Problems Plague Landowner’S Intent Plans To Build Mini-Storage Facility Requires Zone Change

Thu., May 7, 1998

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com (509) 459-5454

James and Janette Rogers want to develop 20 acres of land near 16th Avenue and U.S. Highway 195, but they may not be able to do it.

The Rogers are seeking a zone change so they can build a mini-storage facility with 300 locked units. Later, they plan to add another 500 units.

The property currently is zoned for agriculture. It would need to be changed to a commercial designation.

The Rogers have at least a couple of problems to overcome.

The Latah Creek land-use plan calls for multi-family housing as the most intense use of the land, not commercial uses like storage units, said Heather Trautman of the city zoning staff.

Rogers disputed Trautman’s interpretation of the Latah Creek plan, which guides zoning decisions. He said he believes the plan would allow commercial use.

The city hearing examiner would have to sort out the discrepancy during a public hearing on the zone change. No hearing has been set.

The Rogers also do not have public street frontage on the property they bought in 1971.

The land is sandwiched between two railroad beds. One is an abandoned line the city is going to develop this summer as a paved recreational trail to Fish Lake. The other is operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

In 1974, the city relinquished its ownership of the right-of-way of Cochran Street, which connected to the Rogers property.

Trautman said the city has a policy of not allowing new development on parcels that do not have public street frontage.

However, at the time of the street vacation, James Rogers said he was guaranteed an easement to access his property from 16th Avenue across another piece of privately owned land.

Rogers said the property is ideal for mini-storage units because it’s close to downtown and the land is not suitable for apartments.

He said he’s been fighting with city officials for years to develop the land and has not been getting cooperation.

Trautman said the Rogers’ proposal has been forwarded to various city departments for review. Those departments can object to the project if there are problems with the plans such as the lack of street frontage, she said.

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