West Hills residents challenge tiny home village project in letter to City of Spokane

SPOKANE, Wash. — West Hills residents sent a 23-page letter to Spokane city officials Monday alleging that a local organization has not been transparent about a planned tiny home village project and claiming proper procedures have not been followed.

The letter targets Waters Meets Foundation’s proposed tiny home village in the West Hills area, with neighbors expressing frustration about the project’s development process. Residents claim the organization has not been honest during the approval process.

“We feel lied to. We feel that our voices are not heard,” said Annie Walker, a West Hills resident.

One major concern outlined in the letter involves an environmental impact checklist in which residents say Waters Meets Foundation did not disclose who would live in the tiny homes.

“They did not disclose at all that these were going to be homeless individuals, particularly suffering from opioid use disorder,” Walker said.

The letter also claims the land is not properly zoned for this type of housing project, raising questions about whether the development can legally proceed as planned.

A city spokesperson responded that Walker’s letter has been included in the public comment record for the project. The spokesperson emphasized that the permitting process remains active and continues to accept community input.

“Review of the application is ongoing, and the process has been – and continues to be – open and transparent,” the city spokesperson wrote in a statement. “While we understand that not everyone will agree with every project or decision, we believe it is important to focus on the substantive elements of the process.”

Waters Meets Foundation responded to the allegations by stating it is working with city staff to comply with all relevant laws and regulations. The organization also noted that it conducts regular community meetings to gather feedback from residents.

The permitting process will continue as city officials review the application and consider public comments, including the detailed concerns raised in the 23-page letter. The final decision on whether the project can proceed will depend on the city’s determination of whether Waters Meets Foundation has met all legal and regulatory requirements.