Decision On Garage Delayed

Thu., Jan. 13, 2000

By Kristina Johnson kristinaj@spokesman.com

The flu stalled a decision on a proposed parking garage Wednesday.

With some members home sick and another member concerned about a possible conflict of interest, the Spokane Plan Commission delayed its decision on a five-story parking garage proposed for the south bank of the Spokane River downtown.

Six of 10 members attended the meeting, but George Nachtsheim said that as a member of the Spokane Club - the organization seeking permission for the garage - he couldn’t take part in the decision. That left only five members - not enough for a majority decision.

Spokane Club officials are asking for a change in the city’s shoreline master plan to allow them to build the 137-space garage next to the club’s athletic center on Main Avenue. The shoreline plan sets the rules guiding development along the river.

Last year, the city’s hearing examiner denied the club’s request to build the garage, saying it would violate the plan.

Club officials say they’re desperate for more parking spaces for their members, who must park in nearby lots and along the street stretching to Peaceful Valley.

Garage opponents say the site is too steep for the project and that it would block river views and benefit only members of the private club.

The Plan Commission plans a public hearing Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. in City Hall. Before making their decision, commission members will allow up to one hour of public testimony from people who haven’t testified before.

Any changes the commission makes to the shoreline plan must be approved by the City Council and then be reviewed by the state Department of Ecology. If the state gives its OK, the club would need to go back to the hearing examiner to have the garage proposal approved.

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