Spokane County board authorizes condemnation proceedings for two parcels tied to Harvard Road project

The Spokane County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 11 to authorize initiation of condemnation proceedings for two parcels needed to complete the Harvard Road widening project. County Public Works Engineer Matt Zaracour told the board the federally funded project widens Harvard Road between South of Euclid and the railroad crossing north to Trent as part of the county's transportation improvement plan.

Zaracour said the corridor has a significant crash history: "26 collisions in the last 5 years alone, 12 with reported injuries and including a fatality." He told commissioners that 55 of 58 parcels required for the right-of-way have been acquired and that three remain unresolved: the parcel identified as Brooke Kelly (map 24), Buona Vista Manufactured Home Community (map 43) and negotiations with Union Pacific for track crossings and agreements. After the presentation a commissioner moved to "determine that it is necessary for county purposes to acquire Spokane County parcel number 56334.9601 and authorize the initiation of condemnation proceedings," a motion that passed unanimously. The board then took the same action for parcel number 55041.9035; that motion also passed unanimously.

County staff said the hearing was informational and not the formal legal hearing that occurs later in Superior Court, and that if the board authorizes condemnation the prosecuting attorney will file a petition in Superior Court to proceed with acquisition. No public testimony spoke against condemnation at the item hearings after staff presentations. The decisions now authorize the legal steps necessary to secure the outstanding rights-of-way so construction can proceed.