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

Bluegrass Development Given Preliminary Ok

Spokane officials are giving the green light for development of the Bluegrass subdivision.

Known as the Bluegrass Plat because it’s been used by grass growers for 40 years, the land in the city’s far northeast corner is one step away from development after city zoning officials added several conditions to the preliminary plat.

City officials will likely make few changes in the plans for development, leaving Bluegrass developer Craig Condron needing only to submit a final plan to the city council for approval within two months.

Condron has plans to build 405 single-family homes on the 102 acres.

The land is part of the Calkins Annexation, made part of the city in 1992. It’s bordered on the north by Lincoln Road, Vanetta Road on the south, Perry on the west and Crestline on the east.

Only one person came to a public hearing last week registering a complaint about the site.

Lucy Reiner, a resident of the Logan neighborhood about five miles south of the Bluegrass subdivision, said the new development will add to north-south traffic congestion. “I think they’re allowing too much growth to occur before growth management takes effect. It’s going to have a big effect on areas just south of it,” said Reiner.

Condron has said he plans to sell portions of the land to other developers, adding the full site will take about 10 years to evolve.

City officials have set several conditions on the project before it can proceed. Condron or any other developer must pay for extension of sewer and water lines. The city has also asked Condron or later developers to pay a fee of $472 per lot to pay for improvements to the main streets serving the area.

Condron has appealed that figure, saying the need to widen and improve nearby streets could be paid for with a smaller fee.

City Hearing Examiner Greg Jones will make a formal decision on that figure and other conditions by Tuesday.

The city has zoned most of the surrounding land for either commercial or multiple-family use.

City planners realized the Bluegrass subdivision was eventually to be developed. They agreed with developers the best course was single-family residential units, to help create a more intimate, family-oriented neighborhood.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: NEW HOUSING MAY MEAN NEW SCHOOLS Adding about 400 homes in the Bluegrass subdivision on the city’s North Side has led Spokane School District officials to add that area to its list of likely new school sites. City officials expect construction of the new homes to start within several months. Those homes will add to a population boom occurring on the city’s north end, said Ned Hammond, a school district supervisor. The district now has just two elementary schools north of Francis, Hammond said. Oscar Calkins, the man who sold the land for the Bluegrass subdivision, is also looking to sell an adjoining piece of land for possible use as a park and school site. School officials are discussing the purchase of those 11.3 acres, about 500 feet south of Lincoln Road and at the north edge of the subdivision. Hammond said the district is also involved in planning three other possible new schools on the South Side. Tom Sowa

This sidebar appeared with the story: NEW HOUSING MAY MEAN NEW SCHOOLS Adding about 400 homes in the Bluegrass subdivision on the city’s North Side has led Spokane School District officials to add that area to its list of likely new school sites. City officials expect construction of the new homes to start within several months. Those homes will add to a population boom occurring on the city’s north end, said Ned Hammond, a school district supervisor. The district now has just two elementary schools north of Francis, Hammond said. Oscar Calkins, the man who sold the land for the Bluegrass subdivision, is also looking to sell an adjoining piece of land for possible use as a park and school site. School officials are discussing the purchase of those 11.3 acres, about 500 feet south of Lincoln Road and at the north edge of the subdivision. Hammond said the district is also involved in planning three other possible new schools on the South Side. Tom Sowa