Neighbors object to Latah Valley subdivision

Nearly 100 residents of southwest Spokane turned out to hear an appeal before the Spokane City Council of a preliminary plat that would bring 371 new homes to the hillside above the Latah Creek Valley.

An attorney representing the neighborhood appellants said the developer’s plan would denude the native forest without providing for open space, trails, park land or other recreational features.

In addition, the new families who move into the houses would add to congestion at the intersection of U.S. Highway 195 and Meadowlane Road, said attorney David Mann of Seattle.

The Meadow Point Landing project is being sought by T.J. Landco, and its preliminary plat was approved in April by city Hearing Examiner Greg Smith.

Council members said they plan to take the next few weeks to deliberate on the appeal by the Protect Eagle Ridge and Latah Valley Neighborhood Group.

During Monday’s closed public hearing, attorney Mann argued for the neighbors that the city hearing examiner failed to enforce the state’s subdivision law and the city’s comprehensive land-use plan and made errors in reaching his decision to approve the preliminary plat.

The appellants must prove errors in law or fact that, if corrected, would overturn the decision.

“This plat doesn’t meet city code,” Mann said.

He said the deficiency of parks, play areas, open space and trails not only is against the city’s comprehensive plan, but it fails to meet the state’s subdivision law calling for parks and recreational amenities.

Wentel Grant Park, the nearest city park, is more than three miles to the north. Mann said it was unlikely that children could take advantage of a park that far away.

Mann also pointed out that the city’s Parks Department failed to ask for any contributions or additions to park land as a condition of the plat.

“I’m sorry your Parks Department didn’t appear” before the hearing examiner, he said.

Mann also criticized the lack of an adequate interchange at U.S. 195 and Meadowlane Road and said that plans to improve the highway have yet to be funded through the state Transportation Department.

Stacy Bjordahl, attorney for the developer, said that the plat includes conditions that the developer donate three acres of land along the east side of the plat for future improvements to the highway system.

She said there was no testimony presented to the hearing examiner requiring park land or open space.

Adjacent subdivisions have retained native tree cover and provided trails and open space in exchange for smaller clustered lots. Neighbors have said they want to protect that natural beauty of the valley.

The Meadow Point project would have larger lots, up to a quarter-acre in size, and the neighbors said the development would result in clear-cutting.

Under the city’s comprehensive plan, Bjordahl said, “This property is suitable for residential development.”