Verner says big-box development can go on

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner announced Friday that she will allow new rules on big-box development in southeast Spokane to stand, but not with her signature.

The mayor said earlier this week that she was pondering a veto of a Spokane City Council ordinance allowing development of three big-box stores near Regal Street and the Palouse Highway.

In a letter sent to councilors and others, Verner said she was concerned that a veto could jeopardize portions of the ordinance she supports. Instead of a veto, Verner said she would send the ordinance to the clerk’s office without her signature. The move means the legislation will become law.

Some residents of the Southgate neighborhood lobbied Verner to reject the measure, which was approved last month; Verner said she was considering a veto based on an amendment in the ordinance sponsored by Councilman Al French.

The ordinance allows a Home Depot, as well as a big-box store up to 105,000 square feet in size and a 135,000-square-foot business. Before the amendment, other stores that weren’t groceries would have been limited to 40,000 square feet. The amendment increased that to 60,000 square feet.

In her letter sent Friday, Verner said the change “gutted a key condition” of a compromise between developers and neighborhood leaders.

But she said that the city attorney’s office advised her that she could only reject the whole ordinance or a full section of it. Verner said the section that includes the amendment also has “provisions that are of mutual benefit to both the applicants and the neighborhood.”

The full ordinance was approved on a 6-1 vote. French’s amendment passed 4-3. The council can override a veto with five votes.

Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, who voted for the amendment and full ordinance, said what was approved by council “was a good compromise.”

“I’m very happy that it’s not coming back to the council to rehash it again,” McLaughlin said.

With the ordinance a sure-thing, the next step will be for the city to complete a development agreement for the site that will be based on the ordinance but much more detailed.

Councilman Richard Rush said earlier this week that he’s hopeful Verner will work to make sure key elements in the ordinance are strictly adhered to in the agreement.

Despite his vote against the ordinance, Rush said, “There is something to work with here.”

Ginger Patano, vice chairwoman of the Southgate Neighborhood Council, said residents understood that reversing the ordinance was a long-shot. She added that she’s grateful that Verner considered a veto.

Still, Patano said the action doesn’t end traffic and other concerns.

“We only have two main roads up here, and they’re packed,” Patano said.