Wetland Decision Still Pending

Thu., March 23, 1995

By Adam Lynn adaml@spokesman.com

North Side Voice, March 30, 1995: CORRECTION Dwight Hume is a development consultant. His occupation has incorrectly stated in a March 23 North Side Voice article.

In/Around: Colbert

Lowell McKee has his neighbors in an uproar and Spokane County commissioners in a quandary. McKee wants to subdivide 99 acres he owns near Perry and Half Moon roads into 19 lots, and he’s twice won approval to do so.

But each time, neighbors of the proposed development have appealed that approval, saying they fear that McKee’s project would endanger a nine-acre wetland that’s on the property. They also are concerned with drainage and waste water disposal.

The neighbors took their latest appeal before Spokane County commissioners Tuesday night.

Tom Schaaf, a physician who lives nearby, told commissioners his group is not opposed to McKee’s entire development, just the part that borders the wetland. McKee plans at least six lots that border the wetland.

Schaaf and others told commissioners they were afraid there is not enough land being required as a buffer between building lots and the wetland.

They also said they were concerned about McKee’s plans to use a path that bisects the wetland as an emergency exit road from the development.

Residents reported seeing

various species of wildlife using the wetland, including moose, elk and bald eagles.

But McKee and his representatives - attorney Dwight Hume and developer Greg Blessing - told commissioners the wetland was safe.

The county planning department has determined that the setbacks are adequate, and Hume said the emergency exit would only be used in a wildfire or other catastrophe.

The drainage and septic issues can be easily addressed with modern technology, Blessing said.

“They don’t give us enough credit for being able to take care of these things,” he said.

McKee said he wants to be a good neighbor but wants to develop the land, too.

The polarized testimony left Commissioners Phil Harris and Steve Hasson groping for answers. Chairman Skip Chilberg was out of town.

Both suggested that a compromise was possible and probable.

They have given themselves until April 4 to come up with a decision.

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