[Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?
mark r. seman
baukunst at moscow.com
Sun Jan 13 11:24:38 PST 2008
very few current businesses are positioned to sustainably operate within the
triple bottom-line model of people/planet/profits
[http://getsustainable.net/]. although new and existing businesses can be
encouraged or incentivized to do so if the citizens of their resident
communities perceive a value in doing so. the communities (town, county,
and state entities) of the palouse seem well positioned to do so with the
Hawkins development. but it requires that all parties at least agree to
work towards implementing programs to achieve sustainable business (&
development) practices. negotiations will then determine how far programs
will be taken. there are so many elements that could be identified to take
positive steps and time should be allocated to identify and deliberate them.
why shouldn't the corridor be developed with enough vision to make it an
"oasis" that positively addresses economic development, the environment,
transportation, waste streams, energy, natural resources, construction
materials & methods, inter-state/multi-county/trans-municipal collaboration,
etc?
sidebar on achievable water conservation measures:
waterless urinals & dual flush toilets, IR controlled lowflow faucets,
stormwater detention for irrigation use, rainwater harvesting for irrigation
& toilet use, recyling greywater for toilet use, xeriscape plantings,
education programs for facility users and maintenance staff.
mark
mark r. seman, architect
v=928.925.7617
f=928.776.9107
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of keely emerinemix
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 10:20 AM
To: Donovan Arnold; Bill London; v2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?
I'm astonished at the equation of a locally-owned (and owned by its
customers) food co-op that lives out its mission of sustainable, healthy,
locally-produced and fairly traded products -- one that "recycled" a vacant
building and improved it while still making it accessible to its community
by locating downtown -- with a huge shopping mall.
I don't think there's enough caffeine in the world to have that one make
sense . . .
Keely
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Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 01:36:39 -0800
From: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
To: london at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Will Moscow support Hawkins sprawl-mall?
Mr, London makes the following arguments against a new shopping center
on the edge of town:
"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?"
As I understand it, Mr. London strongly supported the expansion of the
Co-Op, not once, but twice to larger buildings that further deplete the
town's water aquifers, increased sprawl of other businesses to the outside
of town, created more competition with other businesses in the area, and
forcing future upgrades of Moscow's infrastructure to be paid for by Moscow
taxpayers. So I would argue what is good for goose must also be for the
gander.
"Is this what Moscow wants?" I bet it is. If it isn't, then we will have
a vacant building on the edge of town. I willing to venture out on a limb,
and say those that putting millions into a building of new shopping center
aren't doing it on a guess, but in fact put as much research into it as Mr.
London did for the expansions of his Co-Op grocery store.
I think it would be a significant advantage to have a mall on the
western edge of Moscow accepts and competes with the big chain only stores
in the Palouse Empire Mall that prohibits local businesses from leasing
there. I also think it would allow other chains in Spokane to locate here,
and provide jobs to local students and residents, increasing wages and
competition for quality laborers rather than providing them to people in
Spokane.
Best,
Donovan
Bill London <london at moscow.com> wrote:
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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