City of Moscow approves Logos property annexation

The Moscow City Council approved the annexation and rezoning of a 30-acre lot where Logos School school officials hope to construct a new school, despite nearby residents voicing concerns during a public hearing Monday night.

Residents took issue with increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic on nearby streets, including Mountain View Road, during the hearing, which focused on the annexation, comprehensive plan land use designation and rezoning of the site, located east of Mountain View Park. Others worried about how a school or any other new development in the lot would affect the aesthetic appeal of the Mountain View Park area.

Councilman Art Bettge said many of the concerns expressed by residents at Monday’s meeting are premature, but they will likely come up again as a conditional land use permit application is submitted by the developer.

“We are not ignoring you, that’s just not the issue before us tonight,” Councilman Walter Steed said.

City Supervisor Gary Riedner said at this point anything could go into the lot, but if an application comes in for a school, the applicant would have to meet certain standards.

“There probably would be some improvement to Mountain View Road, but it all has to be assessed when we see an application for a conditional use permit,” City Planner Michael Ray said.

Scott Becker of Hodge and Associates, which represents the proposed developer, said he understands the residents’ concerns, but added he didn’t bring forward a plan for the site yet as he is focusing on getting through the annexation and rezoning.

“We didn’t want to derail by jumping ahead. I believe all of these issues will be addressed in that plan and everybody will be happy about it,” he said.

Sojourners’ Alliance

Steve Bonnar, executive director for Sojourners’ Alliance, also addressed the council Monday about his organization’s recent financial struggles after the federal government did not renew a $100,000 grant.

Bonnar said he has received adequate funding to stay open until at least August, but if nothing changes by then the facility will close. He is now holding meetings with regional leaders to look into long-term solutions and decide what the community expects out of the facility, he said.

“This really is a regional problem if we close,” he said. “We will either come out of this stronger or we will close.”

Bonnar said in the past two weeks he has had to turn away 20 households. The nearest other facilities they could reach out to are in Coeur d’Alene or Spokane, he said.

Samantha Malott can be reached at (208) 883-4639, or by email to smalott@dnews.com.