“A 40% increase in MB based retail may overburden Moscow's retail stock. One 77-acre development at one moment, all as MB uses, would be out-of-scale and might unduly impact existing infrastructure unless mitigating development aspects are incorporated. The approval of this rezone would permanently remove a large amount of property from the potential for mixed use development and smart growth considerations.”

Locating up to 1.5 million square feet of big box retail space at the eastern entrance to Moscow will permanently change the character of our community.

Family-owned local businesses, employing hundreds of local workers, will be in competition with low-wage corporate discount chains carrying low quality goods. When these stores are forced to close, we will lose the diversity of goods and services available to us now.

After payroll and property taxes are paid, the rest of the money spent at big box stores leaves the community forever.

Supplying the needs of big box stores with water, sewer, police protection, and other services will severely tax Moscow's already strained infrastructure. Costs to the city to provide those increased services will be far greater than the additional tax revenue.

The proposed development will increase water demand in Moscow by 8.3% above current levels violating Moscow’s agreement to limit pumping increases to 1% annually.

Traffic problems along the Troy highway, particularly at the intersection of Mountain View Road, will become even worse. Peak traffic rates are estimated to increase by 5300 vehicles per hour. Increased traffic will be dangerous to pedestrians, bicyclists and users of the Latah Trail.

Sprawling big box development is the exact opposite of Smart Growth principles as supported by the New Cities study of Moscow residents’ vision for our community.

www.moscow.id.us/council/NewCities/NewCities01_06.pdf
www.idahosmartgrowth.org/

Moscow Pullman Daily News: letters@dnews.com
P.O. Box 8187, Moscow, Idaho, 83843, 300 word limit

Lewiston Tribune: letters@lmtribune.com
P.O. Box 957, Lewiston, ID 83501

Latah Eagle: editor@lataheagle.com
521 S. Jackson, Moscow, ID 83843

Hand delivery to City Hall

Regular mail:
Joel Plaskon, Community Development Director
City of Moscow
206 East Third Street
Moscow, ID 83843

Email to: jplaskon@ci.moscow.id.us