Minutes - 10/23/2003Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Approved Minutes
Council Chambers- City Hall 11707 E. Sprague Ave.
October 23, 2003
I. CALL TO ORDER
Bill Gothmann, Planning Commission Chair, called the meeting to order at
6:32 p.m.
11. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Commission, audie
HE ROLL CALL
Fred Beaulac -Present
Bob Blum - Present
David Crosby - Present
Gail Kogle -Present
ice, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Bill Gothmann - Present
Ian Robertson - Present
John G. Carroll - Excused Absence
W. APPROVAi,. OF AGENDA
Community Development Director Marina Sul:up requested that the New
Business be moved ahead of Old Business on the agenda.
Commissioner Blum moved that the agenda be approved as amended.
Connnnissioner Beaulac seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
V. APPROVAL Oh ]MINUTES
Commissioner Gothmann recommended that the requested hours of business for
Adult Retail Usage establishments in the testimonies of both Ms. Lancaster and
Ms. Arrotta on Page 3 be changed to read "........s: 00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
It was moved by Commissioner Robertson and seconded by Commissioner
Blum that the minutes of the October 9, 2003 Planning Commission meeting
be approved as amended Motion passed unani.ntously.
VT. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
VII. COINENTISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Kogle attended the Transit-Oriented Development committee
meeting on October 22d. The main point of discussion was the utilization of the
University City site as a transit center. She encouraged Planning Commission
members to attend the next meeting on November 12`h at Decades.
Commissioner Gothmarm commented on the valuable information he gained by
attending the APA Conference last week.
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V1_I1. ADIVIINiSTRA'l'IVh RN;PORT
Director Sukup reported that the Planning Commissioners who were elected to
serve a one-year tens will begin their "official" term on January 1, 2004 and end
it on December 31, 2004.
Commissioners were reminded that they will be meeting on the first three
Thursdays in the month of November. 'T'hursday, November 6t', will be the
Joint meeting with the City Council, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Council
Chambers. November 13`t' and 20'h will be regular Planning Commission
meetings.
IX COMMISSION BUSMESS
A. NEW BUSINESS:
WSU Design Studio Presentation on University City
Bob Scarfo, Registered Landscape Architect and professor at the
Washington State University/Spokane Interdisciplinary Institute of
Design, was introduced to the Commission and audience. Professor
Scarfo read about the potential renovation of the University City area in
the Spokesman-Review, called the City's Long Range Planning staff, and
worked with three teams of design students to prepare tonight's
presentations.
The three teams consisted of students studying Landscape Architecture,
Interior Design and Architecture. Each team was charged with developing
a multi-generational living plan where Valley citizens could live, work,
play and learn. Professor Scarfo asked his students to look 20-30 years
into the fixture, keeping in mind that by the year 2030, 25% of the
population will be 65 years or older and 49% will be 49 years or older.
The Baby Boom Generation will be the healthiest, longest-lived,
wealthiest, and best educated generation in America's history. They will
want to remain involved in their communities while continuing to
personally evolve.
TEAM ##1: Theme - "A Heart for the Community,"
This team developed their City Center utilizing University City as the core
with City Center in the middle, City Hall to the West and the Library to
the East. Four keywords used in the design were Vitality, Community,
Heart and Proximity. The designers worked with three proximities from
the center to the periphery:
5 minutes away: home, food, and jobs
10 minutes away: health/welhiess, entertainment, transportation
15 minutes away: parks and parking
The area was designed to be pedestrian-dominated with landscaped
walking paths and views of gardens and fountains interwoven between the
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buildings. Community courtyards would be available, and a tall tree
would be planted near City Center for decoration during the Christmas
holidays.
The tallest building was designed to be ten stories high, utilizing the first
floor for retail, the next two floors for commercial, the next two floors for
hotel space, the next three floors for apartments, and the top two floors for
condos and rooftop gardens. The buildings would all have multi-purpose
lobbies to be used by residents as used book exchanges, game rooms and
music rooms.
At the periphery of the City Center, designers placed grassy parking lots
and a suspended monorail for mass transit. Large garden walkway bridges
or the monorail would allow safe pedestrian access from the parking lots
to the City Center. Two rapid transit lines, one local and one regional,
would run to and from the hub of the University City District.
