March 20, 2008

Bowling alley owner opposes creation

of buffer zone, design standards

By Stephen McFadden

Publisher

Opposition to rules governing the preservation of historic buildings in Ritzville rose to the surface during Tuesday's city council meeting.

Even before the city has spent a dollar to consider the creation of building design standards, or the implementation of a buffer zone around the existing National Historic District boundary, Big Bend Bowl owner Gerry Klinich scolded the council for even considering such action.

Klinich said he attended the meeting to inform the council of his displeasure in the panel's decision to provide $6,000 in funding for the Ritzville Historic Preservation Commission. The council had voted unanimously to assign the funds to a formal study to determine if a design standard ordinance is needed and whether or not a buffer zone would provide protection for the vintage buildings inside the district without creating hardships for the owners of buildings on the outside edges of the district boundaries.

"The national boundary is set. You have your little playground," Klinich said. "There is not going to be a buffer zone."

He told the council that other business owners oppose the notion and they will stand up to prevent the implementation of a buffer zone.

Klinich called the $6,000 allocation a waste of money, suggesting those funds should be used to pay for utility bills that senior citizens and the poor cannot pay or to provide painting services to the owners of the buildings in the downtown.