City wants to annex north property

Two public hearings involving land on the North Side have been scheduled for this month, including a continuation of a hearing over annexation of 135 acres of primarily commercial property on the west side of North Division Street north of Francis Avenue.

The state Boundary Review Board for Spokane County has continued an initial Feb. 28 public hearing to March 19 at 3 p.m. in the county’s Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway Ave., in the lower level. Written testimony will be accepted by the board through noon on Monday.

The city is seeking to take over the 135 acres, in part because it holds a rich tax base. Residents of the area as well as county commissioners are opposing it.

Also, the city hearing examiner will hold a hearing on a zone change this morning for property located on the southwest corner of Nevada Street and Broad Avenue. The owner wants to use the vacant land there as a parking lot to serve an adjacent service station and needs a zone change from single-family use to neighborhood retail use.

The hearing at 9 a.m. will be in the City Council briefing center in the lower level of City Hall.