Agenda 07/24/2008 SPOKANE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
COUNCIL CHAMBERS -CITY HALL 11707 E. SPRAGUE AVENUE
JULY 24, 2008
6:00 TO 9:00 PM
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ROLL CALL
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
VII. COMMISSION REPORTS
VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS: PUBLIC HEARING UDC CODE AMENDMENT OF HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN
NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONES
X. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
XI. ADJOURNMENT
COMMISSIONERS CITY STAFF
IAN ROBERTSON, CHAIR KATHY MCCLUNG, CD DIRECTOR
FRED BEAULAC, VICE-CHAIR GREG MCCORMICK, PLANNING MGR, AICP
JOHN G. CARROLL SCOTT KUHTA, LONG RANGE PLANNER, AICP
CRAIG EGGLESTON MIKE BASINGER, SENIOR PLANNER, AICP
GAIL KOGLE CARY DRISKELL, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
MARCIA SANDS DEANNA GRIFFITH, ADMIN
ART SHARPE WWW.SPOKANEVALLEY.ORG
CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
Request for Planning Commission Action
Meeting Date: July 24, 2008 City Manager Sign-off:
Item: Check all that apply: ❑ consent ❑ old business ❑ new business ® public hearing
El information ❑ admin. report ❑ pending legislation
AGENDA ITEM TITLE Public Hearing to amend Spokane Valley Municipal Code by permitting
certain accessory structures to exceed the height limits in the Commercial, Office, Mixed Use
and Industrial Zones.
GOVERNING LEGISLATION: RCW 36.70A.390 and RCW 35A.63.220
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: None
BACKGROUND: On May 5, 2008, Mr. Schultz, on behalf of Wolff Enterprises, LLC, applied for
a code amendment to allow certain accessory structures to exceed the height limits in the City's
Commercial, Office, Mixed Use and Industrial zones. A similar provision is already in place in
the City's Residential areas. The Planning Commission held a study session on this item on July
10, 2008.
ANALYSIS: Spokane Valley Municipal Code Section 17.80.150(6) provides approval criteria
that amendments of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code must meet. Those criteria include:
1. The proposed amendment(s) are consistent with the applicable provisions of the
Comprehensive Plan.
2. The proposed amendment(s) bear a substantial relation to the public health, safety,
welfare and protection of the environment.
Staff Comment: In its Land Use Goals, the Comprehensive Plan calls for a wide array of
industries, as well as a variety of housing, retail, and other services. The Economic Goals
include provisions that allow for a flexible regulatory environment. The majority of the items
proposed herein are directly related to commercial or industrial development. Thriving industrial
areas are an important component of the city's economy. The types of businesses that would
utilize this exception are also the type of business that provide living wage jobs. In many cases,
heights which exceed the current minimum are required for the proper function of such
industries. In other circumstances, items that exceed the height limits are traditional
architectural items such as church steeples or flagpoles. Items such as parapet walls provide
buffering for rooftop mounted equipment. Allowing exceptions to the height requirement
provides a certain measure of flexibility for developers, while still meeting the intent of the plan
overall.
OPTIONS: Review and recommend approval or non-approval as drafted or amended.
RECOMMENDED ACTION OR MOTION: Staff's opinion is that the proposed amendment
meets the above noted criteria and recommend that the Planning Commission conduct forward
a recommendation to amend the Municipal Code by permitting certain accessory structures to
exceed the height requirement in the commercial, office, mixed use and industrial zones.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACTS: NA
STAFF CONTACT: Christina Janssen-Assistant Planner
ATTACHMENTS:
(1) Amended Text 19.60.010, 19.70.010, & 19.70.020
I 7-24-08 Public Hearing Code Amendment
19.60.010 General Requirements
A. Nonresidential development shall meet the minimum setback and the maximum
height requirements shown in Table 19.60-1.
B. Parking areas shall be paved and landscape in accordance with Chapter 22.50
SVMC.
C. New development exceeding three stories in height shall be provided with paved
service lanes not less than 16 feet in width.
