2011, 02-22 Home Business Ltr'7) 11, TIM & ARLraj?MilWENE S�ROIV ERGER +�
1.RECEI VEp
FEB 2 2 2011
COMNE VALLEY
MUNITY DEPARTMENT
ENT
P.O. Box 640
Davenport, WA 99122
509-725-8004 home
509-926-1429 cell
ibuildm@yahoo.com
February 19, 2011
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
City Hall, Suite 106
11707 E. Sprague
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Dear Planning Commission Members,
This letter is concerning the property for sale at 18625 E. Riverway in Spokane
Valley. We own that property, and it has been for sale since the beginning of the
Barker Road Bridge Project. The majority of the property faces Barker Road.
We currently have a conditional use permit to operate the shop building as a
homebased business (hot rod shop). We have been operating Tim's Hot Rods out
of the the shop for over 20 years with no problems. Currently, we have an offer
on our property, contingent upon the new owners being able to operate their
business on the property. They own a business that sells and installs surround
sound systems and alarm systems for homes. We have been told that the owner,
James Hanley, has applied for a permit to operate his business from the shop.
Initially, before applying for a permit, we understand that he was told 'no'.
Please take the following statements under consideration before officially
declining:
1. NOISE & TRAFFIC: Our business, Tim's Hot Rods, is a business that is
prone to more noise than Acme Integration, and has much more traffic, in and out,
than Acme. We pulled cars in and out for test drives regulary, as well as doing
engine tuning, etc. We, at times, had Customer Appreciation Day, which drew
over one hundred street rods to that property, and were parked all over the
property. Our neighbors never complained, as it didn't really affect them. As
stated earlier, the shop and the frontage of the property faces Barker Road. There
are no homes on either side of the shop, as it is all a part of our two -plus acreage.
The Centennial Trail Parking lot is directly across Barker Road. The Spokane
River borders the north side of our property. You really need to go out there and
see how his business would be appropriate there.
2. PARKING: If your concern is vehicles being parked there overnight, the shop
has plenty of room for inside parking, and there is an enclosed, fenced area behind
the shop measuring 20' X 80' that can be used. We often had car hauling trailers
parked outside for months at a time, as the car was inside being worked on. We
never had a complaint. If you look at the property around ours, you will see a
trailer to the west that has several junk vehicles parked on the property at all
times. Some don't run. And that property grows high with weeds each year. It's
not exactly a nice neighborhood. Look at the house across Riverway from our
property. Not even maintained
3. BRIDGE PROJECT: As stated earlier, we have had our property for sale since
the beginning of the Barker Road Bridge Project. We have watched home values
decrease significantly over that two -plus years, while traffic was not able to drive
by our house. It was completely blocked because we are on the very southwest
corner of the bridge. Our main driveway was completely BLOCKED for over a
year, with debri and equipment making it impossible to sell our home. Realtors
have told us they brought people to look at our property that saw it on the interne,
but when they saw the bridge mess, they asked them to turn around. They didn't
even want to look. We have been extremely patient through the whole process.
And now that someone makes us a full price offer, we may lose that offer because
you won't allow them to operate a business that would be perfect for the shop.
4. HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC: A comment was made to us that you didn't want
freight trucks in and out of a residential area. Again, please go see the property.
Not just freight trucks, but cattle trucks make their way regulary down Barker
Road. Is it so bad for a delivery truck to turn a few feet off of Barker into our
shop area? It would leave the same way. We had UPS coming every day to our
shop, because we had an account with them to pick up. Agan, that doesn't affect
the neighbors and no one ever complained.
5. FUTURE USE: Barker Road will lildey become all commercial on each side
in the future, just as Evergreen Road has become. Allowing Acme Integration to
operate out of the shop does not seem to be unreasonable, if you look at the
location of the shop.
This request is being made with all due respect to the rules and regulations in
place. Please consider allowing Acme Integration to operate from our shop.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
L2,11,e4,ce
Tim & Arlene Stromberger