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Dear Community Member,
October is National Community Planning Month! Planning works to create thriving cities that support a high quality of life, relying on community feedback to guide growth and opportunities. Getting involved in the ongoing PlanSpokane 2046 Periodic Update to the Comprehensive Plan is the perfect way to celebrate this month – visit PlanSpokane.org for more information, learn about Spokane’s housing needs, watch the PlanSpokane video series, and mark your calendars for a community workshop series.
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At the beginning of 2025, community members provided invaluable feedback to create a 20-year vision for Spokane. Since then, there has been ongoing work to find different ways to reach that vision and this Fall, the community will be presented with those options on how the City can grow. A community workshop series on future growth and guiding policies will continue to inform the PlanSpokane 2046 Periodic update.
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District 2 Workshop – Wednesday, Nov. 5, 5 - 6:30 p.m. at Ferris High School (3020 E 37th Ave) cafeteria. Near STA Routes 4, 43, and 247.
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District 1 Workshop – Wednesday, Nov. 12, 5 - 6:30 p.m. at Yasuhara Middle School (2701 N Perry St) cafeteria. Near STA Routes 27 and 36.
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District 3 Workshop – Tuesday, Nov. 18, 5-6:30 p.m. at Salk Middle School (6411 N Alberta St) cafeteria. Near STA Routes 23 and 35.
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Citywide Workshop – Wednesday, Nov. 19, 12 - 1:30 p.m. at Central Library (906 W Main Ave), Events Room A on the first floor. Near the STA Plaza.
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Community Climate Policy Survey Summary Now Available
Thank you to the over 1,400 people who took the time to complete the Community Climate Policy Survey! A survey summary outlining what we heard from the community is now available. The results of this summary, along with other feedback we’ve received, will help guide ongoing policy discussions.
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Phase 2 Kick Off at Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board
City staff and the consultant team kicked off the next phase of the Climate Planning efforts at the September 18, 2025 Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board (CRSB). Phase 2 will develop goals and policies to integrate climate and resiliency planning into the Comprehensive Plan, as part of the PlanSpokane 2046 Periodic Update. Watch the CRSB meeting recording to hear early discussion.
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Housing Needs Webpage Now Available
As part of the PlanSpokane 2046 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update, the City of Spokane is seeking to better understand how to support existing housing while also addressing future housing needs. With that goal in mind, the City has undertaken several directed projects analyzing the local housing situation, including Racially Disparate Impacts and Accommodating Affordable Housing analysis. Visit Spokane’s Housing Needs webpage to learn more about the various efforts.
Racially Disparate Impacts Analysis
| | Housing and homeownership are foundational parts of belonging in a community. However, access to housing and housing challenges have not been felt equally. The Draft Racially Disparate Impact Report provides an analysis and policy evaluation to guide the City of Spokane in updating Housing goals, policies, and regulations. Learn more at the Racially Disparate Impacts and Displacement Risk webpage. | | |
Accommodating Affordable Housing
Recent legislation updates require the City to not only ensure the total number of available housing units in twenty years would be sufficient to house the population growth expected by 2046, but also analyze their housing capacity and determine if enough capacity exists for different levels of affordability. The Accommodating Affordable Housing Report is now available at the project webpage.
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ADU Open House at the Northeast Community Center
Are you a homeowner or in the construction industry and interested in learning more about building an accessory dwelling unit (ADUs)? Whether you call them ADUs, mother in-law units, granny flats, or backyard cottages, you are invited to attend a workshop to talk through what is possible with City of Spokane staff.
Join us Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm at the Northeast Community Center in the Lower-Level Assembly Room. You will learn current ADU regulations, best practices for navigating the development process, and commonly asked questions, before being able to connect with our Development Services staff to discuss your ADU plans.
