County wary of homes near airport

Spokane County commissioners voted Tuesday night not to rush into a proposal, which critics said was reminiscent of a blunder last summer that jeopardized Spokane International Airport and Fairchild Air Force Base.

They chose to wait a week before deciding whether to peel back the bandage they applied last month to a zoning wound that allowed a 207-unit residential subdivision in a Spokane International Airport crash zone and a 156-unit apartment complex near Fairchild Air Force Base.

The problem occurred when commissioners voted last June to allow most “regional commercial zone” uses in light industrial zones such as those next to the airport and air base. Commissioners Mark Richard and Todd Mielke said they and then-Commissioner Phil Harris didn’t realize the action opened the door to housing – which is allowed in regional commercial zones.

Developers were aware, however, and quickly exploited the opening. Some individuals – such as Evan and Tabitha Babin, who want to build a home – were poised to follow suit when commissioners closed the door with a moratorium in October.

Commissioners followed up on March 14 with an interim zoning ordinance that retains the new commercial uses but bans residential development in light industrial zones. They vowed to try to do something for the individuals whose residential expectations were raised and then dashed.

While voting unanimously Tuesday to keep the interim zoning ordinance in place, commissioners considered an amendment that would allow single-family residences on 3 or more acres in the area north of U.S. Highway 2 between Russell Road and the top of the Sunset Hill.

Mielke displayed photos he said demonstrate that almost all the buildings in that area are single-family homes on acreage, shielded by large rock outcroppings that make the area unsuitable for commercial and industrial development. He said the amendment would affect only 14 parcels, all but four of which are already developed.

The Babins and several other people spoke on behalf of individuals who want to build houses in the amendment area and elsewhere on the West Plains.

“I don’t see how opening up this little spot for us is going to hurt anything,” Evan Babin said.

But Spokane International Airport Director Neal Sealock said the proposed amendment “has the potential of undermining the intent of the ordinance to protect Spokane International Airport.”

Dee Caputo, of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development’s growth management section, said the amendment conflicted with the ordinance and “it doesn’t make sense to allow more encroachment.”

And Jim Huttenmaier, regional public affairs director for Greater Spokane, noted the business organization’s opposition to encroachment that might jeopardize Fairchild Air Force Base.

Mielke and Richard supported Commissioner Bonnie Mager’s motion to table the amendment a week.

“The warning bells are going off for me,” Richard said, noting commissioners already had made one mistake and were being warned by business, state and airport leaders that they were about to make another.

“It’s going to be a high bar for me to cross to support this amendment.”