At its Oct. 17 meeting, the Airway Heights City Council passed an emergency moratorium on the city accepting applications for residential uses on properties that are under challenge from the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board.
According to information provided by staff, the city passed an ordinance in 2013 to allow limited multi-family residential and mixed-use developments to locate within the city’s adopted 65 LdN (levels based on sound contours measured in day-night intervals) for Fairchild Air Force Base after completing a conditional use permit. The city of Spokane, Spokane County and Spokane International Airport appealed the allowance for conditionally approved developments seeking to locate on approximately 29 acres of land, east of Hayford Road and south of U.S. Highway 2.
In June 2014, the board determined the allowance for the developments on those properties was not compliant with the Washington State Growth Management Act. The city appealed the board’s determination to Spokane Superior Court, which overturned it.
Spokane, the county, and the airport, appealed the Superior Court’s ruling to the Washington State Court of Appeals, which agreed with the board’s decision on one count and supported the city on two counts.
The city is awaiting a response from the Washington State Supreme Court as to whether or not it will review the case.
Development Services Director Derrick Braaten said staff has not accepted any applications for residential units to be located on the property since the board’s determination. Staff will not accept any applications until a final determination is made and the appeals process is complete.
“This ordinance lets folks know we are serious,” Braaten said.
Council approved an extension of the countywide service contract with American Medical Response for 911 ambulance ground transport services. The agreement is good until June 30, 2020.
Fire Chief Mitch Metzger said the Ambulance Service Board selects companies that provide the best service for community members.
When Mayor Kevin Richey asked if anything changed in the contract, Metzger said there are several items in the agreement that were added “for the benefit of the community.”
“One of them is if AMR wants to bring one of our firefighters to a hospital, they have to transport them back to the fire station,” Metzger said.
Council approved the second reading of an ordinance that authorizes the sale of the $13 million unlimited tax general obligation bonds. The bonds, which voters approved through a measure in the August election, will help fund the construction of the recreation center.
The bond rating was scheduled for Oct. 18.
Council approved the second readings for ordinances that establish internal service funds for repairing and purchasing equipment. Both funds are a requirement of the Washington State Auditor’s Office.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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