County removes acreage from growth plan

Land deemed ripe for development two years ago by county commissioners was pulled from the county’s growth area Tuesday.

But commissioners’ reversal won’t stop controversial developments already approved on the Five Mile Prairie and the West Plains.

Residents and the Neighborhood Alliance of Spokane County fought the county’s decision two years ago to place the acreage within the urban growth boundary, a line – usually surrounding cities – that allows officials to approve more intense development.

Opponents argued that the county had not proven that its roads and other services could adequately handle more people. They appealed the decision to the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board which ruled in their favor about a year ago and ordered the county to finish studies about how it will serve the land.

While the matter was under appeal, the county approved subdivisions on the land. Tuesday’s decision will not stop construction on those because they’re considered vested.

Commissioners approved the reversal on a 2-0 vote. Commissioner Bonnie Mager abstained because she led the Neighborhood Alliance when it fought the county in the hearings board.

“It’s a clear policy to allow development where no development should occur,” Mager said of the county vesting subdivisions.

Commissioners Mark Richard and Todd Mielke said they needed to retract the original decision because the state hearings board threatened to sanction the county unless it finished the service studies. They said the county did not have enough time to meet the board’s deadline.

“It leaves us with no other options,” Mielke said.

The county is in the midst of finishing its long-term growth plan. Much of the information requested by the hearings board will be contained in the finished product, county officials say.

Mielke questioned why many opponents of the original decision fought the reversal.

“I find that very strange position to be in,” Mielke said.

A “whistleblower” complaint filed last month by county planner Bruce Hunt alleges that building and planning director Jim Manson “pressured staff to fast track and vest plat applications” while the matter was appealed. Manson has denied wrongdoing.