Westwood Changes Proposed New Plan Would Bring In Access Road From Uphill Side Of Subdivision

The Spokane city hearing examiner is expected to take as long as two weeks to rule on a replat of a portion of the Westwood Hills subdivision.

A public hearing was held Tuesday on a request by developer George Thompson to rearrange his plans for 20 homesites on 10 acres near 21st and Scenic.

The replat is being sought for a portion of the 99-lot Westwood Hills subdivision initially approved in 1978.

The proposal would change the access road, bringing it in from the west, or uphill side, of the property. The original plat called for access from the east across the proposed Canyon Bluffs apartment complex.

City officials said they were concerned that the hill and curve in the proposed 23rd Court would be too steep for fire trucks and garbage trucks during icy weather.

The city has asked for a secondary access route to connect the subdivision to Westwood Drive, which is being built as part of the large Canyon Bluffs complex.

In another issue, neighbors had asked Thompson to make room for a historical rail-bed trail that crosses the homesites.

Thompson has included 10-foot easements between some of the lots and would route the trail partly along a cul-de-sac.

As a result, trail users would still be able to walk or jog along the hillside.

The trail to the west of Thompson’s land is being sought for public ownership as part of the county’s conservation lands.

Members of the Thorpe-Westwood Neighborhood Association have endorsed the trail purchase and the easements through Thompson’s development.

In other development business, the hearing examiner also took testimony on a proposal by Gary Crandall to plat eight acres into 23 lots at 48th and Freya. The project is called the Windsong 7th Addition.

Hearing Examiner Greg Smith has up to two weeks to rule on the preliminary plat, as well as the replat sought by Thompson.