City OKs annexation plan for Nine Mile project

Spokane city officials are moving ahead with annexation of 42.3-acre housing development known as Park Place in the vicinity of Riverside State Park in northwest Spokane.

The city is essentially requiring developer Rod Plese to annex his Park Place development south of Nine Mile Road as a condition of obtaining city sewer and water, city officials said.

The Spokane City Council is scheduled to vote on Monday on a resolution initiating the annexation of the development southwest of the intersection of Hartley Street and Francis Avenue. The owner has requested the annexation.

Plese is proposing 122 home sites to be developed at an anticipated rate of a dozen homes a year through 2017. Total assessed value could reach as high as $30 million. Population in the area could be as high as 305 residents, according to a consultant.

The city would compensate county library and fire districts for their loss of property taxes for what has been undeveloped land. Costs to the city of annexation would be negligible, according to an annexation feasibility analysis by consultant John Ostrowski.

Spokane’s Plan Commission voted in favor of the annexation. However, Plan Commission President Candace Mumm in a minority report questioned the value of small residential annexations such as Park Place. She pointed out the additional residents will put greater demand on police, fire and other services, which are not calculated in the consultant’s report.

If the council approves its resolution Monday, the annexation would go to the Boundary Review Board for Spokane County for study and possible approval.

House to be razed

In other business, the council on Monday approved a $2,700 demolition contract with Diversified Wood Recycling to tear down a house at 31 E. Lacrosse.

The residence had become dilapidated from fire, water and vandal damage. Owner Michael Nevin appealed the city building official’s demolition order but did not appear at the appeal hearing and did not submit a remediation plan, said Building Director Joe Wizner. The city’s hearing examiner reinstated the demolition order.