Conservation lands could grow in city

An undeveloped stretch of land in the city’s Five Mile Prairie Neighborhood could soon be added to Spokane’s expanding inventory of conservation properties.

The Spokane Park Board earlier this month gave its go-ahead for purchase of a series of parcels along Austin Ravine in the heart of Five Mile Prairie.

At about 24 acres, the land runs along the east side of Quamish Drive immediately south of Sky Prairie Park. Austin Road borders three southernmost parcels in the group.

Spokane County commissioners are expected to consider the purchases next month. Commissioners have authority over a special Conservation Futures property tax initiated in 1994. Voters gave advisory approval to continue the program in 1997 and 2002.

Austin Ravine was nominated for purchase as early as 1997, but negotiations with property owners held up acquisition, said Paul Crutchfield, administrative assistant in the city parks department.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Candace Mumm, who nominated the property for purchase along with Jeri Garwood. Mumm is a member of the Five Mile Prairie Neighborhood Council and is now president of the city Plan Commission.

She said the parcels will provide an undeveloped connection between the city’s Sky Prairie Park and another city-owned conservation property near the bottom of the ravine between Cedar and Austin roads.

The forested ravine provides habitat for birds and other wildlife, and a seasonal stream carries runoff from upper portions of the Five Mile area.

Trails course through the properties and are accessible to walkers and other recreational users, Mumm said.

The land proposed for purchase includes a strip of platted residential lots on the east side of Quamish Drive beginning at the south border of Sky Prairie Park.

The owner was identified as Five Mile Partnership, which includes housing developer Rod Plese.

The partnership has agreed to sell its holdings for $574,500 and to grant back $9,500 from the sale for land maintenance, Crutchfield said.

A second portion involves three parcels totaling 16.3 acres immediately to the southeast of the Five Mile Partnership property.

That acreage is owned jointly by Randy Stamper, Harry Batty and Jim Quigley. They have agreed to sell the parcels for $300,000 and grant back $24,000 for maintenance, Crutchfield said.

Under the Conservation Futures program, land is purchased only from willing sellers at an appraised fair market value.

City officials in 2000 sought to include property of a third owner in the Austin Ravine acquisition, but they could not reach agreement with owner Joe Trenchuck on a price for his 6.4 acres on the east side of Austin Road, Crutchfield said.

Those negotiations were a reason the ravine purchase was delayed, he said.

County commissioner approval, along with a boundary survey and environmental site analysis, are still needed before the sales can be closed, Crutchfield said.

Mumm said proponents of the conservation purchases were relieved that the privately held portions of the ravine were not logged or bulldozed in the years since the acquisitions were first proposed.

She said the ravine is a good example of the kinds of property that should be reserved in their native state as conservation land. “I wish more people in the city would nominate properties,” she said.

Conservation Futures purchases are financed with a special property tax of 6 cents for every $1,000 of valuation. Purchases have included land at Liberty Lake, Dishman Hills, Camp Sekani near Upriver Dam, Spokane River bank near Stateline and the High Drive area in the city.

For more information about Conservation Futures, go to the county Web site at www.spokanecounty.org/parks/conservation.asp.