Commissioners Decision On 40-Home Subdivision Frustrates Friends Group

They began hoping to work with the system. Now, they’re so frustrated they’re collecting money to sue.

Approval of a controversial 40-home subdivision on the Little Spokane River has turned a group of doctors, college professors and veterinarians into malcontents.

“When you have commissioners like this, it’s almost a moot point to go up against developers,” said David Cherry, a Little Spokane resident and Whitworth College professor.

He was referring to county commissioner approval last month of builder Harley Douglass’s proposed Hunters Pointe development and rejection of the appeal filed by Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley, a citizens preservation group.

Project opponents fear that sewage and groundwater will swell the nearby Deadman and Little Deep Creeks.

But group members said the manner in which the commission ruled on the appeal was just as upsetting as the decision, and possibly even illegal.

Hunters Pointe was approved by the hearing examiner last June and the Friends group appealed.

The commission banned new testimony when it heard the appeal. The ban was unusual because it contradicted a county attorney’s recommendation to hear new testimony, which the citizens group considers compelling.

According to briefs filed by a lawyer for the group, after the initial hearing, the Friends found environmental data they claim shows pollution from septic tanks could harm drinking water and that the proposed subdivision would have broken a wildlife bridge between two habitats.

The outcome leaves some in the citizens group feeling the decision was a blatant example of pandering to developers.

They are considering suing the county, in hopes of presenting their new data to the commissioners.

One Friends’ member, Tom Hargreaves, was motivated to apply for - and win - a seat on the county planning commission.

“I want to put some reason into the planning process,” said Hargreaves.

Others, like Cherry, who owns two acres on the Little Spokane River, go further with their complaints.

“We are not playing on a level play field when the field is so slanted against citizens and grass roots groups and so slanted toward developers,” said Cherry. “The only thing that can change that is removing the commissioners and removing the old boy network.”

Commissioner John Roskelley understands the group’s anger.

“Any other community would protect this area in some way,” said Roskelley, who voted against Douglass’ subdivision. “We are still a Wild West attitude, that we can develop anywhere we want. We should protect these sensitive areas.”

, DataTimes