County Rules Residence/Business Is Illegal

Thu., July 13, 2000

By Lorie Hutson lorieh@spokesman.com (509) 459-5446

A sign shop in a house on the corner of Sprague Avenue and McCabe Road may have to close or its owner may have to move after county officials ruled the house cannot be used as both a residence and a business.

Business owner Mike Millhouse paints signs in the garage at 9 N. McCabe Road and lives in the attached house, which he rents, said his lawyer Rick Dullanty.

Dullanty said county officials began looking into the business - Custom Brushed Signs - after neighbors complained.

They said Millhouse stores his signs and other materials in the front yard and people driving to the business had increased traffic on their normally quiet road, according to county records.

After receiving the complaints, the Spokane County code compliance officer and county planners ruled that the house could not be used as both a home and a business.

Dual primary uses are not allowed in the county’s zoning laws, they said.

The area is zoned for business uses (B-3).

Dullanty appealed the county’s ruling on behalf of Millhouse and the property owner, Marco Barbanti, saying both the sign shop and the home should be allowed.

Spokane County Hearing Examiner Mike Dempsey held a hearing Friday to consider the case. He took it under advisement and will rule in the next few weeks.

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