new development planned

[bill london <bill_london@hotmail.com>]

The following was written by Moscow resident John Larkin for submission to 
the 2020 list.
He raises important issues about a major development planned for north 
Moscow.  BL

> >
> >I wanted to make you aware of a local issue which has so far is received
> >little coverage. The Daily News says there will be a story Friday or
> >Saturday.
> >
> >If you think this appropriate to forward to 20-20, please do so.
> >
> >The facts as they stand now;
> >
> >Larry Germer and Jim Gress have purchased 51 acres of county land in 
>North
> >Moscow. This land is bordered by Highway 95 on the west, North Polk
> >Extension on the east, Quail Run on the north, and the currently
> >non-existent McKinley street to the south.
> >
> >Larry Hodge is the engineer on the project.
> >
> >The proposed "Parkview Estates" (which contains no park, but you will be
> >able to see one from there) have a large Motor Business Zone along the
> >entire frontage with Highway 95.  This parcel was sized to match the 
>Moscow
> >Walmart site, and it is the developer's desire to get a "big-box" 
>retailer
> >of that size to locate there.
> >
> >East of the Motor Business will be filled with 56 duplexes, 57 single
> >family homes, and 80 apartment units for a total of 193 new households.
> >
> >Planning and Zoning approved annexing it and gave a positive 
>recommendation
> >to the Moscow City Council. On June 7th, the City Council approved the
> >annexation, and approved the change to the Comprehensive Plan, but denied
> >the rezone.  They will vote again on June 21st at 7:30.
> >
> >Many people were unsatisfied by the City Council voting circumstances.  
>Peg
> >Hamlett was missing, the Mayor is a builder an owns a house adjoining the
> >site, and Tony Johnson is an excavator. These facts, along with the 
>meeting
> >running until midnight made for a very unsatisfactory situation for those
> >of us in opposition.
> >
> >Many Moscow residents oppose this planned development, and 111 people
> >signed a petition asking local government to deny the annexation and 
>rezone
> >for the following reasons;
> >
> >Erosion- The plan is to cut THIRTY FEET off the tops of the hills and 
>push
> >the dirt down into the low spots. How long will the lots sit bare before
> >they sell in this soft real-estate market?
> >
> >Motor Business- many people do not think North Main is the place for a 
>huge
> >new retailer.
> >
> >Drainage- covering the site with streets, driveways, parking lots and
> >houses is going to cause water to run off faster than it now does. 
>Flooding
> >is already a problem downstream of the farmland.
> >
> >Access- the only street connecting the development to the south is
> >Jefferson Street, which will be extended up north clear through the
> >development. All that new traffic will be funnelled onto the 600 block of
> >North Jefferson, which is currently narrow and unpaved. There is a
> >justifiable fear that not only will traffic increase 20 fold, but those
> >residents will have to pay to pave the street so that the developer can
> >have southern access to the site.
> >
> >Philosophical reasons- Do we need 193 new households when you see For 
>Sale
> >and For Rent signs all over town? Should we sacrifice 51 acres of the
> >world's most fertile cropland for development of this kind? Do we really
> >need or want a Target or Shopko type store at this location?
> >
> >If this development is something you don't want to see happen, please 
>write
> >a letter to the newspaper.  Attend the next City Council meeting when 
>they
> >vote on this plan, Monday, June 21st at 7:30. Call Joel Plaskon or Dale
> >Pernula in City Planning  883-7022 and state your concerns.
> >
> >If you have further questions contact John Larkin at 883-0100 or
> >john@machine-language.com
> >
> >Thank you.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>


_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com