Blackwell Island Rv Park Delayed Again

Developers of a proposed 292-pad recreational vehicle park on Blackwell Island will have to try again.

The controversial plan to bring RV tourists to the old city landfill north of the Spokane River and immediately south of U.S. Highway 95 still leaves too many questions unanswered, city planning commissioners said Tuesday night.

A decision on the project already has been postponed twice since last fall.

Tuesday commissioners said the site could be subject to flooding, could pollute the river and could lead to destruction of a nearby wetland.

Mark Hall, who owns the 40-acre site, had requested annexation and a zoning change that would allow construction of the RV park below the floodplain.

Commissioners gave him 60 days to rework his proposal and again seek their approval.

The move came after a dozen county residents said the project would make taxpayers liable for flood damage, would add too many cars and people to an undeveloped, wildlife-rich area and spark unwanted expansion of Coeur d’Alene across the river.

Developers said the RV park was an improvement over “an old dump” and promised flood damage would be minimal because RVs are mobile.

But commissioners said the project would require annexation in an area where the city has no immediate plans to expand.

“Neighbors obviously like their rural lifestyle and feel they are being threatened by this move across the river,” said Commissioner Steve Badraun.

“I think it’s an excellent place for an RV park, but I’m still troubled.”