Archery Range Owner Plans To Open Soon

Thu., March 5, 1998

By Pat Sciuchetti pats@spokesman.com

With another legal hurdle cleared, Mark Jones now says his public archery range in Greenacres could be open for business within weeks.

Jones, who owns the Outdoor Sportsman sports shop in Spokane, stirred up controversy late last year with his proposal to build a 28-acre indoor/outdoor archery facility along Linke Road south of Barker Road and 32nd Avenue. Neighbors fought his attempt to get the necessary conditional use permit from the county. After the permit was granted, neighbors Floyd Schmedding and Curt Berklund appealed the decision in Superior Court.

Last week, Schmedding and Berklund agreed to drop their appeal, conceding it had been filed four days after the deadline.

But they haven’t conceded defeat.

“There are a couple avenues still available,” said Schmedding, who worries about trespassing, increased traffic and arrows flying onto his property. He and other opponents say their rural neighborhood isn’t appropriate for a 28-acre commercial archery facility, which could eventually include a 9,000-squarefoot clubhouse. Neighbors are especially opposed to tournaments.

Schmedding has retained his lawyer and said additional steps to fight the proposal could be taken within weeks. “We’ve not given up,” he said. “There are different ways to skin a cat.”

Jones claims his neighbors’ fears are unfounded. He says he isn’t waiting on their next move.

“They can grasp at whatever straws they want,” he said. “I have ordered my sign. I have mailed in my insurance check. I’m done waiting.”

Jones plans to open two outdoor ranges within the next two weeks. They will include a 100-yard practice range and a three-dimensional course with 25 life-size styrofoam animal targets. He will start construction of a 3,000-square-foot clubhouse this summer.

Jones hopes Spokane Valley Archery will expand to include a 9,000-square foot building, education programs, equipment rentals and several indoor and outdoor ranges for different ability levels.

County hearing examiner Mike Dempsey limited Jones to a 3,000-square foot building initially, but gave him the option of asking for an expansion after a year.

Dempsey also limited Jones to three tournaments per year, and required him to place targets and shooting positions at least 50 feet from neighboring properties.

, DataTimes

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