No equity in land dispute

The Court of Appeals blocked the zoning changes that would have allowed developers to purchase Kitty Archer’s 19 acres on the West Plains and build multifamily units. Indeed, an island with different rules of equity applied to different concepts of simple logic. The county commissioners made a mistake in 2005; nobody is perfect.

However, in normal life you first apologize, then you try to correct if possible and/or you compensate. The apology never occurred. The countywide correction occurred when the county laws were changed in October 2006. This correction did not address the damage done to the owner of the 19 acres. The landowner never received compensation for the damage done.

Eleven years later, there is still an opportunity to do this, but it should be done soon. The county or the airport can either buy the 19 acres or compensate the landowner for the difference in value and occurred expenses.

Nobody disputes Fairchild is important to Spokane, but even a 10-year-old would understand the potential Fairchild damage (if any) was done by the county commissioners, not Kitty Archer. Seriously, does anybody believe apartments on the 19 acres would have an influence in the decision to keep Fairchild or not? With eight miles in distance and two existing apartment buildings already in place, where is the logic? Where is the equity?

Anne Betow

Spokane