The city of McMinnville has been taking a beating in our Readers' Forum recently, accused of preventing Costco from locating in the community. We're compelled by common sense to come to its defense: The city does not and cannot arbitrarily prevent any business from locating in McMinnville if that business complies with planning and zoning ordinances.

Period.

In fact, there is no application in process for any big box store at this time.

But, for the sake of argument, let's say Costco or some other large retail store wants to locate here. Do we currently have land zoned general commercial on which they could build? According to the city's planning department, we do.

Linfield College has 40-plus acres of planned development land across Keck Road from Albertson's. Once Costco — or whomever — made its financial deal with the property owners, it could submit a site plan for review, get a building permit and start construction. And there you have it.

Let's say, though, that a large retailer wants to locate on Three Mile Lane instead. Could they do that? No, the city tells us, because the available buildable land there is zoned industrial and meant to support future airport needs.

Regardless, in order to be successful with a zone change request in that location, the entire comprehensive plan would have to be amended, and that's a policy issue in which the City Council would become involved. It wouldn't escape the notice of state land use advocates, who would be almost certain to object to such zone changes.

The city of McMinn-ville does not take an active role in recruiting or blocking businesses from locating here. It has, however, taken part in efforts to assist businesses in the process. For instance, city officials took part in meetings between ODOT and the Rice family to work out a successful compromise in the location for Lowe's.

The city is a financial backer of the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership, which recruits new businesses to the area. And, it's had a long-standing place at the table with the McMinnville Downtown Association in making sure the economic viability of our downtown core remains at a high level.

The planning process has the potential to be complex and frustrating, but in most cases it is fairly clear cut. Our city's planning staff does its best to assist the public in a professional manner.

People in government expect the potshots to be taken at them. However, when criticism isn't justified, public employees often remain silent. We think it's fair at such times to set the record straight.