Residents Again Denounce City Urban Growth Plan

A proposal to expand the city of Spokane’s urban growth boundaries triggered the classic clash that pits developers against residents.

The City Council heard more than two hours of testimony Monday - from those who wanted their property inside the suggested boundaries and those who wanted it outside.

Almost without fail, people addressing the council wanted the opposite of what was proposed.

“I’m asking that this area be included,” said Jay Landreth, who wants to see his Indian Canyon Mobile Home Park placed inside the urban growth area.

“This plan would increase traffic in our area,” said Chris Moore, a Glenrose area resident who opposes having his area within the boundaries. “We already have serious problems.”

Setting interim urban growth areas is the city’s latest step in complying with the state’s growth management law.

Based on state projections, the city expects to gain nearly 84,000 residents over the next 20 years.

Current city limits can handle about 56,500 more people. To accommodate the balance - about 27,500 people - the city would need additional land.

Mayor Jack Geraghty said the proposed interim urban growth areas set boundaries for city services - not boundaries for annexation.

But the city usually requires residents who receive city services to sign statements saying they won’t fight annexation.

Under the plan, the city’s service boundaries could expand in five residential areas: Nine Mile, Five Mile, Lynnwood, Moran Prairie and west Spokane near the airport.

The proposal also expands service areas into two industrial areas: Yardley and west Spokane.

Several residents of the Glenrose area of Moran Prairie urged the council to drop their neighborhood from the proposal.

“The people against it are the people living there now,” said Darrel Polek. “The people for it are the people who are there to profit from it.”

But Barbara Smith said she bought land along Glenrose Road as a retirement nest egg. “It has city water and it’s sewer accessible,” she said. “This is my dream of being able to retire off this land.”

Attorney Clark Snure asked the council to consider the devastating effect future annexation could have on five rural fire districts bordering the city.

He urged the city to let those districts continue to serve the areas if annexation occurs.

The council plans to vote on the proposed urban growth areas next week.

, DataTimes