[Vision2020] Fwd: 411 North Main Street Lot Division as discussed by . . .

[Moscow Cares]

Submitted for discussion . . .
  
Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Nancy Chaney" <nchaney at moscow.com>
> Date: November 15, 2014 at 11:00:36 AM PST
> To: "'Moscow Cares'" <moscowcares at moscow.com>, "'Moscow Vision 2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Cc: "'Dan Carscallen'" <dcarscallen at ci.moscow.id.us>, "'Art Bettge'" <abettge at ci.moscow.id.us>, "'Wayne Krauss'" <wkrauss at ci.moscow.id.us>, "'Walter M Steed'" <wmsteed at ci.moscow.id.us>, "'Tom Lamar'" <tlamar at ci.moscow.id.us>, "'John Weber'" <jweber at ci.moscow.id.us>, "'Bill Belknap'" <bbelknap at ci.moscow.id.us>, "'Stephanie Kalasz'" <skalasz at ci.moscow.id.us>
> Subject: RE: 411 North Main Street Lot Division as discussed by . . .
> 
> Tom/Moscow Cares, thank you for helping inform the public about proposed land use changes to the Rosauer’s site on North Main. I encourage Vision 2020 participants (at least those who consider themselves Moscow stakeholders) to view the YouTube video linked below, and to join me in prevailing upon Moscow City Council (copied here) to put this substantive item in the “sunshine” of the regular agenda, rather than in the relative obscurity of a consent agenda.
>  
> My public comments are as follow:
>  
> 1)      In general, greater density, mixed use, and shallower setbacks are desirable for this site, and are in-keeping with the Council goal to extend the perceived area of downtown, northward on Main. Having an expanse of unbroken asphalt in front of a large-scale commercial building is not compatible with today’s community vision, however common that form was decades ago.
> 2)      In the PW-F Committee meeting on Nov 10, Art Bettge expressed concern over whether street trees would be possible under the proposed lot division and lot-line adjustment. While the details might justifiably be kept in the dark at this stage of development, it would be a tragedy to espouse human-scaled, pedestrian-friendly Smart Growth development in a Tree City USA, with vulnerable walkers buffered from traffic, then allow large-scale, traffic-inviting development without trees. (As an example, will trees be replaced in front of the recently remodeled, similarly prominent, University Inn? Why or why not?)
> 3)      I agree with Art B, Tom Lamar, Wayne Krauss, and others that the western E Street-Main Street intersection poses a traffic problem. Community Development Director Bill Belknap clarified that although lot division and development could preclude roadway realignment, lot-line adjustment would not. However, commercial realtor Shelley Bennett indicated that E Street realignment was not well-received by the developer in its development agreement with Rosauer’s. A multi-modal traffic study and proactive prioritization of long-term public safety and efficiency seem desirable there, especially when additional traffic is expected. (Such a study could also generate recommendations for improvements to turning movements around the D Street-Main intersection, with signage, an island, median divider, or other modifications discussed at the PW/F meeting.)
> 4)      For years, the City has talked about realigning E Street at that location, and possibly acquiring property on that corner to do that. We talked about buffering the eyesore (and according to neighbor Jane Pritchett, who commented at the Committee meeting, an auditory affront too) involving storage of commercial truck-trailers in that prominent welcome-to-downtown-Moscow location. Local government may not have authority to regulate “ugly,” but it can and does regulate nuisances like noise, and (in cooperation with ITD) transportation safety.
> 5)      As a taxpayer, I’d appreciate public clarification that relocation of sewer and/or storm sewer lines that reportedly bisect that property would be done solely at the expense of the developer, rather than the public. If public dollars and/or City labor and/or public rights-of-way will be involved (as they might realistically be), Moscow residents should know in advance what the public investment will be and how it relates to the public good.
>  
> Thanks again, Tom and Moscow Cares, for helping the public be informed. Keeping up on the workings of government can be difficult, even for the initiated.
>  
> Nancy Chaney
> 1333 Ponderosa Dr.
> Moscow ID 83843
>  
> From: Moscow Cares [mailto:moscowcares at moscow.com] 
> Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2014 7:28 AM
> To: Moscow Vision 2020
> Subject: 411 North Main Street Lot Division as discussed by . . .
>  
> . . . Moscow's Public Works and Finance Committee on November 10th.
> 
> 
> 
> http://youtu.be/owyQpMCo1qs
>  
> More information concerning 411 North Main Street Lot (Rosauers parking lot) Division may be accessed at:
>  
> http://www.MoscowCares.com/PWF_111014_05_411NMainLotDiv.pdf
>  
> This item is listed on the consent agenda for Monday's city council session.
>  
> I wonder who is purchasing the property and what (s)he/they intend to build at that location. Hmmm.
>  
> Stay tuned, Moscow, because . . .
>  
> 
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com
>   
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>  
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