Ballpark is a field of contention
Neighbors hope Little League won’t build on lot
There’s a bit of a stalemate on the Glenrose Prairie.
The Spokane South Hill Little League would like to build a baseball complex on land at 37th Avenue and Glenrose Road, but many residents in the area are opposed to the facility, which they say will increase traffic and noise in the area, as well as take away habitat for wildlife.
The property is owned by Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Peter Ice, president of the Glenrose Community Association, said the group has hired land-use attorney David Mann to guide its decisions and represent it in court, if necessary. The group collected more than 250 signatures opposed to the project and submitted them to the board of Morning Star Boys Ranch.
“We mailed them, along with letters, to the board because they were claiming that they hadn’t heard anything negative from people in the neighborhood,” Ice said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I guess we are somewhat hoping it will be hard for Little League, in this economy, to raise all the money they need for the project.”
The 20-acre baseball complex has a price tag of $4.5 million and is allowed under the current zoning.
Earlier this year, the Spokane Regional Sports Commission offered to set up mediation sessions between the Little League, Morning Star Boys Ranch and the Glenrose Community Association.
“We felt like that was a role we could play, that this was the high ground to take,” said Doug Kelley, sports commission board chairman. Kelley explained that the commission did find a mediator, but was turned down by the Glenrose Community Association.
“For us mediation is not what we are looking for, we are just not ready for that – we want a dialogue,” said Ice.
Spokane South Little League also soured on mediation.
“They hired an attorney,” said Brian Gosline, field coordinator for SSLL. “I can’t go into mediation with someone who’s already hired an attorney.”
Gosline wouldn’t say whether SSLL has purchased the land from Morning Star Boys Ranch, and representatives from the ranch wouldn’t either.
“All I can say right now is that we’re moving forward with the plans we presented earlier this spring,” Gosline said. “We are starting fundraising and we plan to stick with it.”