Letter to Ed: Council must reject rezone
Appearing DNews 5/8
I emphatically oppose the rezoning of the 77 acres on State Highway 8 in Moscow.
When I moved to Moscow in 1990 to attend the University of Idaho, I did not appreciate Moscow’s unique qualities. I eventually grew to love Moscow. Despite this, I moved from the Palouse to a large metropolitan area and I was constantly reminded of what I had left behind. While living in the city, the maze of crowded highways, pedestrian unfriendly areas, dying downtowns and big-box stores deepened my love and understanding of Moscow’s seemingly unique sanity. I eventually returned to Moscow with my wife to raise our children in the best possible place we could find.
We moved back both for what Moscow has and what Moscow does not have. We moved here to escape the sprawl and the big-box stores. Moscow grew slightly when we moved here, and my story is not unique. Moscow grew and will continue to grow because it does not have large numbers of big-box stores.
This particular 77 acres is special and should not be rezoned to motor-business. It is too close to the cemetery, the South Fork of the Palouse River and the Latah Trail. A large big-box store at this location would obstruct views of Tomer Butte. In addition, the east side of Moscow has large tracts of vacant retail space at the Eastside Marketplace and former Tidyman’s. Obviously, the east side of Moscow has a glut of retail space. While the landowner has undeniable property rights, development of this land affects the broader community. The City Council must weigh the rights and interests of all involved. I sincerely hope that they will reject the rezoning of the 77 acres for motor business.
Luke Sheneman, Moscow