
letter, I would find it more receptive," he said.
But Lambert said the catalyst for talks might have to 
come from elsewhere. "I don't see why it would hurt for these people to approach 
us. Somebody has to generate it, but it wouldn't be something generated by the 
council, per se."
Moscow City Supervisor Gary Riedner said the city might 
reach out. "I will do what we can to facilitate it at the mayor's 
direction."
"I know lots of people are talking about talking," Fife 
said.
De Voe, meanwhile, told Whitman County officials that his 
company wants to begin construction this summer. As proposed, the shopping 
complex would be anchored by a Lowe's home improvement center.
---

_________________________________________________________________
Put your friends on the big screen with Windows Vista® + Windows Live™.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/shop/specialoffers.mspx?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_CPC_MediaCtr_bigscreen_012008
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20080112/fe9268ce/attachment-0001.html