To Sprawl or not to Sprawl

Sprawl isn't sustainable. Land, undeveloped natural land is finite. The old saying goes "They just ain't making it anymore". It filters our water and air, provides habitat to birds and animals, and it has remained the same until we came along with our desire to build, and our concept of property. The top of the South Hill used to be very rural. Glenrose, Moran Prairie, and areas beyond 57th used to be virtually empty, beautiful land. But no more. Houses climb the hills replacing the trees and scattered farms. Not just homes and acreages, but full blown lot developments of houses, condos and apartment complexes cover Moran Prairie along with shopping centers, office buildings, and huge assisting living centers. Pressure to develop huge big box centers has mounted to a crisis. Citizens opposing this rampant sprawl are fighting back, but from the looks of the top of the South Hill, the battle is already lost. We have two out of three County Commissioners that support rapid growth, and one Commissioner is a developer himself. And these guys are moving FAST. To save the last vestiges of open space, please join this effort to resist big box development.

Palouse-Regal Neighborhood Workshop, June 6 & 7

Southgate & Moran Prairie Neighborhood Councils have been working for the past year

to implement Neighborhood Planning. A workshop between landowners, developers and the neighbors this weekend will determine the outcome. Southgate Neighborhood is soliciting input from residents about what they need in their neighborhood. Input is needed from residents and those living in other areas of the city and county.

We need YOUR input!

SOUTHGATE URBAN DESIGN WORKSHOP

Friday, June 6, 2008 from 3:00-9:00pm

Saturday, June 7, 9:00-5:00pm

ESD101, 4202 South Regal, Conference Bldg

The public is welcome to observe and will be allowed to ask questions and give input at 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on Saturday. Please bring your ideas and concerns. Do you need big box stores? Which ones? Do you need a safe pedestrian/bicycle route? Do you need a movie theatre? Boutiques? Restaurants? Specialty stores? What is missing in your neighborhood?

What would damage Southgate? What is your dream for Southgate? Your nightmare?

VERY IMPORTANT ---- City Council Hearing, June 9, 6:00 pm:

The City Council will be voting on 3 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Amendment proposals pending for the Palouse & Regal area. A Home Depot is planned behind Shopko; a Target or Wal-Mart is tentatively planned at Palouse and Regal; and a “yet-to-be- determined” development will be next to the soccer field. All proposals request

zoning that will allow big box development.

Plan Commission Recommends Denial of Proposals:

After much input from the developers, Southgate neighbors, and City Planning Services, the City Plan Commission has recommended DENIAL of these amendments to the City Council. Please attend the City Council meeting so that your voice is heard by those you have elected to make decisions about the city you live in.

Write or email the City Council members and Mayor Verner

at City Hall with your questions and/or concerns TODAY

So there is something we can do! Speak up! Vote with your feet and attend meetings, call your Council representatives, and stop sprawl before nothing natural is left of this once rural area!
Other areas are under siege from runaway development--north, south, east, and west--all over rural Spokane County and parts of Stevens County too. Cluster developments, housing speculation developments, McMansions, shopping centers with the same stores over and over again pop up overnight. Do we really want to lose our open spaces forever? What do you think?