Was Property Incorrectly Zoned?

Sat., June 13, 1998

By Angie Gaddy angieg@spokesman.com

Developers of a proposed 28-acre industrial office park near the state line say their property is incorrectly zoned under the current comprehensive plan.

On Wednesday they told the Spokane County hearing examiner that the property, just north of the freeway behind the port of entry station, should have been zoned for light industry rather than agriculture.

Owner Thomas Murphy and developers want to create Rivercrossing Industrial Office Park on the banks of the Spokane River. They say they’d like it to become a high-tech office park like those in Liberty Lake.

All along the Interstate 90 corridor from Liberty Lake to the state line, light industry was supposed to be allowed, said Jim Stravens, planning consultant for the project.

Under existing county land-use regulations, adopted in 1985, it is zoned for general agriculture.

“This piece of property was probably not considered in those plans,” he said.

Hearing examiner Mike Dempsey has made no decision on the proposal yet. He has about two weeks to do so.

If the project is approved, developers plan to move the Centennial Trail closer to the Spokane River. Currently the trail dumps onto Old Spokane Bridge Road before hooking back with the separated trail east of Spokane Bridge Road.

In 1982, developers wanted to put a motel on the property, but the land has remained vacant and zoned for agriculture.

No clear plan has been set for the development. Parcels in the 28-acre site are for sale to any buyer.

Last year, when county parks director Wyn Birkenthal found out the land was up for sale he sent letters to different agencies asking if they would be interested helping buy the land at its $4 million price tag.

Nothing materialized.

Only one Valley resident testified against the industrial park project. He said he opposed the project because that portion of the river is used for recreation by many families.

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