URBAN MYTHS Debunking Myths about the MCA that aren't true

Home About Us Join Us Board Community Issues Urban Myths Archives Hot Links Volunteers Contact Us	People who are unfamiliar with the activities of the Moscow Civic Association (MCA) often remark that they were really surprised about what MCA was "really like" after having heard a number of inaccurate 'urban myths' about our organization. This is the price we pay for being engaged and effective. Here we take the opportunity to separate the truth from the fiction. Urban Myth #1: MCA is Anti-Business. This is one of the most frequently heard mischaracterizations about the MCA, often suggested by well-heeled special interest groups. The MCA Board of Directors includes numerous local business men and women who own establishments such as the Red Door Restaurant, Kelly Moore Construction, Debra Reynolds Bookkeeping, and the One-World Café. In addition, our general membership includes many business owners from the Moscow Community. The MCA is a proud member of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. The main purpose of our organization is to preserve Moscow’s community spirit and unique quality of life. Local businesses are essential to this goal. The MCA has always been (and will continue to be) committed to supporting and maintaining a vibrant business community. Urban Myth #2: MCA is Anti-Growth. The MCA takes the position that Moscow should adopt SMART GROWTH principles that pursue rational, prudent strategies for managing and encouraging growth for our city. (See our positions and supporting materials under the MCA ISSUES link on this website.) We should seek to attract new businesses and encourage growth WITHOUT destroying the existing local business community or causing unnecessary and irreparable harm to the wonderful quality of life we enjoy in Moscow. The MCA has hosted numerous public forums on how we can move forward as a community in sensible ways by adopting basic smart growth principles. Changes to the zoning code and comprehensive plan are occasionally necessary in a growing community, a fact which MCA recognizes. Such changes should take into account the project's impact on the community and neighbors, so the changes requested by the developer also protect the investment expectations of the community and quality of life of existing neighbors. We believe that community discussion of significant changes in land use designation is appropriate. A developer's sought-after changes in the code and plan affect the existing land use in a neighborhood, thus altering the land use predictability relied upon by existing owners when they invested in that neighborhood based on the prior-existing land use designation. The MCA believes that appropriate growth considerations include increasing the predictability of land use decisions and fitting new projects into the existing neighborhood when the project seeks a significant change in use and code designation, by seeking to address the concerns of effected neighbors. In that sense, we may disagree with the Greater Moscow Alliance which appears to favor the developer's right to change uses and code designations in an existing neighborhood over the rights of the adjacent and effected landowners' right to rely upon the existing land use designations to protect their own investment and quality of life. Urban Myth #3: MCA refuses to take a stand on anything. The MCA has taken a firm stand on several issues of importance to the Moscow community, many of which reflect our adherence to smart growth principles. The MCA was against Proposition Two, which would have eliminated the ability of cities in Idaho to control planning & zoning. The MCA was against Naylor Farms unfettered access to our limited water supplies on the Palouse for their mining operations, which would have threatened these resources. The MCA supported rules for Big Box stores requiring them to be good citizens, not engage in unfair business practices against our local business community, and have plans in place so that abandoned buildings are not left to deteriorate if they go out of business. Urban Myth #4: MCA is focused on opposing Christ Church. The MCA's focus is upon preserving and maintaining Moscow's rich and diverse character. We are not a partisan organization, nor are we a religious one. Therefore, when issues involving the city tax base, occupancy matters, support for our downtown business community, or parking concerns arise we will become engaged, REGARDLESS of who is involved. The MCA does not discriminate based upon religion, race, nationality, or sexual orientation. Moscow Urban Myths: Moscow Urban Myth #1: Moscow has no motor business space. The myth that Moscow has no motor business space is perpetuated by the fact that most of the MB land has been used for apartments. To this day "A" street is still zoned MB with only two businesses located on the corridor. The MCA favors a comprehensive city plan. But it is not enough to have a plan, we must also stick to it. [If you have additional examples of urban myths you would like to share for possible future inclusion on this list, please send them to us using our “contact us” section of this website.]
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