November 7, 2024

Dear Community Member, 

With Planning Staff out and about discussing the start of our upcoming periodic update, you may have noticed a friendly new face popping up. 

Scout the marmot is here to help guide our journey toward a more resilient, connected, and livable Spokane. Keep an eye out for this adorable furry friend as we continue to engage and connect with the community during the PlanSpokane project. If you see Scout, you know you’re contributing to Spokane’s future!

Whether you are new to climate planning or informed on the topic, having a shared understanding of frequently used terms can help remove barriers to participation and allow for robust conversations. To that end, the Climate Project Team created a What the Climate: Glossary of Terms that includes terms that will be frequently used throughout the Climate Planning process. 

Found a term not in this document and have questions? The Climate Project Team can be reached at climateplanning@spokanecity.org. 

Fall Leaf Festival

Logan and KayCee with the Climate Planning Team were at the Fall Leaf Festival and Compost Fair to begin early conversations about making Spokane resilient and sustainable throughout the next twenty years. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and shared their input!

We asked community members to vote on the climate impacts they were most concerned about. And the results are in! 

• 49% voted for wildfires and smoke 
• 24% voted for water quality and snowpack 
• 21% voted for increased heat and drought 
• 6% voted for heavy rains and flooding 

Did you miss us at the Fall Leaf Festival? You can still provide early feedback by answering our questions below. If you select the links, you will be directed to the Climate Planning EngagementHQ engagement platform. 

What does a healthy and thriving community look like to YOU?

How do YOU incorporate nature into your life?

Coming Soon

Be on the look out for a climate survey launching later this month! We want to hear from you on how to best support a resilient Spokane. 

Periodic Update at Study Session

Planning Staff presented the periodic update to the Spokane City Council at their scheduled October 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 recording.

City Council Adopts Periodic Update Resolution 

At their October 28 regular meeting, the Spokane City Council adopted Resolution 2024-0099 to initiate the Comprehensive Plan periodic update planning efforts. A Public Participation Plan is included to provide high-level guidance and engagement principles.

Watch the City Council meeting.

Join us for two public presentations by Daniel Herriges, co-author of the recent Strong Town book Escaping the Housing Trap and current Policy Director at Parking Reform Network. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Daniel will present on housing policy solutions to ease housing shortages and unlock entry-level housing. Then, on Wednesday, Nov. 13, he will discuss how parking policy can achieve livability, economic, and environmental goals. Both presentations are at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Spokane City Hall.

Public Hearing for Comprehensive Plan Amendments

The 2023/2024 Comprehensive Plan Amendments are scheduled to be before the Spokane City Council for a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 25 starting at 6 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 agenda packet, which will be available on the City Council website closer to the hearing date.

On October 9, the Spokane Plan Commission held a hearing for the Comprehensive Plan Amendments, making recommendations to be forwarded to City Council. Watch the Plan Commission recording for more information. 

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.

Northeast Brownfields Project

The City of Spokane has grant funds and free technical assistance available to help revitalize properties throughout the Hillyard area of Northeast Spokane of all shapes and sizes, from small commercial properties and vacant sites to multi-acre industrial lands. Funds are available to help property owners evaluate the environmental condition of their property and/or evaluate options for redevelopment to expand their businesses, help create jobs, attract buyers and development, and spur the growth of our local economy. 

Find out more by visiting the Northeast Brownfields Project webpage. 

Building Opportunity for Housing Follow-Up Code Updates 

The 2023 Building Opportunity for Housing (BOH) project provided increased housing choice and diversity throughout the City of Spokane by adopting new zoning regulations. These regulations allow for a greater range of housing types throughout the city than were previously allowed. 

As staff have worked with developers and property owners to implement these new regulations, a number of issues or additional development barriers have been identified. This is an expected aspect of adopting major changes. The Building Opportunity for Housing Follow-Up project amends sections of the BOH code to address these issues and add clarification where necessary. 

You can find all of the proposed amendments on the Building Opportunity for Housing Follow-Up project webpage, along with recordings of Plan Commission Workshop meetings that discussed the proposal. 

The Building Opportunity for Housing Follow-up Code Amendments are scheduled to go to a public hearing before Plan Commission on Monday, Nov. 13 starting at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 

What Happened?

• October 9 Public Workshop: Plan Commission heard a presentation on housing code amendments related to Building Opportunity for Housing cleanup [watch 10.9.24 workshop recording]
• October 9 Public Hearing: The Spokane Plan Commission held 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 [watch 10.9.24 hearing recording]
• October 23 Public Workshop: Plan Commission continued to hear about housing code amendments related to the Building Opportunity for Housing follow up [watch 10.23.24 recording]

What's Next?

• Wednesday, Nov. 13 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission will select the Transportation Commission liaison and consider a resolution in support of the 27 by 2027 Urban Mobility Network proposal before hearing a presentation from the co-author of Escaping the Housing Trap, Daniel Herriges. 
• Wednesday, Nov. 13 Public Hearing: The Plan Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing for the proposed Building Opportunity for Housing follow-up code amendments. 
• Wednesday, Nov. 27 Public Workshop: This meeting of the Plan Commission is cancelled due to the Thanksgiving holiday. 

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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