Spokane County defers decision on Fish Lake shoreline easement after residents object

Spokane County commissioners on Feb. 4 deferred a decision on a request for a shore access easement at Fish Lake after a lengthy public hearing in which neighbors said recent work on a lakeside parcel has damaged habitat and created precedent for more shoreline development.

The request, filed by property owner and applicant Michael Morrow, would formalize an access easement across county park land to a small waterfront parcel he owns. The board voted unanimously to close the public hearing and defer action to the county’s Feb. 4 consent agenda to allow staff and commissioners time to gather additional information and review written testimony the county received.

Why it matters: Residents said the parcel is part of a largely undeveloped, non‑motorized lake used for paddle boarding, fishing and wildlife viewing and that granting an easement could permit further shoreline change. The applicant said the proposed access is intended to provide ADA‑accessible boating for people with disabilities…