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City Initiates Co-living Housing Code Updates
The City of Spokane has kicked off its effort to update co-living housing regulations to meet recent state legislation (HB 1998: Co-Living Housing). To further expand housing choice in the City of Spokane, development of co-living housing is proposed to be allowed in more areas of the city. Co-living units are generally smaller units that share communal spaces such as kitchens and are sometimes called single room occupancy (SROs), rooming/boarding houses, congregate living, or dormitories.
Co-living was a common housing option in the late 1800’s and early 1900s, when the city experienced a population boom. These co-living regulations are another example of looking to past housing solutions to address current housing needs, as this style of development often results in more affordable options.
To learn more about where this kind of housing will be allowed and what regulations will apply, visit the project webpage or watch the latest Plan Commission workshop recording. These regulations will be presented further at the Wednesday, Oct. 8 Plan Commission Workshop, with a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 22.
| | Hillyard Subarea Plan: Moving Toward Adoption | | |
The City of Spokane, the Northeast Public Development Authority (NEPDA), and consultant partners are advancing the Hillyard Subarea Plan, an action framework that guides equitable revitalization, infill housing, infrastructure investments, and job creation in northeast Spokane.
Following Spokane Plan Commission and community feedback, the draft plan was recently updated to include revised transportation and utility maps, clearer implementation steps, and minor data and grammar edits. In the end, the plan identifies six distinct areas within the Hillyard subarea, pinpoints catalyst redevelopment sites, and outlines strategies for land use, housing, mobility, utilities, economic development, and public space.
During a Public Hearing on September 10, 2025, the Plan Commission forwarded a recommendation for approval to the City Council, recognizing the Hillyard Subarea Plan as a guiding document for future growth and investment in Northeast Spokane. City Council will consider the Hillyard Subarea Plan resolution on Monday, Oct. 20.
Learn more at the Hillyard Subarea Plan project page.
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Noticing Amendments Before Plan Commission, October 8
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Spokane Plan Commission will hold a hearing on proposed amendments to the requirements for providing notice of various planning and land use actions. The goal of the amendments is to provide better clarity and improve the organization of the code. Under the proposed changes, important noticing milestones are grouped into easy-to-read tables. Specific definitions are also provided for the various types of notice.
The proposed changes were discussed at the August 13, 2025, Plan Commission Workshop.
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What Happened?
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September 10 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission heard presentations on the PlanSpokane 2046 Chapter Review and Division Transit-Oriented Development [watch 9.10.25 recording]
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September 10 Public Hearing: The Spokane Plan Commission held a public hearing on the Hillyard Subarea Plan. [watch 9.10.25 hearing]
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September 24 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission heard presentations on the Citywide Capital Improvement Program, the PlanSpokane 2046 Chapter Review, proposed co-living housing development regulation amendments, and a Racially Disparate Impacts analysis update. [watch 9.24.25 workshop]
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September 24 Public Hearing: The Spokane Plan Commission held a public hearing on the Cannon Hill Park Addition Historic District. [watch 9.24.25 hearing]
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What's Next?
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Wednesday, Oct. 8 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission is tentatively scheduled to hear a presentation on Division TOD node concepts and workshop co-living housing development regulation amendments.
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Wednesday, Oct. 8 Public Hearing: A Spokane Plan Commission public hearing is tentatively scheduled on noticing requirement amendments.
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Wednesday, Oct. 22 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission is tentatively scheduled to hear presentations on the PlanSpokane 2046 growth options.
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Wednesday, Oct. 22 Public Hearing: A Spokane Plan Commission public hearing is tentatively scheduled on the Capital Improvement Plan and co-living housing development regulation amendments.
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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
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up for the Plan Spokane newsletter here.
Interested in requesting an outreach event? Email us!
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You are receiving this email because you signed up via the Spokane Housing Action Plan website, have been identified as an individual or stakeholder in the discussion, or expressed interest in receiving planning project updates from the City of Spokane. Please feel free to share this email with others who are interested in receiving email announcements about this project. To unsubscribe, please email planspokane@spokanecity.org.
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