End Game

Mark Workman, Public Works Director, announced this morning that the city of Pullman has issued a final Determination of Nonsignificance concerning the application under the State Environmental Policy Act to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter. This means that Wal-Mart may begin construction after the site plan is approved, pending any appeals. Appeals must be filed by September 8.

The Daily Evergreen interview with T.V. Reed, PARD director, for today's issue states:

...there were 585 pages of public comments and documentation submitted after the preliminary determination of non-significance, and they [PARD] are prepared with five substantial areas of appeal if they feel the need to dispute the final decision.

“The appeal will only happen if we don’t think the city has responded adequately to the raised concerns,”

I hope they don't appeal. The city has taken over two months to reach this decision, after taking over a month before that to reach a preliminary decision. Obviously, careful thought has been given to all comments.

But, PARD won't see it that way. You can't meet every Thursday night for 8 months, collect petition signatures, put tape over your mouth, hold press conferences, and have a booth at the Lentil Festival and walk away empty-handed.

So, prepare yourself for more delays and more theatrics Pullman. I know everyone is weary of all this and wants to move on. As Winston Churchill said: "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

I only hope the appeal hearing is fast and decisive. Stay tuned.