Asking questions exercise

Taylor Johnson

Asking questions exercise

Consider the following hypothetical example:

You are pursuing a story about the proposed expansion for commercial real estate zoning outside of Lewiston, ID. You are interviewing the Nez Perce County Planner.

1.      What should you know walking in or what are you looking for related to the story?

·         What is entailed in the proposition of expansion? How big is the expansion?

·         The current zoning plan; height and width restrictions.

·         Learn about the southeast corner of Lewiston and the residents in the area.

·         Research whether the expansion will affect the residents.

·         What, if any, are the costs involved in passing the proposal for expansion?

·         Can we develop there?

·         Who is proposing the expansion?

·         Is anyone opposed to the expansion?

·         What are the restrictions on this expansion?

2.      What should you look up about the individual for our zoning interview?

·         What does the county planner job entail?

·         How long has he been in his position?

·         His viewpoint on the expansion.

·         Did he propose that plan? Who initially proposed the expansion?

·         If they are for or against the expansion?

·         Full title

·         What are the responsibilities for the assistant director?

Through our previous research we find that the commercial zoning expansion will take place outside the southeast corner of Lewiston, in a low-income, rural residential area. The planner was involved in creating the new rule but so was the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Lewiston. The commercial zoning area is open for large retailers and manufacturers. The proposal has been internally approved by both the city and the County. You or your sources never heard about it.

What primary questions should we ask next?

·         Why is there a necessity for an expansion?

·         Is the current commercial real estate zoning limiting businesses?

·         How long will it take for the proposition to actually be in play?

·         What is needed for the proposition to pass? How many approvals need to be made for this to pass?

·         What are the pros and cons with the expansion?

·         How far is the expansion?

·         How much will the expansion cost? Where is the money coming from?

·         Why the location of the expansion?

·         Have there been building built?

·         How do the residents feel about this expansion?

·         What are the concerns going into this expansion?

·         Why is the county supporting a change?

·         Why has the expansion not been advertised more?

·         Is there anything else you think I should know?