Examiner Oks Sunset Hill Project

A developer who won a land-use battle before the Spokane City Council last fall has now obtained approval to expand his Sunset Hill project.

The city hearing examiner last week ruled that developer Ron McCloskey can go ahead with a 42-unit apartment complex and five duplexes next to the Indian Canyon Golf Course driving range.

Last October, the council approved an initial phase of the development: a 48-unit apartment project on adjacent land on Westcliff Place.

Members of the Carousel Lane Neighborhood Association opposed the project at the time because of increased traffic and noise in the quiet residential area.

Opposition also surfaced to McCloskey’s latest request.

In a letter to the hearing examiner, resident Luanna Fields wrote, “Enough is enough.”

“Repeatedly, this neighborhood has been victimized by developers in search of the almighty dollar,” she said.

Parks Department officials opposed the construction of the five duplexes next to the driving range because of the danger of golf balls landing in yards and possibly hurting someone.

City records indicate the Parks Department sought to purchase the land but was unsuccessful.

The property has been owned for years by the Episcopal Diocese, which had granted development rights to the land years ago, but the original project was never built.

Hearing Examiner Greg Smith approved a short plat for the duplex units and the apartment lots and approved plans for the development.

Smith agreed to a request from McCloskey to reduce the front yard setbacks from 20 feet to 15 feet for the duplexes to make more room at the rear of the lots.

The hearing examiner is requiring installation of fire hydrants and water connections and ordered the developer to handle storm water with grassy depressions that allow water to collect and seep into the ground.

, DataTimes