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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Developer Wants To Send Storm Water To Golf Course Water Would Collect In Swale At Meadowwood

Spokane County commissioners are balking at a developer’s plans to put another spring water hazard on MeadowWood Golf Course.

Pacific Properties of Bellevue, Wash., which is developing 90 lots near the county’s premier course at Liberty Lake, wants to pipe the development’s storm water into the rough along the 15th fairway.

The company proposes digging swales four feet deep. The broad, grassy swales would be dry most of the year, but turn into ponds during spring runoff, said county golf manager Mike Kingsley.

Storm water from other developments already flows onto the course, either into swales or onto flat ground. Back when the plain north of Liberty Lake was pasture, developers donated land for the county course, which greatly enhances the value of nearby houses.

Doug Birch, Pacific’s project manager, did not return telephone messages Tuesday. Kingsley told commissioners Tuesday that Pacific is willing to pay $32,281 for the easement it needs.

That price is a compromise between the $4 per square foot a county appraiser says the land is worth and the 28 cents per square foot Pacific’s appraiser says the easement should cost.

Pacific argues it shouldn’t have to pay full value for the land, since it will still be used by golfers, Kingsley said.

If the agreement is approved, Pacific would allow the county to run a sewer pipe through its development to a restroom near the 15th green. That restroom now uses a holding tank that must be emptied occasionally.

Once the MeadowWood Glen development is done, Pacific intends to hand over responsibility for the swales to the homeowners’ association.

County attorney Jim Emacio warned commissioners that homeowners’ associations often lose interest in such projects, leaving the county “holding the bag” for any future cleanup that might be needed.

“Storm water, as you know, (includes) gasoline and oil from the streets,” said Emacio.

Kingsley said Pacific officials assumed their proposal would meet with no opposition from the county. But county staff got mixed reactions from commissioners.

Commissioner John Roskelley said during a briefing Tuesday that he’s “not interested at all” in the proposal.

Commissioner Kate McCaslin said she’d like to help the developer and get a sewer line to the course’s restroom, too. But, she said, she wants to make sure the county isn’t liable for anything that might drain into the swales, and doesn’t think Pacific is offering enough money.

“I’m inclined to try to negotiate with them,” McCaslin said.

Commissioner Phil Harris said he won’t sign any plan with Pacific until a similar matter is settled with JP Development Co., which is building the Spokane Valley Mall.

JP Development plans to drain storm water from the mall onto 14 acres next door. The developer would like the county to claim ownership of the property; Harris is willing to accept that offer, while Roskelley is concerned about the liability and loss of tax revenue.

, DataTimes