Neighbors Upset By County Ruling On Little Spokane Plan

State and county wetlands police say Don Haynes is potentially damaging the Little Spokane River by filling flood plains on his property.

“This is a very serious matter,” said Tammie Williams, the county environmental programs administrator.

But the Spokane County planning department appeared much less concerned last week. It said Haynes’ proposal to build 103 homes on his 101-acre riverfront property would not have adverse environmental impacts.

The decision clears Haynes of having to draw up a costly and time-consuming environmental impact statement and smooths the way for development.

It also confuses state biologists studying the site as well as Haynes’ neighbors, who are fighting the proposal.

Department of Ecology wetlands specialist Dennis Beich said Haynes filled more than 6,000 square feet of riverfront land.

The DOE has asked Haynes to remove the fill and replace natural vegetation.

“Any fill in the flood plain will have an impact” on property upstream and downstream, said Beich. “If you displace water in one area, it has to go somewhere.”

While careful to avoid criticizing the planning department, Beich said a different decision “would be more appropriate.”

Haynes’ neighbors are outraged at the planning department’s decision.

Norman James, who owns property adjacent to Haynes, calls it “a violation of government trust.”

“If all you are going to do is be a vehicle for special interests, what is the good in having” a planning department, said James.

A neighborhood group called Friends of the Little Spokane River vows to fight Haynes’ proposal, which would require rezoning the land from one home per five acres to one home per acre.

In an interview in late July, Haynes admitted digging near the river to fix broken septic tanks. But he said he was not filling the flood plain.

He couldn’t be reached for comment this week.

County planner Steve Davenport said the environmental impact decision was still fluid. Other agencies, like the Department of Ecology, can protest.

“We are not the be all and know all,” said Davenport, who prepared the environmental decision. “That’s why we send it out to 18 agencies.”

He said the decision was based on state law, and the DOE’s actions were unrelated to the planning department’s action.

“It may be reason to deny the proposal, but it may not be a reason to issue” a determination of significance, which would require a more intensive environmental review, said Davenport.

All neighbors see is a frustrating bureaucratic dance. Twenty-three Little Spokane River valley residents filed letters noting that Haynes’ land is an environmentally sensitive area that is home to heron, hawks and eagles. The proposed rezoning is inconsistent with the current atmosphere, they said.

“All of us have rights as property owners,” said Little Spokane River valley resident Martha Schaefer. “Where are our rights in this?”

, DataTimes