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Agenda 03/11/2004 SPOKANE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA Council Chambers - City Hall 11707 E. Sprague Avenue 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. * * * March 11, 2004 * * * I. CALL TO ORDER II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. ROLL CALL IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • February 26, 2004 VI. PUBLIC COMMENT VII. COMMISSION REPORTS VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT XI. COMMISSION BUSINESS New Business: • Discussion of Comprehensive Plan Introduction Chapter Draft X. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER Xl. ADJOURNMENT COMMISSIONERS CITY STAFF Fred Beaulac Marina Sukup, AICP Robert Blum Greg McCormick, AICP John G. Carroll Scott Kuhta, AICP David Crosby Debi Alley William Gothmann, Chair Gail Kogle Ian Robertson, Vice-Chair www.spokanevalley.org Spokane Valley Planning Commission DRAFT Minutes Council Chambers—City Hall 11707 E. Sprague Ave. February 26,2004 I. CALL TO ORDER Bill Gothmann,Planning Commission Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Commission, audience, and staff recited the Pledge of Allegiance. III. ROLL CALL Fred Beaulac—Present Bill Gothmann—Present Bob Blum—Present Ian Robertson—Excused Absence David Crosby—Present John G. Carroll—Present Gail Kogle—Present IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Crosby moved that the February 26,2004 agenda be approved as presented. Commissioner Beaulac seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Gothmann requested a change be made to the second item under Administrative Reports on Page Two. The second sentence will be changed to read: "City Council passed the ordinance at its advanced it to its second reading." It was moved by Commissioner Crosby and seconded by Commissioner Blum that the minutes of the February 12, 2004 Planning Commission meeting be approved as amended. Motion passed unanimously. VI. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. VII. COMMISSION REPORTS Commissioner Blum attended the February 24th City Council meeting. The Floodplain Ordinance was passed. The Sign Code Text Amendment was advanced to its second reading. Commissioner Kogle brought minutes and backup from the February Light Rail Citizens' Advisory Committee. This committee will be meeting again next week. She will provide copies of materials to anyone who is interested. DRAFT DRAFT VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Ms. Sukup reported that at the February 24`h meeting, City Council advanced the Building Code to its second reading. She briefed the Council on the proposed Article I, Section 1.20 of the Spokane Valley Uniform Development Code relating to Enforcement&Penalties. The Council was also briefed on Building Code Sprinkler Regulations. The Deputy City Manager is working to set up another Joint Council/Commission Planning Session for March. So far,Monday,March 15th looks like the most reasonable date. She asked Commissioners to let her know if they would be available. All present, with the exception of Commissioner Carroll, were available to meet on that date. IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS A. OLD BUSINESS: There was no Old Business. B. NEW BUSINESS: Article I of the Uniform Development Code At 6:37 p.m., Commissioner Gothmann opened the Public Hearing for consideration of an Ordinance establishing Article I, Section 1.20 or the Spokane Valley Uniform Development Code relating to Enforcement& Penalties; repealing ordinances in conflict, providing for severability and effective date. Ms. Sukup explained that this proposed Ordinance is a result of minor modifications to City Ordinance No. 03-078. It provides the necessary authority and procedural tools for the uniform enforcement of many land use violations, including those related to planning, engineering design, building and floodplain regulations, as well as zoning. The word "Director"has been changed to "City" or"authorized representative of the City". The word"citation"has been replaced with"notice of violation". Commissioners noted corrections within the draft. There was no public testimony in the matter before the Commission. Commissioner Crosby moved that the Planning Commission recommend this Ordinance, as corrected, to the City Council for consideration and approval. Commissioner Kogle seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The Public Hearing was closed at 6:48 p.m. 2 DRAFT DRAFT Discussion of Community Meeting Format Mr. McCormick presented an outline for Comp Plan Neighborhood Meetings. The first meeting is scheduled for March 25`h from 7:00—9:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Staff is planning to hold an informal open house at 6:30 for registration, study of maps, and conversation with participants. The meeting will begin at 7:00 with overviews of Growth Management Act requirements and Comprehensive Plan issues. Participants will then break out into small groups to identify three city- wide issues and three neighborhood issues they would address if they were "Mayor for a Day". The smaller groups will report back to the large group to vote for the top three issues in both categories. The meeting will wrap up with a summary of outcomes. Neighborhood meetings will probably take around two hours, depending upon the number of participants and their concerns. Planners and Planning Commission members will act as facilitators at these events. Group presentations will differ from Neighborhood Meetings in that there will only be a staff presentation and a question and answer session afterward. They will be tailored to suit the organization, so run times and subject matter will vary. Meetings will be publicized by posting notice in newspapers and on the City's new website, asking the press to publish short articles about some of the more compelling issues, and printing and distributing flyers. Commissioner Gothmann suggested that we find a way to emphasize "how can this process help you?"in the publicity for the community participation events. Suggestions to enhance the Comp Plan Community Participation process included: • Have a comment sheet or survey available at the door so we can get feedback from our citizens on major issues that the City will be dealing with in the Community Survey. • Planning Commissioners can distribute flyers door to door for Neighborhood Meetings. Service groups can be provided copies of flyers to hand out in advance of their meetings. • When Commissioners approach group or community leaders with the idea of having a meeting or group presentation, it would be wise to take copies of maps and a copy of the County Comp Plan so that they understand the full scope of what the City is trying to accomplish, one group at a time. • Have Neighborhood Meeting schedules printed in high school newsletters. They always get distributed to parents. 