Moran Stormwater Rules Remain

Spokane County extended special development rules another six months in the flood-prone Moran Prairie area Tuesday.

Commissioners voted to extend a series of interim development rules designed to protect homeowners from flooding caused by storm runoff.

On Monday, the Spokane City Council unanimously approved similar stormwater management controls for land in that area that falls within city boundaries.

Called “interim official controls,” the rules prevent builders from using drywells and grassy areas to soak up stormwater in Moran Prairie and Glenrose. Basements are allowed only if they’re built to keep out water.

The rules were prompted by complaints from homeowners, who said years of flooding problems worsened as development boomed.

Originally adopted to give city and county planners time to adopt measures to handle flooding, the rules were set to expire Wednesday. But the land-use officials needed more time to finish their planning, said County Commissioner John Roskelley.

“The IOC was working, but we’re still having the same problems and we still needed to get that plan put into effect,” Roskelley said.

Earlier this month, commissioners held a public hearing on extending the measures. They also had considered redrawing the boundaries to exclude 5-acre tracts outside Spokane’s urban growth boundary.

Building industry representatives had argued that the controls amounted to a back-door way to limit growth.

Others argued their property should be excluded because stormwater runs away from existing homes.

But homeowners in the area complained that if the temporary development rules were lifted without a flood-control plan in place, their homes would be in jeopardy.

Roskelley said he was confident that by late November the new storm-water management plan would at least be near completion.

“I’ve heard from staff that we should be well along on that,” he said. “We’ll be close to being done, if not finished.”

Staff writer Kristina Johnson contributed to this report.