Decision On Car Lot Postponed

Thu., May 21, 1998

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

Spokane County commissioners postponed a decision until June 2 on Bonanza Ford’s request to build a car lot along Interstate 90 at Four Lakes.

The dealership needs a zone change to develop the 18-acre site along Melville Road west of the Four Lakes interchange.

The county’s hearing examiner denied the zone change following a hearing last fall. The hearing examiner said the site is designated for rural use in the comprehensive plan and is not eligible for a rezone to commercial use.

Bonanza Ford appealed the decision to the county commissioners, and the commissioners held a hearing on the appeal Tuesday.

The company has spent more than $50,000 designing the new lot.

Ponderosa Motors of Coeur d’Alene bought Bonanza Ford two years ago.

The company is seeking a freeway site because the Ford company is trying to persuade its dealers to locate lots near major highways.

The Ford dealership has operated in Cheney since 1917 and was previously known as Reynolds Ford. The Cheney lot is too small to handle a larger volume of car sales, company officials said.

Also, they said the county would benefit from increased tax revenue if it approves the rezone from agricultural to commercial use.

Power Chevrolet is planning to open a lot within the developed area of Four Lakes and did not need a zone change for the new location.

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