PC050 Barbara Berkseth & Larry Hoffman 09-17-2015From:Christina Janssen
To:Elisha Heath
Subject:FW: Painted Hills project-SUB-2015-0011/PRD-2015-0001
Date:Thursday, September 17, 2015 3:24:36 PM
Attachments:Painted Hills project–SUB-2015-0011_PRD-2015-0001.docx
Christina J. Janssen
Planner
City of Spokane Valley
Community and Economic Development Dept.
11707 E. Sprague Avenue #106
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Phone-(509)720-5333
www.spokanevalley.org
(Contents of this email and any reply are subject to public disclosure)
From: Hoffman, Larry [mailto:hoffman@wsu.edu] Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2015 2:42 PMTo: Christina JanssenSubject: Painted Hills project–SUB-2015-0011/PRD-2015-0001
Hi Christina,
Please let me know if you are unable to open the attachment and I will resend.
Thanks
Larry Hoffman
Painted Hills project – SUB-2015-0011/PRD-2015-0001
September 17, 2015
Dear Christina Janssen,
While it has been our experience that the City of Spokane Valley has historically sided with
developers and the additional tax revenue new development brings to their coffers, we felt this
issue was important enough for us to go on record in support of the Painted Hills Preservation
Association and their stance against developing high density housing in place of Painted Hills
Golf Course. As residents of the Painted Hills and Ponderosa community, we have witnessed
firsthand the negative impacts of poor infrastructure planning at the expense of current tax
paying residents. Painted Hills Golf Course has struggled financially over the years to stay
operational but with an investment from the city, and possibly other interested investors, and
proper management going forward, it has the potential to generate revenues as well, and at
the same time preserve the open space and wetlands most of us appreciate in our community.
There has been talk recently about adding a sports complex, softball fields, and volleyball courts
in the valley. All good ideas for providing programs and healthy recreational opportunities for
children and young adults, but a city owned/managed public golf course will cater to all ages.
Our hope is that the city will do the right thing and retain this beautiful course for its residents,
many of whom moved to the area because of the proximity to golf. If, as we expect they will,
the city and developers continue to move forward with their plans of new housing, high density
or otherwise, we encourage the City Council and Planning Department to require that the
developers address the necessary infrastructure improvements – new schools, roads (including
traffic mitigation), drainage, law enforcement, fire and emergency services, and wildlife
protections – before they proceed. Otherwise, not only will we lose a beautiful area and
resource that can’t be undone, but we will be asked to pay additional taxes to cover these
expenses.
Sincerely,
Barbara Berkseth and Larry Hoffman
3715 S. Woodruff Rd. Spokane Valley
Cc: Painted Hills Preservation Association – P.O. Box 142207 Spokane, WA 99214