Northwood-Area Neighbors Appealing Zone Change Four Acres Between Farwell And Mead Have Been Approved For A 22-Units-Per-Acre Retirement Complex

Northwood Meadows residents are appealing approval of a zone change that will allow an 82-unit retirement home in their residential neighborhood.

Neighbors say they were misled into believing homes similar to theirs would be built on the four acres between Farwell and Mead Roads.

The land was originally zoned for 3.5 houses per acre. Spokane County Hearing Examiner Michael Dempsey approved rezoning it to 22 units per acre.

“It was never planned as houses, said developer Richard Pierce. “If the neighbors were misled, I don’t have any control over that. I’m sure the builders all knew what I was planning to do.

“I’m real disappointed that the neighbors are taking such an adverse view,” he added.

Pierce has owned the land since 1967 and began planning the retirement complex in 1992. He lives next to the proposed facility.

Pierce said neighbors Randy and Theresa Kimball, who oppose the project, knew about his plans a year before he filed for the rezoning.

Theresa Kimball said she remembers Pierce mentioning a year ago that he was planning a 12-unit complex.

“The day we were notified of the zone change request was the day he brought over the plans for the larger complex. I wasn’t very happy,” said Kimball.

A date for the appeal hearing before the county commissioners hasn’t been scheduled.

Tommie Clark, who bought a home in the new subdivision about a year ago, worries that the complex will decrease her property value.

Several neighbors said they were told single family homes would be built in the field that now has a barn, shed and horses.

Pierce’s proposed plan includes a 68-unit independent living facility and a 14-unit assisted living facility with 45 garages, 16 carports and 35 parking stalls.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is concerned the retirement center will be built in the path of the long-discussed north-south freeway.

Neighbors worry that the development will set a precedent for higher-density development on other undeveloped land in the area.

Northwood Meadows residents also complain they weren’t given adequate notice of the rezoning request and hearing.

They said they didn’t know they were expected to bring experts to back up their testimony.

Neighbors testified at the hearing that the value of their homes would suffer if the large complex is built.

“Without the direct testimony of such experts or a written report indicating the basis for such opinions, the examiner is reluctant to give such secondhand opinions much weight,” Dempsey said in his decision.

Henry and Kathleen Greer built their home in Northwood Meadows believing single family homes, a park and a 14-unit assisted-living center were going to be built on the horse field someday. They were told the park was going to be behind their house.

“There was never any mention of a 68-unit place,” said Kathleen Greer.

They received notice of the rezoning hearing a week after moving into their new house.

“It’s just so frustrating, and we feel we have no recourse,” said Greer.

, DataTimes