[Vision2020] Ordinance Change Could Keep Walmart in Moscow

[Wayne Price]

Reading the MPDN article, the first thing that comes to my mind is  
"too little, too late".

Seriously put yourself in the position of any corporation, in this  
case Walmart,  that  based sound business decisions  on what the  
situation was at the time
and the political climate was at the time they decided to build the  
super Walmat over in Pullman. Suddenly, the town that told them they  
couldn't
expand in their current location  tries to tug it's forelock and get  
them to stay AFTER they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars,  
it not millions building
a new store 7 miles away!  What would you do? What would you want  
Walmart to do if you were one of the stockholders?

I think we would be better served by our local governments if they  
would start looking for a way to fill an empty 94,000 foot building  
rather than to open an already
sore wound. Maybe look for a manufacturer to move in that would  
provide jobs , benefits and taxes? Maybe SERIOUSLY look at the  
building for city/county government?
How about looking for a new retailer to move in?







On Apr 23, 2010, at 1:34 PM, Tom Hansen wrote:

> Courtesy of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Ordinance change could keep Walmart in Moscow
>
> Moscow city leaders are considering reversing a zoning ordinance  
> created
> in 2005 to halt the expansion of Walmart into a super center.
>
> The new motive? Keep Walmart in town.
>
> As it stands, no building 65,000 square feet or larger may expand more
> than 10 percent of its current size or more than 10,000 square feet.
>
> The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold its second hearing  
> Wednesday
> to consider removing the square-foot expansion restriction and allow
> 65,000 square foot buildings to expand within 30 percent of their  
> size.
>
> A decision whether to change the Large Retail Enterprise Ordinance  
> will be
> made no sooner than June, Community Development Director Bill Belknap
> said.
>
> Walmart recently announced its intent to close the 94,000 square-foot
> Moscow location for an indeterminate amount of time.
>
> Spokesman Josh Phair said the decision whether to close the store
> indefinitely hinges in part on the city’s actions.
>
> “It would definitely in our view be a step in the right direction,”  
> Phair
> said. “We would be able to make a decision pretty quickly  
> (afterword).”
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Seeya at the CommUNITY Walk, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to  
> change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Unknown
>
>
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