Another year has gone by and the Alliance continues to fight to stop the proposed mine zone application in our community. It would be nice to be able to say that the property owner, David Rajewski has pulled the application but that is simply not true. It would also be nice to be able to say that the property owner has completed the required studies and we’re scheduled to go to hearing, and that Spokane County has enforced the numerous violations on the property, but unfortunately neither of the two has happened.

This application remains open and is still a continued threat to each resident in the area. Due to the unwavering support of hundreds of residents who oppose the development of a large commercial rock crushing / asphalt batching operation in our area of the county, we are all still able to enjoy the water in our wells, our peaceful days and nights, fresh air and clear skies.

Over the course of the last 3 years, the Alliance has spent a tremendous amount of time, money and effort to stop this inappropriate development in our community. Our legal and technical experts have collected data and prepared reports to prove the detriment effects this will have from Spangle to I-90. The largest concern is the impact the blasting and removal of bedrock will have on the water supply and this concern has been validated by our hydro-geologist. Blasting the basalt rock 60 feet deep and conducting this type of commercial activity as submitted in the application will adversely affect the water supply for miles around. Add the noise, odor, dust and traffic problems and it becomes very apparent that each one of us between Spokane and Spangle will be impacted by this project to some degree.

When you drive by a sign opposing this project, or see a letter or notice in your mailbox, please keep in mind the magnitude of the project we are talking about.

For nearly two years, The Paradise Alliance has spent a tremendous amount of time trying to get Spokane County to enforce upon the mine zone applicant the same codes that you and I must comply with. We have even taken County decisions to task and had them reversed by the Hearing Examiner. For instance, it is difficult to understand the irony of a private, local property owner being flagged by the County on a Sunday and made to move a rock wall 8 to 12 inches back from its initial placement due to its location near the County dirt road, yet the County overlooks the action of the mine applicant who has blasted 600 feet away from the point called out in his blasting application. We have heard from a property owner who has been denied approval to build their own driveway (as opposed to share one with the neighbors), yet sees Mr. Rajewski build an un-permitted 60 foot road (from that “mislocated” blast site) through wetland buffers with no enforcement by the County until a complaint was filed. Property immediately adjacent to the proposed mine site was required to perform costly removal of a storm water drainage easement and wetland mitigation plans prior to development. Yet on the Rajewski site, buildings have been built on the same storm water drainage easement and many wetlands disturbed without the same legalities being followed as the other property owner. The code violations described are not based on a lay man’s opinion but that of experts who work with the county codes. People are not asking for special treatment, just fair treatment. The concern for code enforcement is not only regarding past and current activity but for the future. If non-compliant activity is ignored at this level, if the County’s response is inconsistent or non-existent, what can be expected, over the decades, if a commercial rock crushing/asphalt plant were there?

It is difficult to imagine the magnitude of these violations by just reading the words as written, but as is it is said, a picture speaks 1000 words. Photos of some of the issues we’ve talked about can be found on our website.

During the past year and a half we have provided some brief information about two adjacent property owners who have been in litigation with Mr. Rajewski regarding easements and his huge road across their property. Without an easement, Mr. Rajewski has no access to get commercial trucks to or from a county or state road. You may recall that after a 5 day trial in September of 2005, the Superior Court ruled in favor of the adjacent property owners, stating that there were no legal documents granting Mr. Rajewski use over their property and ordering restitution for the damage done. Mr. Rajewski appealed this decision early in 2006, and the case recently went before the State Court of Appeals. The property owners hope to have a decision in the next 4 to 6 months.

In the recent months, we have received questions about the Paradise Alliance’s stand on development in Spangle and other nearby areas in South Spokane County. First, let us say that we do not oppose development in our community, but we do believe there is a very real difference between appropriate and inappropriate development for a particular area. We believe that every property owner should be able to get a return on his/her investment and recognize that in many cases, that results in developing it. With an area as beautiful as ours who could blame anyone from wanting to live here? The opposition is to a huge, ill-conceived commercial development such as this mine zone that represents little, if any, thought given to the grave dangers it represents to all residents: threatening fragile and scarce water supplies, fresh air, traffic safety and creating noise, odor and pollution in a pristine setting.

Be a part of the Paradise Alliance, the broad-based community effort to protect our beautiful area.

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Last modified: September 06, 2008