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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Less Impact On Traffic With New Housing Plan

Kelly Mcbride Staff Writer

A new plan to develop singlefamily houses along Nine Mile Road will have much less of an impact on traffic than the apartments that were previously rejected by the city hearing examiner.

Two years ago, hearing examiner Greg Smith turned down a proposal to build 144 apartments on the land west of Nine Mile Road between Wind River and Excel.

Smith said apartments did not fit in with the general character of the surrounding area, which consists of single-family houses.

So developers Rod Plese, Mike Graham and Craig Condron came back with a new proposal. Now they want to put 71 homes on the 24-acre site.

While the new developments will add to area traffic problems - particularly at the intersection of Nine Mile and Rifle Club roads - the impact will be much less than the proposed apartment complex, studies show.

Preliminary results of a traffic study, conducted by Ann Winkler of Inland Pacific Engineering, indicate there will be about 828 more cars a day on the road if all the homes are built.

Several intersections in the area are operating at substandard levels, the report said.

During the evening rush hour, the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Rifle Club Road is already functioning at a substandard level. By the time the homes for Wind River Place and other developments in the area are built, that intersection will be much worse, the report said.

However, if a traffic signal is added, that intersection will improve greatly, the report said.

Another trouble spot could be the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Wind River Drive.

Currently that intersection is operating at an acceptable standard. But once 71 homes are added, that intersection will fall into the secondlowest level of operation during the morning rush hour, the report said.

The developers have yet to file their application to build the subdivision. Once they do, a hearing will be set and Smith will review the plans.

Area residents said they are pleased the development is singlefamily homes, but want to ensure traffic problems in the area are solved before more homes are built.