Construction stalled over height limit
Another overheight house is under construction at Liberty Lake because of a county planner’s blunder.
As in a case that was resolved last year, the mistake has caused financial loss for the property owner, hard feelings among neighbors and a dilemma for county officials.
“It’s been a nightmare,” said Michael Rogers, a contractor who’s building a view home for himself at the southwest corner of the lake.
County building officials halted his project last year after discovering the house would be at least 7 feet taller than the 35-foot limit in the unincorporated area’s “rural conservation” zone. Rogers wasn’t allowed to put a roof over the unfinished shell or to line it with water-resistant Tyvek.
“It isn’t going to make it through another winter,” Rogers said, noting he has already spent nearly $210,000 on the work.
He said he tried to waterproof the structure, but a neighbor complained and a building inspector issued a second stop-work order.
Even if he doesn’t have to tear it down, Rogers said he is facing an additional cost of $40,000 to $50,000 to remove the top floor and redesign the home, unless county Hearing Examiner Michael Dempsey grants a variance.
Rogers, who owns Avella LLC construction company, said the experience has killed his enthusiasm for working in unincorporated Spokane County. He said he has tried to work with county officials, changing his roof style and reducing ceiling heights to make the house shorter.
“The one they approved would have been 20 feet over (the limit),” Rogers said.
A planning staff report to Dempsey takes a different view of the facts. It says a 42-foot-3-inch house was mistakenly allowed, but that Rogers proceeded to build a 54-foot-9-inch structure. The report says the 4,295-square-foot home would have five levels.
According to the report, a building inspector found Rogers deviated from the original plan by exposing a portion of the house that was supposed to have been buried in backfill. The report also says the roof orientation had been changed to add another level of livable floor space.
Rogers said he doesn’t know what he’ll do if Dempsey doesn’t grant a variance, but there are no good choices. He has hired a lawyer.
Dempsey conducted a hearing May 13 and has not issued a decision.The situation is nearly identical to the mess created in 2002 when planners Bill Moser and John Nunnery authorized Paul Shields and Heather Amity to build a 50-foot-tall log home at 23524 E. Third Ave.
John Craig
Variety on display at farmers market
Jennifer Morsell once had a retail store in Fairbanks, Alaska. After moving to Coeur d’Alene, she started Mountain Madness Soap Co., making her own soaps and bath products in her home studio. Morsell has been crafting her soaps – made from 60 percent olive oil, with palm and coconut oils making up the balance – for five years.
“I started using an old Italian recipe, then perfected it through trial and error. It’s really complex, a lot more complicated than people think,” she said.
Morsell is one of many vendors at the Kootenai County Farmers Market. The Wednesday market from 4 to 7 p.m. is in downtown Coeur d’Alene, and the Hayden market, on the northeast corner of Highway 95 and Prairie Avenue, is held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“I love the market, love the people,” Morsell said. “One of the best things about it is the social aspect – with like-minded people.”
Cindy DePaulis has been bringing her lavender products to the market for many years. She has a private farm where she grows the lavender, selling plants at the market, along with sachets, eye pillows and essential oil, which she distills.
“It’s good for burns – takes the pain away in 10 to 15 minutes,” she said.
DePaulis said it’s slower this year, but she’s finding first-time gardeners are buying the plants.
“People are just saving money,” she said.
Al Riendeau represents White Cane Sockeye Salmon. The company brings fresh salmon in from Bristol Bay, Alaska. Riendeau agreed that this year, White Cane’s third at the market, is slower, but he said salmon is good food and plenty of people were buying.
The downtown Coeur d’Alene market will run until the end of September and the Hayden market until mid-October. Special events include Feast with the Farmers Aug. 11, when a local chef creates a gourmet meal from market food. Ticket prices for this year have yet to be set, but last year the event was $45 per person.
The Harvest Festival will be held Oct. 24 downtown with help from the Downtown Association. Fall Fest in Hayden is Sept. 26, with scarecrow-making contests, pumpkin painting and much more.
Linda Ball