Housing Plan Worries Neighbors

A potentially huge development a mile from their neighborhood has some Peaceful Valley residents worried.

Neighbors fear traffic jams on their narrow streets if Central Pre-Mix Concrete Co. builds apartments, houses and offices on a played-out gravel pit, said Nancy Roth, who chairs the Peaceful Valley Steering Committee.

Roth spoke at a hearing Monday before the Spokane County Boundary Review Board, which decides if the city can annex Central’s gravel pit, west of the city.

Central officials expect to run out of gravel at the pit, north of Riverside Memorial cemetery, within two years, said company spokesman Mark Murphy. It has been mined by Central and other companies since 1910.

Central could put as many as 1,290 apartment units and houses on its 133 acres if it is annexed by the city.

It won’t be developed at all if it’s not annexed, because Spokane County can’t provide water and sewer service, said Central’s attorney Stan Schultz.

“I think everyone would prefer to reclaim a gravel pit and have it put into a useful purpose, (rather) than having it remain a blight on the land,” Schultz said.

Engineers predict 1,900 cars would leave the development every morning and return every evening.

County officials fear those cars would create traffic problems on Government Way. They also contend the development is incompatible with rural land to the west.

In addition to Central’s land, the proposed annexation includes a 60-unit apartment complex already built on the south side of Fort George Wright Way. A portion of Riverside cemetery may also be included.

The review board continued the hearing until Aug. 12, when it may make a decision.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of proposed annexation area