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

City bans new gravel pits as comp plan updated

Moratorium doesn’t impact established sites

The Spokane Valley City Council approved a moratorium on mining and mineral product manufacturing at its Tuesday evening meeting.

The moratorium is meant to preserve industrial land in the city, and will prevent new gravel pits from opening and stop the expansion of existing gravel pits, which are allowed in areas zoned for industrial use.

Spokane Valley City Manager Mike Jackson said that gravel pits have a permanent impact on the landscape and they take up significant acreage within city limits.

“They are here because it’s not that long ago that we were unincorporated,” Jackson said. “We have to ask ourselves if that’s the kind of land use we are interested in, in the future.”

As part of the current revision of its comprehensive plan, the city has undertaken an inventory of land and land uses.

Gravel pits “typically have a permanent impact on the landscape,” Jackson told the council. “Even if the site is reclaimed it leaves a mine, or an open pit, and the land may not be serviceable for other uses.”

The moratorium maintains status quo while the city works through the revision of its comprehensive plan.

City council member Rod Higgins said mining for aggregate deposits – as in gravel, sand and rock – in the middle of prime real estate makes no sense.

Councilmember Arne Woodard agreed. “We have to continue to look out for the citizens of this valley,” he said. “We are not a rural area, we are very urban now.”

Jackson clarified that the moratorium only impacts new gravel pits or the expansion of existing gravel pits.

There are no complete pending applications for gravel pit expansions, Jackson added.

This moratorium may hamper gravel and storage pit plans Spokane County has been discussing for its property on Eden Road.

“That is what they want to do out there,” Jackson said, “but they aren’t fully vested in that project.”

A public hearing on the moratorium will be held at the council’s meeting on March 24.

The moratorium required a super majority to pass and no one voted against it. Council member Bates remains absent for health reasons.