Pipe May Cross Golf Course Qualchan Hills Developers Seek Way To Handle Storm Water

Thu., Aug. 10, 2000

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

The Spokane Park Board today is expected to consider an easement for a developer to bury a stormwater pipe beneath The Creek at Qualchan Golf Course.

The storm-water installation is needed to unlock two potential housing tracts in the Qualchan Hills development southwest of the golf course.

Park board members convene for their regular meeting at 1:30 p.m. today in the council chambers at City Hall.

Park Board President Steve Jones said the developers have satisfied concerns from the Parks Department that the installation will not damage park property.

City parks would receive $9,300 for the easement.

The storm-water system would carry excess storm water into Latah Creek from the third and fifth additions at Qualchan Hills.

Runoff from homes and pavement would be channeled into two retention ponds and then released slowly into the pipe crossing the golf course. The water would dump into Hangman Creek.

The developer has been working with city and state officials to ensure the storm-water system is environmentally sensitive.

The project still needs a series of permits from government agencies before it can be built.

Neighborhood activists have opposed additional home building in the partially completed Qualchan Hills subdivisions.

Qualchan Hills has been under development for many years, and the owners of the property already have major investments in roads, utilities, water tanks, grading and other land improvements.

Jones said the developer has satisfied the Park Department’s policy on granting easements. The board avoids taking sides on development issues, he said.

“We try to stay out of those political discussions,” he said.

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