Housing Update

Thursday, May 4, 2023

The City's long-range and current planning teams pose with Mayor Nadine Woodward and the APA-PAW Award.

Dear Community Member,

Congratulations to those who worked on and supported Building Opportunity and Choices for All, the interim ordinance passed last year to expand housing choices throughout Spokane, for winning a 2023 Excellence in Planning Award!

For the 37th year, the Planning Association of Washington (PAW) and Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-WA) honored outstanding contributions to the field of planning in Washington state. BOCA won the Comprehensive Planning Category for large cities and counties!

The Award Committee wrote:

"Quick action by the City of Spokane to address their housing crisis through the adoption of an interim ordinance allowing all residential properties to develop up to four dwelling units per property was acknowledged by the jury to be a bold move, with impressive results undertaken by an internal City staff team. The project was a groundbreaking action to address the problem up front while creating a platform for discussions on how to grow and adjust single-family zoning for the betterment of the community. This effort (preceded) state housing legislation and positioned the City of Spokane well to begin recovery and improve housing access for all residents."

Awards were presented at the PAW Conference in Chelan on April 27. See all of the 2023 Joint APA/PAW Award Recipients here.

Building Opportunity for Housing public comment period to open

Phase I of Building Opportunity for Housing is proposing text amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Developed over the last five months and incorporating input from an expansive public engagement process, the proposal includes:

1. Text amendments to the Vision and Values section in Chapter 3, clarifying the intended relationship between low-intensity residential areas and a mix of housing types;
2. Text amendments to Policies LU 1.3 and LU 1.4, clarifying that middle housing types (up to 6 units per lot) are appropriate within low-intensity residential areas in the City and outlining topics which should be considered during any future land-use or zoning changes that might increase the intensity of a given residential area in the city;
3. Text amendments to the land use plan map designations described in the chapter, changing the descriptors from density (units per acre) to low-, medium-, and high-intensity residential uses; and
4. Updates to land use labels on the Land Use Plan Map (map LU-1) to match the updated land uses described in item 3 above.

A 30-day public comment period will start on Monday, May 8. Please send any comments about the Comprehensive Plan Amendments to Kevin Freibott at compplan@spokanecity.org. A full listing of all the proposed text amendments will be available soon at the project website below. Check back often for any changes and updates along the way. 

On Wednesday, May 10, Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to Chapter 17C.316, Short Term Rentals. Changes include:

• Allowing short-term rentals in all zoning districts where residential uses are permitted to create a path to compliance for the over 600 short-term rentals that are operating outside of current regulations.
• Propose a unit cap depending on the type and size of building (details in the Plan Commission agenda linked below).
• For structures that are fire sprinklered, or not required to be by Building or Fire Code, they will no longer be required to complete the Change of Use process. Any permit going beyond the 30 percent cap in non-residential zones would be required to complete the Change of Use process to ensure life and safety of all occupants of the structure.
• For active permit holders, they will be allowed to continue their short-term rental permit as a grandfathered use. Any lapse of the permit, or an attempt to expand beyond the units or size approved in the permit will not be allowed.
• A notarized Life Safety Compliance form will be required to show egress and safety requirements.
• Annual inspections will be required for renewal.

Send questions or comments to Amanda Beck at abeck@spokanecity.org.

City of Spokane

Plan Commission

Meeting Schedule

2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the Month in City Hall

WHAT HAPPENED?

• April 26, 2023: Plan Commission heard the first draft language of the Building Opportunity for Housing Comprehensive Plan text amendments, as well as an update on the Short Term Rental code update. Watch recording.

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Wednesday, May 10: Plan Commission will continue to hear draft language of the Building Opportunity for Housing Comprehensive Plan text amendments. The Short Term Rental code update will be at public hearing following the workshop. 

We want your feedback!

Provide written comment in email to DevelopmentCode@spokanecity.org. This email list will be notified regarding additional opportunities for participation.

Sign up for Shaping Spokane Housing email updates and announcements here.

Interested in requesting an outreach event? Email us!

Development Services Center is Open to Serve You!

Monday-Friday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• In person - 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd - 3rd Floor of City Hall
• 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

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 developmentcode@spokanecity.org.