3 DRAFT DRAFT X. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER There were no reports. XI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business,the meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m. SUBMITTED: APPROVED: Debi Alley,Administrative Assistant William H. Gothmann, Chairman 4 CHAPTER 1 — INTRODUCTION t0 Introduction The Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan (SVCP) lays out a vision for the future of Spokane Valley during a 20-year period and responds to the requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA) of 1990 and subsequent amendments. The SVCP is also consistent with and incorporates the Spokane County Countywide Planning Policies (CWPPs). This chapter gives an overview of the comprehensive planning effort, profiles Spokane Valley's past and present, and concludes with a discussion of Spokane Valley's vision for its future. 1.1 Comprehensive Planning Effort Why Plan? Spokane Valley plans for people. People need a safe and secure Photograph 1 -Spokane River place to live, an economy that provides jobs, a transportation system that allows them to get r t1. around, schools, colleges, and l' l.T ti ^ • { 3 _ �olio"- recreational opportunities. It is the city government's ,. """ a i.y► responsibility to provide public - services and facilities, develop policies, and adopt regulations to guide the growth of a city that meets the needs of its people. From incorporation to the ,. - �.� ;` present, the guide for Spokane " Valley's growth and development has been the Interim Comprehensive Plan. While the Plan guides growth and development in the City, it also provides a plan for preservation of the natural environment that is such an important component of the community. What is a Comprehensive Plan? The role of the SVCP is to clearly state our community's vision for its future, and to articulate a plan for accomplishing this vision over a 20-year period. The SVCP seeks to answer a number of questions: • What areas are most suitable for development or redevelopment? • What areas should be preserved in their natural state? • Where should growth occur? • How can we manage that growth to realize our vision for the community? SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 1 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION • How should we address our current and future transportation needs? • How many parks do we need, of what size, kind and where? • What steps should we take to encourage desirable economic development? • How can we ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing for all income levels? • What utilities and public services will we need? • How will the community pay for all these things? Each of the SVCP chapters addresses these questions, and more, in the areas of transportation, land use, housing, capital facilities, economic development, utilities, and parks and recreation. The answers form the implementation statements, which guide the achievement of those strategies. The implementation strategies within each chapter are used to guide the development of new regulations and guidelines or revised existing regulations. The SVCP also sets a clear framework for where the community will need to spend money on capital facilities, how much, and identifies available funding sources. As a whole, the SVCP offers a flexible framework for Spokane Valley's future, allowing for adaptation to changing conditions over time. Requirements of the Growth Management Act The GMA (RCW 36.70A. 140) was passed by the Washington State Legislature in 1990, with amendments added in 1991 and subsequent years. The legislature passed the GMA in recognition of the rate of growth that was occurring throughout the state. The legislature was responding not only to the rate of growth, but also to the type and location of growth. Two-thirds of the state's population and household growth in the 1980s took place in unincorporated areas, and produced sprawling subdivisions, commercial strips, and urbanization of land, which only ten years before, was rural. This rapid growth pattern resulted in increased traffic congestion and inadequate public services, and has threatened forestland, agricultural land, and environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands. These impacts have been felt in the Spokane region, just as they have been in other parts of the state. The GMA requires that each jurisdiction produce a comprehensive plan that contains, at a minimum, elements pertaining to land use, transportation, capital facilities, economic development, parks & recreation, housing, and private utilities. These elements must be consistent with one another. Jurisdictions also are required to adopt policies and regulations protecting resource lands and critical areas, such as agricultural land, wetlands, and hillsides. Each jurisdiction must coordinate its plan with the plans of surrounding jurisdictions. The GMA also requires that each city designate an urban growth boundary (UGA). The UGA defines the area within which the city anticipates it could provide the full range of urban services at some time in the future. It also represents the area within which the city will consider annexations and the boundary beyond which it will not annex. Perhaps what most distinguishes the GMA from previous planning statutes is the requirement that public services be available or funded at some designated level of service before development may occur. If a jurisdiction cannot provide services to an SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION area, then it may not permit