Group Says Zoning Changes Would Harm River

A homeowners group is organizing to block several proposed zoning changes that they say would spoil stretches of the Little Spokane River.

The group, Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley, hopes to protect the unique North Spokane habitat by exempting it from long-term development plans.

But the group also has an immediate goal to stop three developers’ requests for rezoning.

The requests for two of the developments would change zoning from one home per five acres to one home per half-acre, which is required for apartments and subdivisions.

Another request asks for a change from 3.5 homes per acre to 22 per acre, dense enough for apartments.

“It’s one of the unique features of the county and you’d hate to see it disappear,” said Martha Schaefer, who lives next to the river near the proposed developments.

The group hopes to become an umbrella organization for several area homeowners associations, including ones in Gleneden and Pine River Park.

Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley has appealed Harley Douglass’s proposed 44-home Hunters Pointe subdivision. The Spokane County commisssion ruled Tuesday to let the group testify against the development at a date that has yet to be determined.

The county hearing examiner will hold a hearing July 19 on a 48-unit apartment complex proposed by Jim Markley. The group plans to testify against the project. The hearing is 9 a.m. at the Spokane County Building and Planning Department’s lower level hearing room.

Public comments for the proposed 103-home Haynes Estates subdivision, on 101 riverfront acres at Leona Drive and Greenleaf Drive, should be submitted to the Spokane County planning department by July 16. A hearing is expected in late July.

None of these proposed developments would be affected by the ordinance adopted Tuesday by county commissioners which impose a 200-foot buffer zone to protect wetland areas.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MEMBER MEETING Friends of the Little Spokane River Valley are holding an organizational meeting July 15 at 20410 N. Little Spokane Dr. A potluck starts at 5:30 p.m., a forum with County Commissioner John Roskelly starts at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is for members of homeowners associations near the Little Spokane River. Call Martha Schaefer at 468-9721 for more information.