Amway house permit request denied
The "Amway house" on the Spokane River in Post Falls was built in the mid-1990s by Ron and Georgia Lee Puryear, a couple who made a fortune in Amway and related businesses. (Courtesy photo via Century21.com)
The "Amway house" on the Spokane River in Post Falls includes 13 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. (Courtesy photo via Century21.com)
Realtor John Beutler requested a special-use permit to use the Amway house in Post Falls for weddings, reunions and other gatherings. Neighbors expressed concerns about the proposal. (Courtesy photo via Century21.com)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — The iconic Amway house doesn't have a clean slate for a new use just yet.
The Post Falls Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday night voted 5-1 to deny a request for a special-use permit that would allow the mansion on the Spokane River to be used as a bed and breakfast, hosting weddings, business events, reunions and social gatherings in a residential area.
John Beutler, owner and broker of Century 21 Beutler and Associates — who has the property listed for $8.495 million, made the request on behalf of property owner Puryear Family Limited Partnership of Liberty Lake during the meeting attended by about 100 people.
Most of the planning commissioners said that, without the sale of an adjacent property that would be used for 100 to 120 parking spots finalized, parking concerns lingered.
"If that property had been purchased and locked in, we may be having a whole different conversation," commission chairman Ryan Davis said. "At this point, additional work needs to be done."
Five neighbors who spoke in opposition to the proposal during the public hearing cited parking and noise concerns.
"The interest is only to sell it," said neighbor Patricia Maureen Hansen, adding that she didn't believe the proposal took into account concerns of neighboring property owners.
Neighbor Chris Greenfield said she wondered, if the use was approved, if a lawsuit would arise from having a business in a residential area.
After the decision, Beutler said he'll continue to market the 13-bedroom, 13-bath property. The proposed sale of the adjacent lot that would be used for parking will still also likely be pursued, he said.
"I'll talk to the owners and will probably come back (with another proposal)," he said. "We've come a long way to get this far."
Beutler said he appreciated the positive input from the board members of why the proposal was not approved.
"I believe it is in the best interest of the property owners to acquire that (adjacent) property regardless what happens," he said.
The mansion has been for sale off and on the past nine years and was listed as high as $19 million when it first went on the market.
While the property has had a lot of interest and a sale was nearly finalized a few years ago, Beutler said based on input from possible buyers, he believes a bed-and-breakfast format would be the best fit. He said the property can be overwhelming to someone seeking a single-family home.
But commissioner Mark Latham said he believes when it comes to being compatible with the neighborhood, there's a big difference between a bed and breakfast and a special event center with multiple uses that would attract hundreds of guests.
The mansion is across a bay from Post Falls' Black Bay Park. It was built in the mid-1990s by Ron and Georgia Lee Puryear, who made a fortune in Amway and related businesses.
Commissioners Nancy Hampe, James Steffensen and Samuel Bishop joined Latham and Davis in denying the special-use permit.
Commissioner Ray Kimball voted against the denial motion. He proposed supporting the request with the conditions that all parking would have to be on the property and the uses would be limited to the six listed in Beutler's narrative on the proposal, including weddings, business events, private parties, wine and cheese socials, family gatherings/reunions and bed and breakfast.