Last ditch effort to halt Thorpe Road land sale falters

Conservationists have suffered a significant setback as the Washington Board of Natural Resources declined to reconsider the transfer of 200 acres of forested land in Latah Valley to developer Blue Fern, who intends to build around 1,000 homes. Activists, led by Tom Uniack of Washington Wild, argued that the board did not adequately consider the land's ecological and cultural value. They believed that the board's decision was rushed and sought to use the last meeting before the April 6 deadline to advocate for the land's preservation. However, their appeal was not added to the agenda. As the transfer date nears, conservationists remain determined to lobby for alternatives that would keep the land in public ownership, emphasizing its significance to the local community.

The land, part of the Common Schools Trust Fund, has been labeled as costly to manage due to issues like dumping and trespassing. Spokane's application to acquire the land for its parks system was unsuccessful, ranking 18th among 30 applications. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between development and conservation efforts in urban areas.