Letters To The Editor

Thu., Aug. 15, 1996

Don’t let big business overrun neighborhoods

Spokane residents should start fighting to protect their neighborhoods from big-business takeovers.

The Spokane Planning Board has done an excellent job by keeping residential and commercial zones compatible.

Lately our city and county are feeling budget crunches. The best way to increase your tax base is by allowing commercial business to expand into residential areas.

The area I am concerned with is located on the North Side between the College Place and Camelot subdivisions. There are approximately 42 acres that is zoned 3.5 residential between these subdivisions. Wal Mart and other businesses want to change this zoning to B5, which is considered high commercial development.

Both subdivisions now enjoy peace and quiet. Kids can walk, run, Rollerblade and parents don’t have to worry about speeding vehicles trying to find shortcuts between Highway 2 and Highway 395.

Wal Mart estimates 12,000 cars per day will visit this proposed site. It is only natural for drivers to find shortcuts by using residential streets to avoid arterials that can’t handle the traffic flow. I know because I’ve done it myself.

Both subdivisions will suffer and feel the pain of increased traffic, auto emissions, noise, bright lighting at night, and 42 acres of trees turned into concrete and asphalt. Plus the unwanted sight of another shopping center only one-half mile from Northpoint will be developed.

It is time that Spokane residents fight to preserve our quality of life in our neighborhoods.

We can’t allow businesses like Wal Mart and commercial developers to take over and run down our property values. If Wal Mart wins this rezoning of residential to commercial, I can almost guarantee that your 3.5 residential will be in the consideration of other developers. John Bartlett Spokane

Rain didn’t deter Hillyard’s mood

Hillyard Days, which was held Aug. 2-4, got off to a good start in spite of the rain on Friday, the opening night of the festival.

The annual VIP prime rib dinner, the kick-off to the festival, was supposed to be held Friday at Harmon Park, but was rained out.

The dinner was moved to the Coffee Pot Cafe in Hillyard. The spirit was very much alive at the Coffee Pot Cafe.

We sat down to a prime rib dinner expecting to pay $6.95 and it was announced the dinner was on the house.

Everyone had a good attitude. There were balloons, champagne and live music by the Herricks.

Thank you, Hillyard. Lorraine White Spokane

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