Indian Trail Residents Form Neighborhood Council

Almost 100 Indian Trail residents voted Tuesday to form the North Indian Trail Neighborhood Council.

Councils offer neighborhoods a chance of being heard in the decision-making process.

“It gives you a chance to make good decisions about what happens in your neighborhood,” said Molly Myers, director of Spokane Neighborhood Services.

The boundaries of the new council’s are roughly along Indian Trail Road, from the north end of the landfill to south of the Little Spokane River, and from the rim of Five Mile Prairie on the east to the cliff overlooking Nine Mile Road on the west.

Both city and county residents are included in the neighborhood council.

“This was a very important first step for the neighborhood, and we know there are a lot of issues confronting us,” said Sharon Page, who led the neighborhood meeting. “There is a lot of information the residents need to make informed decisions.”

The next step is for the North Indian Trail neighborhood to be officially recognized by the Spokane City Council.

Several issues facing the neighborhood spurred the large turnout, including development, delays in the proposed Indian Trail Road widening project, water and parks.

Indian Trail’s first apartment project is being proposed in the Pacific Park neighborhood, along with a housing development.

Jim Smith, design engineer for the city’s construction services office, gave the neighborhood an update on the Indian Trail Road project.

Originally the widening was proposed as two lanes in each direction, with a center turn lane. The project has since been scaled back to three lanes - one in each direction, and a landscaped median strip with turn pockets.

The cost of the project, from Kathleen Street to Ridgecrest Drive, is $2.7 million. Improvements were scheduled to start this year but have been delayed until next spring. Smith said there have been problems acquiring right of way from developers along Indian Trail Road. He also said new traffic studies show three lanes are now sufficient.

“We can do that without impacting the natural beauty of the drive,” said Smith.

Signals are also planned at Indian Trail intersections including Pacific Park and Shawnee.

Several neighbors were angered that the road project was scaled back and delayed.

“Don’t build for today; look ahead and plan for tomorrow,” said a man in the audience.

Smith also said there are no plans to improve Strong Road.

Page encouraged residents to become involved in the Spokane Horizons group, which is helping create the city’s new comprehensive plan.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: COUNCIL MEETING The next North Indian Trail Neighborhood Council meeting is Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m., at Woodridge Elementary School. Officers will be elected at the meeting.