 |
It’s taken years to map out the development on the north side of Liberty Lake known as the River District.
On Tuesday night, it took nearly the same amount of time to finalize the community’s specific area plan.
Hearkening back to the early days of incorporation, when extended City Council meetings included the discussion of ordinances that would form that foundation of the new city, Tuesday night’s gathering revolved around the proposed composition of an area that will set the tone for development on Liberty Lake’s north side.
By the end of the evening, the city’s governing board had examined over a dozen “key issues” already mulled over by municipal staff, the Liberty Lake planning commission and River District developer Greenstone Homes, but shelved the discussion after nearly three hours when a consensus could not be reached on the issue of park acreage, specifically the call by certain City Council members for a community park that would comprise between 15 to 20 acres.
Council Member Neal Olander, who has led the campaign for greenspace featuring room for facilities like baseball and soccer fields, said the city “owed it to residents to set aside land larger parks now.”
“A requirement for a 15-or 20-acre park should be written into the specific area plan,” Olander said.
When city staff and council members embarked on a tour of the 650-acre River District this August, Mike Terrell of Greenstone Homes described the SAP as “a road map for the development over the next 20 to 25 years.” The document currently sets aside land for seven parks totaling 67 acres. Another 30 acres is designated as open space.
Community parks must be at least 10 acres as outlined in Liberty Lake’s parks plan. Greenstone had made an earlier concession to the city, moving two acres in eight-acre Orchard Park to fit the requirement. The shift meant nearby West River Park would decrease from seven to five acres.
Council Member Judi Owens sided with Olander, saying a 10-acre park would not be adequate for the burgeoning north side and residents of the River District would resort to venues like Pavillion Park and Rocky Hill Park across the freeway. Council Member Patrick Jenkins argued that community feedback has indicated that “citizens don’t want larger parks.”
While the debate over greenspace will be resumed at the next council meeting on Oct. 20, several aspects of the SAP were confirmed on Tuesday. City Council overturned a provision in the plan that would have called for 5-foot wide sidewalks, opting for the 6-foot width prevalent throughout the city.
Council members did agree with Greenstone on the approach to landscaping within commercial parking lots, deciding on a layout that will feature planters on every other row. City staff had recommended foliage on every row, but Terrell said the alternate setup would provide for easier maintenance and better aesthetics.
The city will require Greenstone to comply with the municipal development code regarding signage in commercial areas. Yet to be decided is the maximum building height within the SAP. Greenstone has reduced a plan to include structures up to 100 feet down to 80 feet. Currently, the tallest building in Liberty Lake is the Peppertree Inn, scaling around 65 feet.
Terrell emphasized that the SAP is “a living document” that could be changed as the development expands. Drew Benado, a project manager for Greenstone, told City Council that the developer made sure to include features “often overlooked” such as a buffer between the community and Interstate 90, added width in front of commercial areas and heightened landscape requirements.
“In many areas, we’ve met or exceeded the development code,” Terrell said.
|
|
By
Craig Howard
