Medical Lake plan draws fire

MEDICAL LAKE – About 200 residents opposed to plans for a new low-income housing complex caused the city to reschedule a recent public hearing after attendance overwhelmed the capacity of the City Hall meeting room.

The city’s Planning Commission was scheduled for Aug. 30 to review an application to shift corporate-owned land along Stanley Road from residential and commercial land to a higher-density residential zone.

Jeff Amistoso, president of

A & K Development Inc., has proposed selling part of the land to build an apartment complex for low-income tenants. Many residents attended the hearing to voice concerns about the plans, and the size of the crowd exceeded the maximum capacity allowed under city fire-safety codes.

City Administrator Doug Ross said the commission does not look at potential projects when considering rezones. They focus on whether the city benefits from altering the balance of different zones.

“All we’re doing is following state law,” he said. “The city didn’t put forward the rezone.”

Amistoso submitted the rezone application after working with Spokane Housing Ventures on plans to turn about 3 acres of the property into a 42-unit, multifamily apartment complex.

Spokane Housing Ventures is a private, nonprofit organization that specializes in developing affordable housing in the area. It operates 14 complexes through Spokane and Lincoln counties including one four-plex apartment in Medical Lake.

The organization’s development specialist, David Roberts, said he believes much of the opposition at the meeting stemmed from “misinformation” fliers that were circulated throughout the neighborhood. “Somebody decided to characterize affordable housing as housing for sex offenders and criminals,” he said. “There’s like 200 people showing up angry as heck”

The fliers said, “Sex offenders are moving in” unless residents attend the public hearing to stop the rezone.

“That would get anyone there,” Amistoso said of the fliers.

Despite what people may think of when they hear low-income housing, about 30 percent of Medical Lake residents would qualify for the homes, Amistoso said. Tenants typically make less than 60 percent of the area’s median income.

He said intense background checks also keep sex offenders out of the facilities.

“This housing is for families, the elderly,” he said.

Amistoso said he has developed housing in the Fox Hollow area since 1994. He has not seen this kind of opposition since his first development.

“Change scares everybody,” he said.

Greenstone Homes would be constructing the $3.7 million complex. Amistoso said the multifamily housing would serve as a well-maintained buffer between single-family homes and commercial areas of town.

“It will be without a doubt the nicest complex in Medical Lake,” he said.

Ross said Amistoso previously applied to have the rezoning incorporated into the city’s comprehensive plan. The city allowed the possibility but can still deny the change if it is not in the residents’ best interests.

“We have to follow the law and look at it from a legal perspective,” Ross said, “not a passionate or emotional one.”

The city hopes to receive as much input as possible at the rescheduled meeting, Ross said. The new public hearing will be held 5 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Medical Lake High School gymnasium in anticipation of a high turnout.

“We welcome public comment,” he said.

The complex has yet to file for a building permit, Ross said. Nothing can move forward until the rezone goes through. The Planning Commission will hear testimony and then make a recommendation to the City Council.

The final decision rests with the City Council, Ross said. Council members plan to vote on the rezone in October.