development in that area. This requirement is often referred to as "concurrency". Development of countywide planning policies (CWPPs) is required by the GMA to ensure a coordinated and regional approach in the development of comprehensive plans. CWPPs provide an overall framework of policies within which each local government jurisdiction will develop or update its comprehensive plan. The policies also guide how jurisdictions should interact with one another regarding specific issues. Developing the CWPPs was coordinated by the Steering Committee of Elected Officials which consists of officials from Spokane County and its eleven cities and towns (prior to incorporation of the cities of Liberty Lake in 2001 and Spokane Valley in 2003), along with representatives from water, school and fire districts, utility companies and the public. The Steering Committee had the difficult task of balancing often-conflicting ideas with developing policies which provide the greatest benefit for Spokane Valley and its citizens. The CWPPs focused on the following areas: 1. Implementation of Urban Growth Areas (UGAs). 2. Promotion of contiguous and orderly development of urban services. 3. Siting of countywide or statewide public capital facilities. 4. Parks and open space. 5. Countywide transportation facilities and strategies. 6. Considering the need for affordable housing for all economic segments. 7. Joint County and City planning within UGAs. 8. Countywide economic development and employment. 9. Producing an analysis of the fiscal impact of GMA. The SVCP is required to have internal consistency among the plan's various elements. The Plan must also be coordinated and consistent with the plans of adjacent jurisdictions. The GMA directs local governments to attempt to resolve conflicts through consultation and negotiation. Perhaps the most far reaching of the GMA impacts is the legal status it gives comprehensive plans. Prior to GMA, plans have largely been advisory and had less legal standing than regulations. Once the Plan is adopted, all new codes and programs subsequently adopted and implemented must be consistent with it. How Was the Plan Developed? The ideas in the SVCP were developed through discussion, debate, and the creative thinking of thousands of Spokane Valley residents, working with elected and appointed officials and city staff. Consistent with the GMA, Spokane Valley provided early and continuous opportunities for citizens to participate in the development of the Plan. The planning process, which started in the Fall of 2003, began with a series of workshops with the City Council and Planning Commission to familiarize them with the requirements of the GMA. Early in 2004, the City Council and Planning Commission held a number of joint meetings to discuss comprehensive plan related issues and drafted a vision for the staff to use as guidance during the development of the draft plan. SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 3 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION The City conducted a survey of randomly selected citizens early in 2004 to solicit citizen input on a wide range of issues including land use, aesthetics, transportation, parks and recreation and budget priorities. The outcome of that survey was used in the preparation of the city's draft plan. Additionally, the city conducted a number of community workshops to gather direct input from citizens on a variety of issues. These workshops commenced in March 2004 and continued through... Organization of the Plan While we cannot predict the future, we can attempt to shape the type of community in which we live, work, and play. The SVCP functions as the City's statement of how it will meet the challenges posed by growth in the 21st century. The heart of the SVCP is the eight individual elements that outline goals and policies. The SVCP includes seven elements that are mandated by the GMA: land use, transportation, capital facilities, housing, private utilities, economic development, and parks and recreation. It also includes a Natural Environment Element, which the GMA does not mandate, but is appropriate. The Natural Environment Element is a chapter that describes the City's commitment to the preservation of the natural environment and implementation strategies to make it happen. Each of these elements has been coordinated with the others, resulting in a plan that is internally consistent. Each of the strategies in the SVCP, while expressing a specific policy direction, also functions as part of a coordinated expression of the City's vision for the future. Plan implementation is the next step and is discussed in the final section of this chapter. Additionally, the Plan contains a glossary of terms at the end of the document to help the reader with terms that may not be clear or understandable. 1.2 Spokane Valley's Community Profile: Past and Present Planning for the future requires a good understanding of how our community has grown and changed in the past. The following discussion provides that backdrop as a context for subsequent chapters. The first permanent settler in the Spokane Map 1 -Spokane County circa 1800's Valley was Antoine Plante, a retired French- Canadian trapper. Plante built a cabin near the Spokane River in 1849, from which he operated a small Hudson's Bay Company f • trading post. Other settlers began arriving in this area between 1865 and 1882. n " j "Firsts" to occur in Spokane Valley include the first settler in 1849, first business and ; ferry in 1850, the first store and bridge in 1862, the first house in 1866 and the first post office in 1867. All of these "firsts" occurred before the arrival in 1873 of James ---- - Glover who was considered the "Father of Spokane". SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 4 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION In 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad opened the west up with transcontinental railroad. The new railroad coupled with the discovery of silver in north Idaho created an influx of people to the Spokane Valley area. Within a few years the Spokane area was connected to the rest of the country by five transcontinental railroads. The next major innovation to Spokane Valley was the introduction