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

County Zoning Official Allows Couple To Keep Old Trucks On Property

John Miller Correspondent

After an inspection Monday, county zoning enforcement officer Allan deLaubenfels has ruled that Opal Schadewitz and Harold Robinson are in compliance with regulations regarding disabled vehicles.

The sister and brother, who live at 15404 E. 24th, had been cited by the county for having seven rusty trucks on their property. A change in county zoning code in 1993 reduced the number of unlicensed or disabled vehicles allowed on Urban-Residential 3.5 properties from eight to just two.

DeLaubenfels said regulations like the one that forced Schadewitz and Robinson to straighten up their property are designed to curb flagrant abuses of county zoning codes. They are not intended to govern residents’ lifestyles, he said.

“There has to be some room for people to live the way they see is appropriate,” deLaubenfels explained. “The thing that I’ve told the person who is complaining is that even when he (Robinson) brings it into compliance, the property won’t look perfect.”

“We’d done enough,” said Robinson, who has lived in the home with his sister for 11 years. “He (deLaubenfels) said as far as we’re concerned, we’re clear.”

Robinson, for his part, does intend to tidy up the property even more than he has already. He and a buddy have been working out in the back yard for two weeks straight on the old vehicles.

And despite his penchant for old trucks - he owns an International Harvester, a Diamond T, and a Dodge, all from 1956 - Robinson now says he might add something a little sportier to the stable.

He’s keeping his eyes open for a ‘65 Mustang, he said. Licensed and running, of course.

“I haven’t sat in one since 1966, but I liked them when they were new,” Robinson said. “I figured I’d wait a while and buy one when they were used, save a little money.”