October 3, 2024

Dear Community Member, 

Our Comprehensive Plan serves as the roadmap for Spokane's future growth and development. 

The City of Spokane is commencing a periodic update – appropriately named PlanSpokane – to the City’s Comprehensive Plan as required by the Growth Management Act (GMA). A “periodic update” is the state’s term for a full review of a Comprehensive Plan to make sure it’s in conformance with any legislative changes to state law. 

Due in 2026, the periodic update will identify policies and future regulations to guide the next 20 years of our city.  

PlanSpokane will include robust community outreach and engagement to keep Spokane Resilient, Connected, and Livable so keep an eye out for future opportunities to get involved!

The City of Spokane is embarking on a transformative journey to address the pressing challenges posed by a changing climate. On April 22, 2024, City Council adopted Resolution 2024-0038 to initiate Climate Planning that implements the requirements of HB 1181 under the comprehensive plan periodic update. 

Greenhouse Gas Inventory

As part of the Climate Planning work, the City has kicked off the latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHG). The GHG Inventory is a report on the combined carbon emissions of the community and City of Spokane operations and is an important step in tracking emission trends and identifying reduction opportunities. Updated results are expected by Earth Day next year. Until then, learn more about what the Greenhouse Gas Inventory work entails.

Upcoming Engagements

The Climate Planning Team will be at the 2024 Fall Leaf Festival and Compost Fair on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Join us at Finch Arboretum (3404 W Woodland Blvd) to learn more about the Climate Planning work and provide some early feedback. 

Periodic Update at City Council

Planning Staff will present the periodic update to the Spokane City Council at their Thursday, Oct. 24 Study Session. Study sessions are an informal gathering of City Council to discuss topics of interest. No formal action is taken during these meetings. 

Watch the Study Session at 11 a.m. on CityCable5.

Shaping Spokane

Spokane’s current comprehensive plan – Shaping Spokane – was last updated in 2017. The plan has fourteen chapters and numerous appendices that shape our current policies and regulations. 

Review Spokane’s Comprehensive Plan.

What is a Periodic Update? 

Counties and cities planning under the Growth Management Act are required to complete periodic updates to their comprehensive plans and development regulations. The Department of Commerce manages the review of these documents and provides resources for jurisdictions and the public alike. 

Visit Commerce’s website for webinars, guidebooks, an FAQ, and much more. 

The City of Spokane in partnership with the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) and Spokane County is conducting a study to identify opportunities to implement transit-oriented development (TOD) along the Division Street corridor. The project will analyze opportunities from the STA led Division Street BRT project to improve land use planning, transportation opportunities, and economic conditions of specific station areas. 

As a kickoff to the work, the project team hosted a community listening session at Natural Grocers on Division and Wellesley on September 26, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. We heard from various community members their vision for Division Street and got to speak one on one with neighbors, businesses, and visitors. 

To keep up to date with news regarding this project please visit the Division Street TOD Pilot project webpage. 

Public Hearing for Comprehensive Plan Amendments

The Spokane Plan Commission will hold a public hearing for the 2023/2024 Comprehensive Plan Amendments on Wednesday, Oct. 9, starting at 4 p.m. in the City Council chambers and online. Members of the public who wish to speak at the hearing may sign up using the directions and link in the Plan Commission agenda packet, which will be available on the Plan Commission webpage under the Agendas dropdown. Agendas are posted a week before the scheduled hearing.

There are six Comprehensive Plan Amendments, all seeking to update land use plan map and zoning designations in various portions of the city. Learn more about the proposals on the project webpage.

Building Strong Communities 

The City of Spokane Planning Department, along with consultant Stantec and the Northeast Public Development Authority (NEPDA), continues to work on the Hillyard Subarea Plan with “behind the scenes” data analysis to create a needs assessment and existing conditions reports. These reports help show what will be possible once the Subarea Plan is adopted.

 Learn more about the Subarea Plan.

What Happened?

• September 25 Public Workshop: Plan Commission heard a presentation on the Citywide Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and began discussing the 2026 Periodic Update with a Comprehensive Plan Review. [watch 7.25.24 recording]
• September 25 Public Hearing: Plan Commission held a public hearing for the SB5290 Permitting Code Updates and the Centers and Corridors Update Study. [watch hearing recording] 

What's Next?

• Wednesday, Oct. 9 Public Workshop: Housing code amendments related to Building Opportunity for Housing cleanup will be presented to the Plan Commission. 
• Wednesday, Oct. 9 Public Hearing: The Spokane Plan Commission will hold public hearings for the Citywide CIP, 2023/2024 Comprehensive Plan Amendments, and an ordinance for the Protection of Historic Buildings in Downtown and Center and Corridor Areas. 

Development Services Center is Open to Serve You!

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday | 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• In person - 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd - 3rd Floor of City Hall (Office closed Wednesday mornings from 8-11 a.m. through the near future to allow staff to focus on permit load and reduce wait times. Calls will be forwarded to voice mail during this time.)
• Online - Skip a trip to City Hall with online permitting, an email to permitteam@spokanecity.org or Electronic Document Review 
• Phone - A representative can assist you at 509.625.6300

Provide written comment in email to PlanSpokane@spokanecity.org 

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