HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986, 05-06 Home Owner LetterEast 11101 Empire
Spokane, WA 99206
May 6, 1986
The Honorable Keith Shepard
County Commissioner, Second District
Spokane County Courthouse
West 1116 Broadway
Spokane, WA 99260
Dear Commissioner Shepard:
In September 1984, I purchased my residence at East 11101 Empire, Spokane. I
was very diligent in my search for housing as I have two horses and wanted to
select a place that would accommodate them as well as myself along with places
to ride. The house I purchased seemingly offered all of that criteria.
But, in approximately July 1985 I was informed by Tom Davis of Spokane County's
Building & Safety Office, that according to an early 1900's law I was to
restrict my horses 50 feet from my neighbors residence or suffer 90 days in jail
or $1,000 fine or both. In the course of this action, he also stated that
according to county law, an electric fence was not to be closer to any residence
than 150 feet.
I complied with that law in July 1985. Since that time, my neighbor at 11103
Empire, who initially complained about my horses being too close to her house,
has an electric fence attached right to the side of her house. And also, (not
related to this matter, but a curiosity on my part) she has since erected a
double car garage over the area where I believe her septic tanks lies. It was
my understanding that this is also against county law.
To get to the point, my problem is this:
I bought that piece of property in good faith that it was adequately
agriculturally zoned to accommodate my horses and I think it is unfair that
someone else can dictate to me how my private property should be fenced. Also,
if I am forced to comply with a law that says livestock must be restricted 50
feet from a neighbors residence, then why hasn't Mr. Davis enforced that law for
the rest of my neighbors on Empire or for that matter enforced the law on my
complaining neighbor about her electric fence being connected to her house or
erecting a building overtop of her septic tank?
Because my funds are limited, I needed to settle for a smaller parcel of land
that it was barely accommodating to the horses, then. Now a 2,500 square foot
section has been taken out of an already small pasture area and renders itself
useless for my original purpose.
Can you inform me if I have any recourse in this matter? I look forward to any
comments or help you can give me.
Sincerely,
PatriciaL. Riley