Juniper Drive mitigation meeting set for Tuesday

Parties to negotiate

MOSES LAKE — A meeting between Juniper Drive residents, Moses Lake Clinic representatives and city officials is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.

Mayor Ron Covey proposed the meeting at a previous council meeting after the council took no action on whether or not to vacate a portion of Juniper Drive.

The three parties are to mitigate and find a possible solution fit for everyone. Council concluded all possible solutions may not have been discussed at the meeting.

The clinic is seeking the vacation to expand their facilities. The clinic is in need of more parking and office space to serve patients and house more physicians, Clinic Administrator David Olson said.

Multiple citizens living on and near Juniper Drive presented testimony regarding whether or not the vacation should be allowed.

Citizens in favor of the vacation advised they wanted the expansion to go through and some felt blocking the street would reduce speedy drivers in the area.

Citizens against the vacation advised the expansion was not necessary and some said blocking the roadway would cause traffic backups on other streets.

The clinic made a similar request in 2004 and the council denied the vacation.