Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Rumor Becomes Reality

As I stated back in November, a company does not put out a flier like this just to start rumors.

In today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News, it was announced that the Hawkins Companies, a Boise developer, submitted an application for a conditional-use permit and a State Environmental Policy Act checklist to the Whitman County Engineer on Wednesday. They plan to build an over 400,000 square foot shopping center in the Pullman-Moscow Corridor on the border with Idaho. Speculation has been circulating to this effect since October.

Lowe's is the first of three big-box stores identified for this planned complex, which will have eight "small-box" stores, as well as pads for restaurants and smaller retail stores. As expected, Lowe's and Hawkins Companies refused to comment about their plans.

Whitman County Engineer Mark Storey says it will be around two to two-and-a-half months before there is a public hearing before the Board of Adjusment.

Any bets on PARD fighting this one?

Also, any bets that if our local chapter of the "No Growth Club for Socialists" gets its way, Wal-Mart will look to build in the Corridor as well?

2 comments:

April E. Coggins said...

I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here to fight for Lowes right to develop, too.

Ray Lindquist said...

Well that is for sure the "No Growth Club for Socialists" (NGCfS) will fight this one. I had the honor of having lunch with Mr. Finch a Whitman County Commissioner he told me that he thought that if the PARD gets their way and is somehow able to force the city not to allow Wal-Mart to locate on Bishop that the other Commissioner's would jump at the chance to have them in the Corridor. Although the NGCfS would for sure put up a big fight. The NGCfS will be out in force from both Moscow (which has taken over Moscow City Council) & Pullman to fight this sort of move. Then you add to that that since the take over of the City Council, Moscow is most likely NOT going allow Wal-Mart it a new store in Moscow. It may be in Wal-Marts best interest to maybe locate in the Corridor.

April - No matter what you can count on me to help fight the NGCfS for what ever business wants to attempt to open its doors to give us as residents a chance for more choices, plus keeping more of our tax dollars here in the city or at least the county. Aren't the NGCfS the ones that make the "Pro-Choice" crowd, I guess they aren't very consistent.