Developer Taking Steps To Stop Home Depot
Developer Harley Douglass is moving ahead with efforts to halt construction of Home Depot at the Division Street Y until traffic and other issues are resolved.
A hearing or trial date is expected to be set later this month to decide a slew of complaints Douglass has filed against Country Homes Building Supply, Home Depot and the city of Spokane.
Douglass claims construction of the 129,000-square-foot Home Depot and the anticipated traffic it will bring to the area will destroy the value and usefulness of his nearby undeveloped property.
Home Depot is planning to move into the building, less than a mile from Eagle on Division. Harlan Douglass, Harley’s father, has been a director of the Eagle Hardware and Garden chain since 1990.
The city approved the Home Depot project with mitigating measures in late summer. Douglass appealed to city hearing examiner Greg Smith, who sent the project back to the city to address the traffic concerns.
Traffic engineers predict up to 17-minute waits to exit the Home Depot parking lot on Saturdays.
During the appeal process, the city issued a grading and excavation permit, an error on the part of the city, according to Smith.
No building permit was issued, but Country Homes Builders moved ahead anyway with construction, laying the foundation and installing basic plumbing and electricity.
Douglass filed for a temporary restraining order to stop construction. He claims the city issued a stop-work order, but Country Homes Builders continued working on the building. Five days later on Oct. 22 the city issued a second stop-work order.
Douglass obtained a court order requiring the builders to cease construction. A judge granted the restraining order against Country Homes.
Home Depot is asking for the return of $8,000 in legal fees spent defending itself against the court order, noting it is not involved with actual construction. The work is being done by Country Homes Builders.
An initial land use hearing is set for Dec. 17 at 9 a.m.
, DataTimes