Park plan gets a boost

After years of discussion and planning, the Spokane Valley City Council appears poised to move forward on construction of Greenacres Park.

The city owns 8.3 acres at Boone Avenue and Long Road and held meetings this spring to get input from neighbors on the design of the park and the features to be built.

Mike Stone, parks and recreation director, said the city has received $500,000 from the state to fund construction and the money needs to be spent. “There is a concern that the state funding may be in jeopardy,” he said. Building now also will allow the city to take advantage of a favorable bidding climate. Companies looking for work have been turning in lower than usual bids for various projects.

The estimated cost of the first phase is $1.3 million. Stone wants to take $200,000 from the civic facilities fund and the remainder from the parks capital fund. “I recognize that this is going to deplete, for the most part, our parks capital facilities fund,” Stone said. There will still be enough money left over to pay for a picnic shelter at Terrace View Park, a project the city has wanted to complete.

The council agreed to move the proposal forward with a motion to be considered at next week’s council meeting. “I would suggest that you do move forward,” said Councilman Gary Schimmels. “This is a high priority.”

During the meeting the council also heard some feedback referencing Councilman Dean Grafos’ prepared statement given at last week’s council meeting that attacked fellow Councilman Bill Gothmann. Retired pastor Steve Wilson said during the public comment period that three words came to mind after hearing Grafos’ statement. “Disappointed, ashamed and embarrassed,” he said. “I just want to publicly apologize to our community.”

Wilson said his father, a World War II veteran, called it “conduct unbecoming.” “If you treat your peers that way, how would you treat me as a private citizen? I’m hoping we can do better. We deserve better.”

Councilman Bob McCaslin, in his first appearance at a council meeting since being hospitalized in May, said that even though he sometimes disagrees with his fellow council members, everyone is entitled to their opinion. “We’re all human beings and we all make mistakes,” he said. “Several people made mistakes, not just Mr. Grafos.”

In other business, the council heard a report from a public meeting to gather input on the Mixed Use Avenue zone in the Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan. Community Development Director Kathy McClung said there were fewer comments overall and fewer specific problems raised. Several people said they wanted more permitted uses, but nothing specific was mentioned. McClung said the council could add some new uses, but making a lot of changes would take longer. “Putting everything back would be a Comprehensive Plan amendment,” she said. The Comprehensive Plan, by state law, can only be changed once a year.

Several people also said they wanted to eliminate the side/rear parking requirement, but that is a core part of the plan to make the area pedestrian friendly and would also require a Comprehensive Plan amendment.

Grafos said he wanted to see vehicle sales added as an allowed use, which several other council members agreed with. There was also some discussion on whether or not to change the architectural requirements for new buildings. “I would like to leave the architectural regulations as is,” said Councilwoman Rose Dempsey. “They can be done inexpensively.”

McClung said that some people complained about the requirements, but no one requirement was mentioned. “It’s difficult to address if there’s no specific issue to address,” said Councilwoman Brenda Grassel.

The issue of new cross streets being required every five acres got some debate as well. Councilman Bill Gothmann said that was added after citizens complained about not having enough north-south cross streets.

“I would like to eliminate the requirement of five acres,” Grafos said. He said he favored letting the city’s traffic engineer and the fire department decide when and where new streets are needed. “I think that’s the correct way to do it and not pre-plan these streets.”

“What criteria are you going to give the traffic engineer?” Gothmann said. “Look at what was happening in the past. I suggest that what has happened now will happen in the future.”

“We need more north and south streets,” said Mayor Tom Towey. “But I don’t think we should mandate five-acre parcels.”

At a future meeting the council will consider a motion to have text amendments prepared with the changes they discussed. The proposed amendments would then go to the Planning Commission for consideration and a public hearing before returning to the council for final approval.