Dropping our bid to change the Comprehensive Plan Map
The focus now is on capping the size of a retail establishment and preventing dark stores…
Wal-Mart opposition drops bid to change comp plan; Council denial of Thompson land rezone sparked move
By Omie Drawhorn, Daily News staff writer
Published: 05-23-2006
Four members of No Super Wal-Mart have dropped their battle to prevent large scale retail from developing on a 78-acre parcel of land in east Moscow.
Mark Solomon, Mike Curley, Nils Peterson and David Wilder, withdrew their application to amend the city’s comprehensive plan through a zone change from extensive commercial to a mix of light industrial and low-density residential. The application, filed Jan. 20, was based on a 560-signature petition signed by area residents.
“We felt that both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council’s reasons for denial of the Thompson rezone gave us enough assurance that we can see the type of development we hope to see out there without changing the comprehensive plan,” Solomon said today.
Solomon referred to the City Council’s rejection May 15 of the Gene Thompson family’s application to rezone their land from agriculture forestry to motor business. If the rezone had been approved, the land could have housed large-scale retail establishments with the approval of a conditional-use permit.
Located on the south side of State Highway 8, east side of South Mountain View Road and the north side of Palouse River Drive, the Thompson land has been at the center of controversy since Nov. 10, when Wal-Mart submitted an application to build a super center on the land.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended March 22 that the City Council deny the No Super Wal-Mart members’ application. Solomon said he is confident the council’s decision would be upheld if the Thompsons appeal the rezone denial.
Omie Drawhorn can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by e-mail at odrawhorn@dnews.com.