Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday to the District 1 PlanSpokane Community Visioning Workshop! It was a great start to the PlanSpokane 2046 Community Visioning Workshop series as we begin to plan for Spokane’s future. There are three more workshops where you have the opportunity to guide the vision that determines what the City of Spokane will look like in 20 years. | |
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Community-Wide Periodic Update Visioning Workshop: Wednesday, March 12 from 12-1:30 p.m. at Central Library, Events A Room. Near STA Plaza.
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District 2 (Southern Spokane) Periodic Update Visioning Workshop: Tuesday, March 25 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Liberty Park Library, Events Room. Near STA Route 94.
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District 3 (NW Spokane) Periodic Update Visioning Workshop: Thursday, March 27 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Shadle Library, Events Room. Near STA Route 22 and 23.
These in-person workshops are drop-in events, and will include community discussion, mapping exercises, and feedback opportunities related to various aspects of the Comprehensive Plan so we can learn from you and start envisioning Spokane into 2046. No RSVP is required. Please attend when your schedule allows. Families are welcome! Snacks and kids’ activities will be available at each workshop.
The District specific workshops will focus on the geography of each District but are open to all community members. Don’t know what District you live or work in? View the City of Spokane District Map.
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As part of the ongoing update to the Comprehensive Plan, a crucial document that guides how our city grows and develops, the City of Spokane is identifying climate risks and vulnerabilities within our community. This information will help inform efforts to incorporate climate and resiliency considerations into the Comprehensive Plan.
One tool developed to better understand Spokane’s unique climate considerations is the Climate Vulnerability Index. The Climate Vulnerability Index is a mapping tool that helps the Climate Planning team identify areas, residents, and infrastructure in the City of Spokane that are more at risk from climate hazards like extreme heat, wildfire risks, and health issues caused by heat and smoke. The Index uses data from local, state, and national sources, and input from the public to improve our understanding of how existing and future climate hazards affect our community.
Learn more about the Climate Vulnerability Index
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Coming Soon for Earth Month!
Be on the lookout for Climate Planning and City of Spokane events in April as we celebrate Earth Day for the whole month! This includes a Community Climate Planning workshop on the evening of Tuesday, April 22 as we seek community feedback on future actions that can make Spokane more resilient. More information to come in our April PlanSpokane newsletter.
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Is There Enough Land in the City of Spokane for Growth?
The City of Spokane can expect to grow by more than 23,000 people between 2023 and 2046. To determine if the City of Spokane is large enough to accommodate population growth, state law directs the City to conduct a study called a “Land Capacity Analysis.” For the past year and a half, the Planning & Economic Development department has undertaken a full review of nearly every parcel in the City to answer the question: is there enough land in the City for growth?
[Read More]
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Determination of Significance
The City of Spokane has taken its first step towards updating the Comprehensive Plan to reflect visions, goals, and legislation to support Spokane’s growth into 2046.
Before larger projects or major plans, regulations, or programs are put in place in the state of Washington, an Environmental Impact Statement is required under the State Environmental Policy Act. The first step in creating an Environmental Impact Statement is the Determination of Significance, issued by the jurisdiction, noting that additional analysis is required. The City of Spokane issued a Determination of Significance on February 5, 2025, kicking off the visioning and scoping process for future work. Public comments can be accepted on the Determination of Significance through April 7, 2025.
Learn more about the Environmental Impact Statement process, including how to submit comments, with the Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Fact Sheet.
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Take the Division Street TOD Survey!
The Division Street Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Project is a collaboration between the City of Spokane, Spokane County, and the Spokane Transit Authority (STA), aimed at encouraging accessible mixed-use communities close to public transit.
With a vision of a corridor-wide TOD framework, this project will provide detailed, station-specific economic analysis, land-use recommendations, multi-modal infrastructure improvements, and a development policy framework that centers on sustainability and social equity. The goal is to improve transit conditions around Division Street’s major transit stations. For more information regarding these transit stations please visit STA’s Division Street BRT project page.
The Division Street TOD project will be built on community input. To ensure that your voice is heard, take our survey and visit the project page for upcoming public events, including community pop-ups.
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Short-Term Rental Compliance Monitoring
The Development Services Department has contracted with Granicus Host Compliance to develop a program to monitor the compliance status of all active short-term rentals in the City of Spokane. Donna deBit, Senior Planner with the Current Planning group, worked closely with Granicus to implement a monitoring dashboard to track listings from various vacation rental websites and send notices of non-compliance for those short-term rentals operating without an active license.
Last October, a pilot batch of letters were sent out to the owners of approximately 40 unlicensed short-term rentals. From this pilot, we saw a sharp increase in the number of short-term rental applications and approved licenses. Following the success of this pilot, an additional 350 non-compliance letters were sent at the beginning of February. This represents the entire database of unlicensed short-term rentals identified by Granicus.
Moving forward, the City will work with the owners of these unlicensed rentals to come into voluntary compliance. We have also started working with Luis Garcia in Code Enforcement to follow up on unlicensed short-term rentals that have received a letter of non-compliance and have not taken action to register their rentals. Once we have finished working through this first wave of outreach, we anticipate a substantial level of compliance for short-term rentals leading to safer, more enjoyable experiences for visitors to our great city.
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What Happened?
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February 12 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission heard updates to the Hillyard Subarea Plan and 5th Avenue Subarea Plan and discussed the honorary naming of the Post Street Bridge. [watch 2.12.25 recording]
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February 26 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission was given an update on the Six-Year Streets Capital Improvements Plan and heard a presentation on Land Capacity Analysis [watch 2.26.25 recording]
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What's Next?
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Wednesday, March 12 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission will hear a presentation on the Division Transit Oriented Development Study, get an introduction to the PlanSpokane 2046 Comprehensive Plan Chapter Review, and discuss a potential Cannon Hill Addition Historic District.
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Wednesday, March 26 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission will hear presentations on updates to Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations in line with HB 1337 and a proposed new SMC Chapter related to off-premises alcohol outlets. Plan Commission will also hear about the results of the Community Climate Planning Survey.
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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
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Provide written comment in email to PlanSpokane@spokanecity.org
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Interested in requesting an outreach event? Email us!
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