Proposed Borders Shift Again Backers Of A Valley City Aren’t Sure How To React To New Boundaries Set By State Board
People who support forming a city in the Spokane Valley left a Wednesday meeting on their incorporation proposal not knowing how to feel.
The state Boundary Review Board had altered the borders of their proposed city significantly, but it hadn’t shot down the plan completely.
The heavily industrial Yardley district was left in the boundaries, but the mostly rural Otis Orchards community was cut out.
“I have terribly mixed feelings and emotions about it,” said Joe McKinnon, co-chairman of the group Citizens for Valley Incorporation. “But it all may be a blessing in disguise. This will hit the ballot with the board’s support for the first time ever.”
When that ballot will go before voters remains to be seen.
The review board voted unanimously to add several areas to the proposed city.
The East Spokane neighborhood, which extends east of Havana Street and south of Interstate 90 as far as 12th Avenue.The Orchard Avenue community, which is west of the town of Millwood, east of Felts Field and south of the Spokane River.The Midilome neighborhood, which is south of 32nd Avenue and east of Dishman-Mica Road.Board members also left in Yard ley, which had generated quite a controversy.
The Spokane City Council, saying it had a considerable investment in the area, had requested that the board exclude the tax-rich area from the proposed city’s boundaries.
Spokane has extended about $100,000 worth of water lines into Yardley in the past few decades and has plans to provide sewer to the area.
The board did make one major cut - the Otis Orchards community, which is north of the Spokane River and east of Barker Road.
The area, with its mostly largeacreage lots and vast tracts of undeveloped land, doesn’t belong in a city, board members said.
Chairwoman Sally Reynolds said she wished she could have cut more off the eastern end of the proposal, but state law states that the board cannot alter the net land area of the proposal by more than 10 percent.
The city of Spokane Valley as now proposed would be home to about 72,800 people and encompass nearly 30 square miles.
The proponents’ original plan had 8,000 fewer people and about two more square miles of space.
Incorporation supporters were disappointed with the loss of Otis Orchards, where some of their most staunch supporters live.
McKinnon described the decision to cut the community out as “taking one of the main arteries to the heart out.”
Some residents of the area also expressed disappointment.
“Am I bummed out, do you mean? Yes, I am,” said Dale McLeod, a retired Washington state trooper who lives in Otis Orchards.
McLeod has campaigned tirelessly for incorporation and the inclusion of his neighborhood in the proposed city’s boundaries, saying it would give residents the local control they so desperately crave.
The fate of the May 16 election date targeted by incorporation supporters is still uncertain.
By law, the review board has 40 days to issue its written decision on the new boundaries.
But the board must file that report by March 17 in order for the incorporation proposal to appear on the May ballot.
Planner Susan Winchell, who will be writing the decision, said she thought she could meet the St. Patrick’s Day deadline, but stopped short of saying it was a sure thing.
xxxx Areas added The Board voted to add the following areas to the proposed city: The East Spokane neighborhood, which extends east of Havana Street and south of Interstate 90 as far as 12th Avenue. The Orchard Avenue community, which is west of the town of Millwood, east of Felts Field and south of the Spokane River. The Midilome neighborhood, which is south of 32nd Avenue and east of Dishman-Mica Road.