The future of South Regal Street is going to be argued in the coming month during two public hearings on large shopping center proposals.

The Spokane County Hearing Examiner will consider the first proposal on Wednesday for a shopping center and housing development at 57th and Regal.

In that hearing, Rich Naccarato of Cedar Builders Inc. of Spokane is seeking a 55,000-square-foot supermarket, other commercial buildings and 150 apartments and duplex units.

Less than two weeks later, the city of Spokane Hearing Examiner will take testimony on another large shopping center at 44th and Regal.

The city hearing will be on Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. at City Hall.

The owners of the property, Dr. Ralph Berg and his wife, Mary, are seeking approval of a 70,000-square-foot supermarket and two smaller commercial buildings on eight acres.

Members of the Moran Prairie Neighborhood Association and residents living in the area are expected to turn out for the hearings.

They want more cohesive planning for the area and fear government officials will approve the projects without considering broader issues such as traffic, stormwater runoff, pedestrian safety and the suitability of the developments to the neighborhood.

, DataTimes