Development plans north, south draw fire

Two proposed shopping centers were at the center of a storm Tuesday as Spokane County commissioners considered about a half-dozen controversial amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan.

Residents of the Moran Prairie Neighborhood to the south of Spokane and the North Hatch Neighborhood to the north spoke out about amendments to the plan that would allow grocery stores and other commercial development in their communities.

Commissioners dealt with the simpler amendments last month, saving the more complicated issues for Tuesday’s hearing.

Members of the Cordill Family Trust tearfully testified after listening to their neighbors oppose the trust’s proposed development at Hatch Road and Highway 395. Some neighbors told commissioners they fear the proposed development would bring crime or businesses such as adult stores or truck stops, and that apartment residents might overcrowd nearby Midway Elementary.

“What we are trying to do is create a legacy, and it’s terribly troubling to listen to these people impugning your character,” said Terry Snow, president of the trust.

Snow’s wife, Lynn Cordill Snow, said the proposed shopping complex, which would likely include a grocery store, coffee shop and other retail stores, would be a vast improvement over the weeds, yard clippings and abandoned vehicles that have been landing on the site since the Washington state Department of Transportation installed a diamond interchange near it.

Apartments aren’t part of the plan, and county rules would prohibit adult stores.

Some North Hatch neighbors said they supported the Cordill family’s efforts to change the comprehensive plan to allow such commercial uses on the property, but others said the traffic it would create would be a problem.

“We don’t want a situation similar to Indian Trail Road,” said Tom Hill, referring to the Indian Trail neighborhood’s traffic congestion.

A mixed-use development proposed for the site of the former Jacobson’s Greenhouse at Ben Burr and 57th on Moran Prairie generated similar passion. The proposal would require the extension of the county’s urban growth area.

Some Moran Prairie residents spoke out in favor of the proposal, which would likely include a Yoke’s Supermarket, but others said that the growth area shouldn’t be changed until the neighborhood can complete its local development plan.

“We believe this area is very under-served for commercial,” argued Denny York, who represented Yoke’s at the hearing.

The local chain has been looking for a south Spokane site for years, York added.

Other speakers addressed personal amendment proposals that generated little neighborhood interest, including a desire to change one acre of land in northeast Spokane from residential to light industrial and another proposal to change a residential acre at Argonne and Wellesley to neighborhood commercial.

“The noise and fumes make this property unlivable,” said Diana Province, who has been unable to sell or rent her property since a traffic light went in at Argonne and Wellesley.

Commissioners will deliberate and vote on the remaining amendments at an undetermined date. Though oral testimony is closed, the commissioners will accept written testimony until 5 p.m. Thursday.