City to reimburse Douglass in right-of-way dispute

Thu., March 22, 2007

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com (509) 459-5454

The city of Spokane and commercial property owner Harlan Douglass have settled a dispute over the city’s use of a former street right of way for construction of Fire Station No. 18.

City Council members approved an agreement with Douglass on Monday under which the city will install and maintain a planting strip between Douglass’ commercial property at the southeast corner of Division Street and Lincoln Road and the fire station at 120 E. Lincoln Road.

City law requires landscaping strips but allows adjacent property owners to combine two strips into one.

In addition, the city is going to remove a block wall and pave a strip of land along the east side of Douglass’ property to provide access for deliveries. An existing screening fence will be maintained.

The city opened the fire station in 2005 after declaring an undeveloped section of Colton Avenue as a vacated right of way to use the land for the station.

Douglass contended that construction of the station had damaged access to his property for truck deliveries.

The city also agreed to reimburse Douglass $2,500 for his time working on the dispute and another $5,000 for the cost of settling the claim.

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