| Lewiston
P&Z grants preliminary approval for subdivision development
By Jake Williams
October 5, 2007 | LEWISTON -- If confused shrugging
were an Olympic sport, the Lewiston Planning and Zoning
Commission would be headed to China in 2008; however,
this is 2007 so on Tuesday Lewiston P&Z was on hand
to listen to the mini-subdivision plan of Bill Wright.
Wright is planning to sell just less than 70,000 square
feet of dirt in the near future, but needed to first
get preliminary approval from P&Z before he can present
to Lewiston's City Council in their next meeting.
Among the discussed topics pertaining to his plan,
council members disagreed as to whether Wright should
be forced to build sidewalks, curbing and gutters on
his land before a sale is made.
"I have no problem putting the sidewalk in, but I
think the curb and gutter is too much," said Wright.
He also stated "my impression is that the city residents
didn't want sidewalk, curb and gutters."
The commission and Wright could not come to an agreement
concerning what is required by city ordinance, but on
several occasions it was suggested that Wright be made
responsible for building sidewalks and exempted from
the curb and gutter construction.
Wright repeatedly argued that other sellers have not
been forced to build sidewalks, curbing and gutters
in the past, but the commission was firm in their belief
that possible mistakes in the past could not be used
as justification for bending of city ordinances in the
present or future.
"We want everybody to have to do the same thing,"
said Commissioner Wayne Gibbs.
The commission and Wright disagreed even when exemptions
were not involved.
"I don't have any problem doing what's in here," said
Wright, pointing to a copy of the city code book. Wright
stated he has read the pertinent ordinances 20 times
and could not find text requiring parts of what the
commission said would be demanded.
"That's 19 more times than I've read it," laughed
Commissioner Carolyn McKnight.
In the end, a motion was made to send Wright's mini-subdivision
plan to the next City Council meeting, which will be
held Oct.16 at 8 p.m.
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