Commission Adopts Rules To Control Erosion

Wed., March 18, 1998

From Staff Reports

New requirements for controlling erosion from building sites will become law on April 1 in Spokane County.

Spokane County commissioners unanimously adopted the regulations Tuesday, after first softening recommendations from the county planning commission.

Originally written to affect virtually any land-disturbing project, the ordinance now applies only to projects that require permits and disturb more than 1,000 square feet of land.

During a hearing earlier this month, commissioners worried that the regulations as originally written would apply to such benign activities as gardening.

“It was too invasive on the property rights of individual landowners,” Commissioner Phil Harris said.

Under the regulations, the county can fine builders if they allow more than two gallons of soil a day to run onto county roads. Such erosion causes costly damage to county drainage systems, county engineers said.

Builders say the regulations are unnecessary and will increase the cost of housing.

, DataTimes

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