D. All new development shall provide for shared access with adjacent properties.
E. The following structures may be erected above the height limits of this Code in
the Office. Commercial. and Mixed Use zones.provided: (A) The structure is
accessory to or part of a building which is a permitted use in the zone: (B) The
structure complies with the height limits in the Airport Overlay zone: and(C)No
residential use of the structure shall occur above the height limits prescribed in the
zone.
1. Penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators.
stairways.tanks. ventilating fans. or similar equipment to operate
and maintain a building.
2. Fire or parapet walls, skylights, flagpoles. chimneys. church
steeples.belfries. wireless masts. and similar structures.
3. Structures such as silos. feed mills.batch plats. and fixed cranes
which are sued in a manufacturing process which utilizes vertical
processing and storage of materials.
4. Water stand pipes and tanks.
19.70.010 I-1, Light Industrial District
A. The Light Industrial designation is a planned industrial area with special emphasis
and attention given to aesthetics, landscaping and internal and community
compatibility. Typical uses would include technology and other low-impact
industries. Light industrial areas may also include office and commercial uses as
ancillary uses within an overall plan for industrial development.
B. Supplemental Regulations.
1. The outdoor storage provisions contained in SVMC
19.60.060(B) shall apply to the I-1 district.
2. Mobile food vendors shall be located on/within designated areas
which do not interfere with parking or internal circulation with
permission of the property owner,health certificate and permit.
3. Setbacks
a. Front and flanking street yard setbacks shall be 20 feet; and
b. Side and rear yard setbacks of 35 feet are required only
adjacent to residential zoning districts. (Ord. 07-015 4,
2007)
4. The following structures may be erected above the height limits
of this Code in the Office. Commercial. and Mixed Use zones,
provided:
Page 1 of 3
I 7-24-08 Public Hearing Code Amendment
(aA) The structure is accessory to or part of a building which is a
permitted use in the zone:
(bB) The structure complies with the height limits in the Airport
Overlay zone: and
(cG)No residential use of the structure shall occur above the
height limits prescribed in the zone.
ia. Penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators.
stairways. tanks.ventilating fans. or similar equipment to
operate and maintain a building.
iib. Fire or parapet walls. skylights. flagpoles. chimneys.
church steeples. belfries, wireless masts. and similar
structures.
iiie. Structures such as silos, feed mills.batch plats. and fixed
cranes which are sued in a manufacturing process which
utilizes vertical processing and storage of materials.
ivEl. Water stand pipes and tanks.
19.70.020 I-2, Heavy Industrial District
A. Heavy Industrial designated property is characterized by intense industrial
activities which include manufacturing, processing, fabrication, assembly, freight
handling and similar operations. Heavy industry may have significant noise, odor
or aesthetic impacts.
C. Supplemental Regulations.
1. I-2 allows any use permitted in the I-1 zoning district, except as
specifically provided in Appendix 19-A.
2. Mobile food vendors shall be located on/within designated areas
which do not interfere with parking or internal circulation with
permission of the property owner,health certificate and permit.
3. The following structures may be erected above the height limits
of this Code in the Office. Commercial. and Mixed Use zones,
provided:
(aA) The structure is accessory to or part of a building which is a
permitted use in the zone;
(bB) The structure complies with the height limits in the Airport
Overlay zone: and
(cG)No residential use of the structure shall occur above the
height limits prescribed in the zone.
ia. Penthouses or roof structures for the housing of elevators.
stairways. tanks.ventilating fans, or similar equipment to
operate and maintain a building.
iib. Fire or parapet walls. skylights. flagpoles.
chimneys. church steeples,belfries, wireless masts, and
similar structures.
iiie. Structures such as silos. feed mills. batch plats. and
fixed cranes which are sued in a manufacturing process
Page 2 of 3
7-24-08 Public Hearing Code Amendment
which utilizes vertical processing and storage of
materials.
ivd. Water stand pipes and tanks.
Page 3 of 3