No docks at Coyote Rock development

A state court of appeals panel ruled that permits for the first two docks at the Coyote Rock development should not have been granted by the City of Spokane Valley.

The case, brought by the Attorney General’s office on behalf of the Department of Ecology, focused on whether the developer should have been given a permit exemption under the Shoreline Management Act (SMA). Using this exemption, the developer planned to site 30 docks as part of the Coyote Rock development, which is located on the south bank at Centennial Trail Bridge.

The developer has not indicated whether they will seek review by the State Supreme Court, or indicated to prospective buyers that if they want a dock they will need to seek a permit on their own. As for the two docks currently in the water, Spokane Riverkeeper, which is a program of the Center for Justice, intends to write a letter on behalf of conservation groups to the City of Spokane Valley requesting their removal.

Said Rick Eichstaedt, Executive Director of the Center for Justice, “We’re delighted with this ruling. The cumulative effects of 30 docks would be bad for the environment and bad for the people who enjoy this undisturbed stretch of water.”

Spokane Riverkeeper Bart Mihailovich was excited and reflective of the news.  “It was only last August when roughly 30 paddlers gathered on the water in front of the development to raise awareness about the issue and about non-motorized recreation on this stretch of River in what we billed as Spokane’s first ever on-the-water protest,” said Mihailovich.  “As we come up on the one-year anniversary of that “protest”, we’re looking to lead another trip, this time a celebration!”

In a related development, a case brought by the Center for Justice and Trout Unlimited that the Washington Department of Wildlife also erred when they provided a permit without assessing cumulative effects is being put on hold. Says Eichstaedt, “Until we see what the developers are homeowners intend to do next, there is no longer a need for this case. If they want to continue to try and build docks, we’ll keep up the fight on all fronts.”

River Run, which is about 2.5 miles downstream of downtown, is an example of successful housing development by the river that doesn’t use docks.

Coyote Rock Development