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Something to keep in mind when voting on Nov. 5

According to the Sept. 19 Daily News article covering the Moscow Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, candidates Kelsey Berends and James Urquidez are questioning the Moscow City Council vote to disallow the granting of conditional use permits for the establishment or the expansion of educational institutions in Moscow’s downtown Central Business District. On the other hand, candidates Anne Zabala, Maureen Laflin and Sandra Kelly approve of this decision, citing the city survey indicating that both the general citizenry and downtown business respondents wanted this change.

In recent years, the Moscows Board of Adjustment has approved several conditional use permits allowing New Saint Andrews College to open two separate schools with a potential total of 500 students and 90 faculty, requiring only 92 parking spaces be provided, 20 of which are now located over a mile from downtown. Having only 72 assigned parking spaces downtown for about 600 people attending and teaching classes and thus needing long-term parking, has and will continue to contribute to parking problems and traffic congestion. Where are the other 500 folks going to park?

In next year’s Moscow City budget, $45,000 of our tax dollars are earmarked for a study of downtown parking problems. It’s great to have numerous businesses downtown, but potential customers need access to parking in order to patronize them. The city’s survey indicates that people want to be able to visit our precious downtown and to be able to support the local businesses there. It is extremely disappointing to learn that candidates Berends and Urquidez question this expression of a majority of residents’ wishes and the City Council’s follow-up decision in this important matter. Let’s keep this in mind when casting our votes.

Joann Muneta
Moscow

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