[Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?

[Tom Hansen]

Very good points, keely.

 

Only a few questions remain . . .

 

1)  How soon does the current city council anticipate the ground-breaking
ceremony for the new Wal-Mart Super Center (next to the old Tidyman's/new
Northwest River Supply)?  We really must maintain the competitive edge on
Pullman's Wal-Mart Super Center ten miles away, right?

 

2)  How soon will that triangular lot on the south edge of town be sold (now
that them self-serving liberals are gone) and rezoned for a school
auditorium or a church tower or a "whinery" (all tax-exempt, of course)?

 

And once again the city council, as each session adjourns after rezoning
Moscow into a maze of strip malls and tax-exempt private schools,  will
retire to their residents where they will continue to bemoan ever-increasing
property taxes and ponder why students move on to greener pastures upon
graduation.

 

How does that quote go, something like . . .

 

"Do not blame them, God, for they know not of what they are doing.  They are
mere lambs being led to their slaughter."

 

Yet, to convince themselves that what they do is in the best interests of
our little berg, they may continue to receive and renew their prescriptions
of . . .

 

"Instant Karma"

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2klell

 

"Instant karma's gonna get you

Gonna knock you off your feet

Better recognize your brothers

Everyone you meet

Why in the world are we here

Surely not to live in pain and fear

Why on earth are you there

When you're everywhere

Come and get your share."

 

Seeya round town, Moscow.

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"Only by going too far can one possibly find out how far one can go."

 

- Jon Dyer

 

  _____  

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of keely emerinemix
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 5:04 PM
To: Bill London; v2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?

 

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





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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.
---

 

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