Developer Loses Fight To Subdivide River Valley Area Despite Ruling, Builder Says, ‘The Trees Will Be Gone’

A preservation group has helped derail plans for dense building in the lush Little Spokane River valley.

The county hearing examiner denied developer Jim Markley’s request to change zoning on a wooded hillside from 3.5 units per acre to the densest commercial category in the county code.

“It’d be just a shame to see one of the few beautiful rural areas left near Spokane to be densely developed,” said Martha Schaefer, an organizer of the 70-person Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley. “We are very satisfied.”

Hearing examiner Greg Smith said zoning may be changed to seven units per acre, but that the denser category would be out of place.

Markley said regardless of the decision, the property would be “developed no matter what. We will start developing in three weeks,” he said. “The trees will be gone.”

Smith’s decision is welcomed by Schaefer’s loosely knit neighborhood group. The group organized to fight three rezoning requests along the Little Spokane River: Markley’s apartments, and 103-home and 48-home subdivisions.

One subdivision proposal has been approved, but is being appealed by the group. The other has a public hearing later this month.

The preservation group wants to save the habitat and to guard against rezoning that could set precedent. They also worry development would lower property values and bring increased traffic, failing sewers and overcrowded schools.

“We are not trying to block developments,” said Tom Hargreaves. “We are trying to keep away zoning changes that affect the quality of life.”

The county is finishing urban growth boundary maps, which the neighborhood group hopes will exclude future rezoning requests.

Part of the area is classified “scenic river” and more than 50,000 people visit the Little Spokane River park each year. Hawks, deer, herons and otter live in the surrounding habitat.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of area.