Still need community rights

The Spokane City Council recently voted almost unanimously to change the zoning on a piece of city-owned property along North Monroe – increasing the number of units per acre – to make it more attractive to developers. Residents’ concerns over the absence of a plan for how the land would be developed, increased traffic, and the effects on wildlife fell on deaf ears.

A little over a month ago the majority of voters in that very neighborhood – North Hill – said yes to Proposition 1, which would’ve placed residents in the position of having the final say over such a rezone, and not put them at the mercy of the City Council or developers.

Spokane is ready for a Community Bill of Rights that allows for neighborhood residents to decide yes or no on large developments that require rezoning.

Kai Huschke

Spokane