City Councilmember, Mike Flanigan, asked Team 1 if they had any cost
figures on the suspended monorail. The team responded that a suspended
monorail costs approximately S10 miltion dollars per mile.
TEAM #2 - Thcmc: "Right Around the Corncr"
This team's design was called "University Village". Spatial planning was
utilized so that the village was dense in the center, growing sparse toward
the periphery. Large parks were located East and West of the village,
housing units were located North and South. Two-story retail spaces
would front Sprague and Appleway. Buildings in the City Center were
designed at a diagonal fi)r better solar utilization, and would be between
four and seven stories high. Parking would be underground, the first two
floors would be used for retail, the next two floors would be commercial
space, and the top floors would be residential.
Landscaping was designed to buffer noise and air pollution as well as to
provide open air public market and meeting spaces. A large fountain
West of the City Center would turn into an ice rink: in the wintertime.
Covered walkways and enclosed exteriors were included in the plan to
protect pedestrians from the elements. An amphitheater was situated East
of the City Center for cultural events.
The proposed Light Rail would provide mass transit, along with Spokane
Transit buses. City Center would be the hub of mass transit activities.
City Planning Technician, Heather Kauer, made the observation that
schools have not been included in either of the plans. Quality schools
need to be brought to urban areas. Professor Scarfo agreed that
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educational institutions are important to future designs, but the group
hasn't decided what levels of education should be addressed yet.
TF.aM 03: Theme - "The Urban River, Bridging Communities to a
Strang Urban Center"
This design focused on creating a monumental site, visible from I-90, for
the Valley's City Center. The Urban Business Campus (UBC) would
consist of buildings seven stories high and made from brick, glass and
concrete. The three tallest buildings would be for multi-generational living
with lobbies and gathering places for residents. There Would be a hotel,
and a school for children during the day and adults at night. City Hall
would be in the center of the UIBC. Also included in the design was a
climbing wall, restaurants, a Visitor's Center, art galleries, a theater, a
supermarket and a department store. Transparent corridors made of glass
would be constructed to corulect buildings.
The UBC would be strictly pedestrian. Parking, Light Rail and bus transit
would all be underground. Steam heat would run between the parking
garage and ground level to heat the U13C and to keep snow off the ground.
The team incorporated a man-made river with several ponds in their
design. Water would be powered through a recirculation system and
heated by steam so it wouldn't freeze. The water would create nice f.'amily
picnic areas. A "Water holly" system, in which water shoots out of holes,
would provide a focus for _year-round activity.
Spokane Transit buses and the Light Rail would be the modes of
transportation for the U1BC. Pedestrian Bridges over busy streets would be
constructed.
Commissioner Kogle asked the students about access for people who are
mobility impaired. The team had not thought this through, but proposed
golf carts and apartments on the lower floors of residential buildings for
this purpose.
C"),
The WSU Design students will take one of the aspects of their team's plan
and design it in greater detail within the next three weeks. They plan to
make CDs of their work, and will be able to provide us with them in about
a month.
Professor Scarfo encouraged the City of Spokane Valley leaders to work
with students from the local colleges and universities at every opportunity.
He also mentioned that the Robert Wood Foundation and CDC are
providing funding for the design and construction of new, healthier
neighborhoods and this might be something the City could look into.
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The Planning Commission thanked Professor Scarfo and his students for
their excellent presentations.
Chairman Gothmann called a short break at 8:10 p.m. The meeting
reconvened at 8:20 p.m. Commissioner Crosby suggested that the
Planning Commission send Professor Scarfo and his students a Certificate
of Appreciation for their great presentation.
B. NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion of City Center
Cominissioner Gotlunann mentioned that he sees a number of forces
moving City toward building a City Center at the University City site.
The multi-generational designs appealed to a number of Commissioners,
and the student presentations brought home the value of a City Center.
Continued Discussion of Proposed R-1 Zone.
Director Sukup reported that she had made some corrections and changes
to the first draft. but still need to work on it more. She handed out her
second draft.
X. FOR,rHE GOOD OF TH-E ORDER
Commissioner Crosby asked about the hand-out from the Spokane County
Hearing Examiner. Director Sukup explained that an annual report is
required in the Hearing Examiner's contract. It was given to the
Commission for information only.
XI. ADJOURNINTENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
SUBMITTED:
De Alley, Administrative Assis t
APPROVED:
Bill Gothinann, Chairman
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