Liberty Lake Road Plan Wins Commissioners’ Approval
Spokane County commissioners this week approved a developer-backed transportation plan for the Liberty Lake area.
The plan calls for improving roads before they become clogged with traffic anticipated to accompany rapid growth forecast for the next 20 years.
“It’s a very advantageous plan for the Liberty Lake area,” Commissioner Steve Hasson said before the Tuesday vote.
A group of developers, including Metropolitan Mortgage and Greenstone Corp., will pay for nearly 85 percent of the $5 million in improvements.
The county and possibly the state will pick up the rest of the cost.
Improvements include extending Country Vista Drive from Liberty Lake Drive to Appleway and rebuilding the Harvard Road-Interstate 90 interchange to accommodate more traffic.
The work is expected to be phased in over the next 15 years or so.
State Department of Transportation officials have expressed some concern over the plan, but Hasson said those problems are being ironed out.
Apartment proposal appealed
A developer who recently was denied permission to build a 62-unit apartment complex in the Valley has appealed that decision.
John Stone has asked county commissioners to reverse the findings of the county’s hearing examiner committee.
The committee voted last month to deny Stone’s project, which is slated for seven acres of land near Nora and Wilbur roads, south of Interstate 90.
Committee members were concerned with the impact the proposal would have on traffic at Pines Road and Interstate 90, one of the county’s most congested intersections.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the matter Jan. 9 in the downstairs meeting room of the public works building, 1026 W. Broadway. The meeting begins at 5 p.m.
Moab meeting scheduled
The state Boundary Review Board will hold a public hearing Jan. 29 on a proposal to extend public water lines to nearly 230 acres of land on the west shore of Newman Lake.
The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Mountain View Middle School, 6011 N. Chase.
The proposed annexation by the Moab Irrigation District is controversial. Some residents support it, saying their area needs public water.
Others oppose it, saying water lines will lead to unnecessary development.
Meals on Wheels drive extended
The Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels program is extending its first-annual fund drive until the end of January 1996.
The drive started Nov. 15 and was originally scheduled to conclude Friday. Director Ruth Fearn said so far, the group has raised just half of its $30,000 goal.
“Many people are pledging, and saying, ‘See us in January,”’ Fearn said.
For information or to donate, call 924-6976.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Adam Lynn Staff writer Staff writer Ward Sanderson contributed to this report.