Planning Panel Oks Proposed Fred Meyer Store In/Around: East Central

The Spokane Plan Commission last week voted in favor of a land-use change that will allow a Fred Meyer store in the East Central Neighborhood.

The commission unanimously recommended expansion of the neighborhood business zone on Thor Street from Fourth to Fifth avenues.

The matter now goes to the full City Council, where approval is expected.

Fred Meyer and local developer Judy Hart want to build a 103,000-square-foot store with a 30,000-square-foot mezzanine for a broad range of retail services.

Residents at a public hearing in May endorsed the proposal but cautioned about the mounting crush of traffic that daily descends on Interstate 90 interchanges at Thor and Freya.

“There was a lot of concern expressed about the existing traffic,” said Planning Director Charlie Dotson.

The Plan Commission did not approve any findings regarding the traffic problem.

However, the hearing and land-use plan change have brought new visibility to the problem at City Hall, Dotson said.

In approving its findings, the Plan Commission split on the question of whether the land-use change would have a significant adverse effect on the surrounding neighborhood.

In a 4-2 vote, the commission said it would not.

Those voting in favor of the finding were George Nachtsheim, Bob Dellwo, Loretta Spence and Ted Horobiowski. Dissenters were two newer commission members, Judith Gilmore and Candace Dalhstrom.

Neighborhood leaders have said they are satisfied that Fred Meyer is going to alleviate traffic problems around its site by adding turn lanes and other measures.

Two children have been injured this year in auto-pedestrian accidents on Thor and Freya. The principal at Sheridan Elementary on Freya has been speaking out about the traffic problems and the threat to schoolchildren.

One of the accident victims was headed for class at Sheridan.

In 1996 Hart won a land-use change for retail development on the two blocks bounded by Third, Thor, Fourth and Ray.

Last week’s action involves the two blocks immediately to the south, which are bounded by Fourth, Thor, Fifth and Ray.

The additional land increases Hart’s commercial site from four to eight acres. Fred Meyer needed the additional two blocks so it can build the size of store that suits its retail approach.

The City Council earlier this year indicated support for the land-use amendment when it referred the matter to the Plan Commission for consideration.

At the time, the council cited the need for economic redevelopment and jobs creation in the East Central area.

Work on the amendment has delayed the Plan Commission’s completion of the city’s new growth management comprehensive plan.