<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Visionaries,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I would like to correct some of the misinformation that's been floating around the community for awhile.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">First, the Zoning Administrator never issued a Zoning Certificate to NSA pursuant to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City></st1:place> City Code 4-11-2(A)(1) (<A href="http://zonemoscow.com/code/11-2.html">http://zonemoscow.com/code/11-2.html</A>). NSA does possess a Certificate of Occupancy. But despite their assertions, this is not a Zoning Certificate.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Nevertheless, if for the sake of argument we grant that a Certificate of Occupancy, under some conditions, could be characterized as a Zoning Certificate, then please note that the Zoning Administrator did not completely fill out NSA's certificate. He left the "Zoning Classification" blank, and he did not even sign it. (http://zonemoscow.com/city/coo.html). It is difficult to conceive that NSA would rely on the supposition that a Certificate of Occupancy doubles as a Zoning Certificate when the certificate is improperly signed, incomplete, omits the zoning district, and under the International Building Code is voidable on discovery of a zoning violation. (<A href="http://zonemoscow.com/city/ibc.html"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none">http://zonemoscow.com/city/ibc.html</SPAN></A>)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Second, the City does not issue "only one" permitting document authorizing an entity to legally operate within the City. The City issues a series of permitting documents, which together constitute permission for an entity to operate, e.g., building permits, certificate of occupancy, and a zoning certificate. Apart from obtaining all of these requisite certificates, an entity does not have the City's complete permission to operate in a specific building.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Moreover, City officials (elected or otherwise) do not have the authority to waive the permitting and certification requirements of Moscow City Code. And to the extent that an official, under color of law, attempts to waive a legal restriction, his action is ultra vires and not binding. Under <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Idaho</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> law, the developer bears the responsibility of knowing the City's development regulations, the developer must ensure it has the required permits. (See <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Ada</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> vs. Walter, 533 P.2d 1199)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Furthermore, before NSA moved downtown, but after its second zoning violation (the Verizon building is NSA's third violation), City officials notified NSA that the City is not liable for NSA's zoning compliance (<A href="http://zonemoscow.com/code/11-3c.html"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none">http://zonemoscow.com/code/11-3c.html</SPAN></A>). City officials did this in person during a meeting and, according to public records, they also handed hard copies of the Zoning Code to NSA representatives (<A href="http://zonemoscow.com/past/notliable.html"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none">http://zonemoscow.com/past/notliable.html</SPAN></A>). These communications make clear that NSA is culpable for its own zoning violation, not the City. NSA representatives have no one to blame but themselves. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Finally, in my experience as a land-use prosecutor, I have never seen a case where an entity had two prior documented zoning violations on its record, and then upon the third violation demanded legislative relief on the basis that they were being singled out. Quite frankly, I marvel at NSA's continuing demand that the City accommodate it by amending the Zoning Code. To be sure, NSA representatives should be thankful for any legislative relief, because I suspect that if the offender had been Joe Six-pack, this controversy would have ended one day after we filed our zoning complaint in January.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Thanks,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Scott Bauer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><BR>
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