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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Complex requires more study

Appeal forces more analysis of traffic, wildlife

Spokane County Hearing Examiner Mike Dempsey has made a decision in an appeal brought by Glenrose Community Association, challenging the Spokane South Little League’s proposed development of a baseball complex on the southeast corner of 37th Avenue and Glenrose Road.

Dempsey’s ruling partly approved and partly denied the appeal, discounting many of the Glenrose Community Association’s claims that a sports complex would significantly increase noise, traffic and stormwater runoff.

Peter Ice, spokesperson for the Glenrose Community Association, said he’s not certain what will happen next.

“Our feeling is that the hearing examiner did as much as he could do, though we feel he may have overlooked some points and issues,” Ice said. “As to how we’ll proceed, we are still evaluating our options.”

Since word of the baseball complex got out early last year, Glenrose residents have contended that this particular location is a poor choice for a sports complex because of the increased traffic and noise, as well as the negative impact it would have on wildlife in the area.

The county’s building and planning department approved grading of the 18.5-acre parcel in early October, and it was that decision the Glenrose Community Association appealed.

One major claim by the Glenrose Community Association is that the area is part of a wildlife corridor that connects the Glenrose area to the Dishman Hills Natural Area, and that there are wetlands on and around the proposed site.

Dempsey ruled that, prior to beginning any construction, Spokane South Little League must submit several specific wildlife and habitat studies prepared by a qualified wildlife biologist, to establish that all wetland and wildlife regulations are met for the development.

However, the ruling stated that the wildlife habitat located along a seasonal stream on the site appears to fall short of meeting the criterion for wetland and riparian priority wildlife habitats.

At earlier community meetings, Glenrose residents were concerned with the traffic impact from a baseball complex, yet Dempsey ruled that the only traffic issue that appears to have some traction is the location of the proposed driveway to the complex, which could cause significant traffic congestion and lower visibility.

A traffic impact analysis must be submitted for the driveway area, prior to the issuance of a building permit.

The ruling also states that South Side Little League must comply with all noise and disturbance standards set by Spokane County, as well as submit a sound study to the building and planning department prior to using any sound amplification on the site.

In an e-mail last week, Spokane South Little League’s Brian Gosline wrote that overall his organization is pleased with the hearing examiner’s decision.

“We are now going to step up our efforts in every way to get this thing going for the youth of Spokane,” Gosline wrote.

Originally, South Side Little League was planning to acquire the land from the Morning Star Boys Ranch.

However, the parcel is part of a large chunk of real estate that was transferred from the Morning Star Boys Ranch to the Morning Star Boys Ranch Foundation in April, according to previous Spokesman-Review reports.

This transfer took place after 19 plaintiffs sued the Morning Star Boys Ranch alleging beatings and sexual abuse took place at the ranch, leading some plaintiffs to contend that the assets were transferred to the nonprofit foundation in an effort to protect Morning Star Boys Ranch from potential creditors.

Morning Star and its supporters deny any allegations that sex abuse or beatings ever took place at the ranch, just like they deny the land transfer was an attempt to defraud potential creditors and maintain that the ranch is solvent.

Testimony started Tuesday in the first of the lawsuits.