In brief: Neighborhood appeal upheld
The Spokane Valley hearing examiner has upheld an appeal by the Ponderosa Neighborhood Association challenging the fire evacuation safety of an 81-lot preliminary plat on the south side of 44th Avenue west of Farr Road.
Hearing Examiner Mike Dempsey said city planning staff erred in determining that the 17-acre planned unit development did not need an environmental impact statement. The lack of a third access road to the project could endanger Ponderosa residents who might need to evacuate the neighborhood within 30 minutes in case of a wildfire such as the one that swept the area in 1991.
Dempsey’s ruling last Friday declared that the project has a significant environmental impact, and cannot proceed without a formal EIS, which would allow for greater input from the public and agencies on how to solve egress problems. His ruling cannot be appealed to the City Council or Superior Court by law, he said.
Builder Lanzce Douglass has been seeking the controversial plat for a number of years.
– Mike Prager
BROADWAY
TAC presents Christmas show
Theater Arts for Children is offering a performance of “CSI: Christmas Scene Investigators” Sunday at 5 p.m. to benefit the Spokane Valley Partners’ Season of Sharing program.
Admission for an individual is a new, unwrapped stocking stuffer gift for a child or admission for a family is a new, unwrapped major gift for a teen ($15-$20 value). The performance will be at Spokane Valley Partners auditorium, 10814 E. Broadway Ave.
Gifts received will be given away at the Season of Sharing Dec. 18. For more information, call Sharon at 927-1153.
PASADENA PARK
Trees available at Hutton
The annual Hutton Settlement Christmas Tree Sale is under way at the campus, 9907 E. Wellesley Ave.
Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
This sale is put on and managed by the children with supervision from the campus staff. Hot cider and chocolate will be served around a bonfire. For more information, call 926-1027
SPOKANE COUNTY
Got lights?
Flickering, multi-colored light displays have become as much a part of Christmas as Santa himself. We want to help you find the best shows in town.
If you’ve got a holiday light display, or if you want to recommend a neighbor’s house, just go to spokesman review.com/holidaylights and tell us all about it. Later this month, you’ll be able to go to the Web site and map your own neighborhood light tour.
– From staff reports