City wants consensus on big-box plans

Proposals to allow major retail development on about 45 undeveloped acres in the vicinity of Regal Street and Palouse Highway are scheduled for a vote before the Spokane City Council no later than June 30.

In one of the longest-running council meetings in recent years, council members on June 9 took testimony throughout the night and did not adjourn until the early morning hours of July 10 on three proposed amendments to the city’s comprehensive land-use plan.

They heard testimony from developers proposing a district commercial center for the Southgate neighborhood, a center that would include buildings as large as 135,000 square feet.

Neighbors have organized opposition against the developer-backed proposals to change the allowed land uses in the area from single- and multifamily residential designations to larger commercial uses.

Home Depot is seeking to build a store on the north side of Palouse Highway a short distance east of Regal Street. Black Development is heading two other proposals for a private landowner and KXLY on two sites east and west of Regal at Palouse. The Plan Commission earlier this year voted 5-3 to recommend against the proposals because they lacked deeper neighborhood planning.

At a meeting between developers and neighbors on June 6 and 7, neighborhood representatives said they would agree to allow stores of up to 85,000 square feet if the developers were willing to undergo a master planning process involving the neighborhoods. The developers said they would agree to buildings of 135,000 square feet, but no smaller.

“What we are opposed to is the larger stores,” said Leif Bang, of the neighborhood group.

Leroy Eadie, planning director, said he is trying to schedule another meeting between developers and the neighborhood representatives in an effort to settle differences.

Council members said they were hoping for a compromise prior to a vote.

Without a compromise, they are facing a yes or no decision on the amendments that stand to bring millions of dollars in taxes to City Hall if the proposed projects are built. However, their vote is subject to land-use appeal, and neighbors have said they are willing to challenge a City Council decision that ignores their demands for stronger neighborhood planning.