of irrigation to the area. Within 20 years 30,000 acres of dry land had been converted into fertile farm land. The first irrigation systems were constructed between 1899 and 1905. The Valley population grew from 1,000 residents at the turn of the century to nearly 10,000 by 1922. During this time apple growing became the predominant agricultural crop with nearly 2 million apple trees being planted by 1912. As the population of the Valley increased, small communities with churches, schools, businesses, community clubs and other organizations thrived. Prior to World War II, the federal government made a decision to build an aluminum plant in Spokane Valley along the Spokane River. Additionally, the federal government identified a need for warehouse space and facilities to support coastal activities during the war. In 1942, Spokane Valley was chosen as a site for one of these Inland Supply Depots. The Naval Storage Yards are now the Valley Industrial Park, which has 5,000,000 square feet of gross leaseable floor area. "The only way to predict the future is to invent it." Rapid growth continued in Spokane Valley throughout the 50's, 60's, and Photograph 2-Sprague Avenue—Early Days 70's. Along with this continued growth i came concerns regarding the impact of the development on the Valley environment. Citizens concerns were - related to impacts to lakes in the area _' _ as well as the aquifer underlying a Y--01,7 -,- majority of the Spokane Valley. No protections were put into place to - • address these issues; sanitary sewers were not required for new construction. Steady residential and commercial growth continued in the Spokane Valley throughout the 80's and 90's. Hewlett Packard was the first of several high tech companies that opened operations in the Industrial Park and Liberty Lake areas. The State Board of Health threatened to enact a moratorium on new development in 1983, unless sewering of the Valley began. In response Spokane County developed a wastewater management plan that put into motion construction of a sewer trunk line and sanitary sewer was provided to citizens of Spokane Valley. Spokane Valley is the 9th largest city in Washington State. The incorporation of Spokane Valley is the largest in the state and the 2nd largest single incorporation in U.S. history. The population at the time of incorporation was estimated at 80,693. Spokane Valley encompasses approximately 38.5 square miles of land area. Spokane Valley has an SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 5 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION extensive retail tax base and is home to several major auto dealerships and the Valley Mall which includes over 700,000 square feet of gross leaseable floor area. There are an estimated 5,000 business in Spokane Valley and estimated annual retail sales of $42,000,000. Past Incorporation Efforts The first Spokane Valley incorporation effort began in 1985. In November 1985 the Boundary Review Board of Spokane County (BRB) approved the proposal with modified boundaries. Before the incorporation was place on the ballot, the BRB decision was challenged in Spokane County Superior Court. After additional information was considered, the BRB voted to deny the proposal in December 1987. In 1990, the City of Chief Joseph was proposed in the Spokane Valley. After four public hearings the BRB recommended denial of the proposed city (state law had been changed and the BRB could not deny a proposal if the population was over 7,500). The incorporation was on the November ballot and was only able to gain support from 34 percent of the voters. State law requires that if an incorporation vote fails to get 40 percent of the vote the incorporation proposal cannot be brought back on the ballot for three years. In 1993 proponents of incorporation continued their efforts and a petition to incorporate was filed with the BRB. After several public hearings the BRB again recommended denial of the proposed incorporation due to the large amount of rural land included within the proposed city boundary. The proposal once again failed but received 44 percent of the vote, which enabled incorporation proponents to bring the matter back without any time restrictions. Photograph 3 -Spokane Valley looking south _ li. ., -tis` Inspired by the 1993 vote, incorporation backers again initiated the incorporation process in 1995. The matter was again defeated by the voters in 1995, but did receive over 40 percent of the vote, which enabled the proposal to be brought back the following year. Immediately after the 1995 election, proposals to incorporate five separate cities in the Spokane Valley were filed with the county. Only two of the five proposed cities were certified by the county auditor and placed on the ballot. Both incorporation votes received less than 40 percent of the vote, preventing another election for three years. SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 6 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION In past incorporation votes, proponents had included the area of Liberty Lake within its incorporation boundaries. In 2000 an incorporation vote was on the ballot for the Liberty Lake community only. This was approved by voters and the new City of Liberty Lake incorporated on August 31, 2001. The incorporation of Spokane Valley was undertaken again the 2001. The proposal was placed on the ballot in May 2002 and passed!! However, the vote was very close. Approximately 25 percent of the registered voters turned out to vote and the incorporation measure received a 51 percent favorable vote. The date of incorporation was set for March 31, 2003. Getting to the Future from the Present The SVCP is intended to guide growth and change in Spokane Valley over the next 20 years. The future described in the SVCP cannot be achieved all at once. Over the life of the Plan, growth will likely occur more slowly at times and more rapidly at other times. This growth will occur in somewhat different patterns and sequences than is currently foreseen. The best a comprehensive plan can be is a well-educated guess about how to accommodate people and conditions that cannot be known in advance, only anticipated. An effective comprehensive plan must be flexible enough to succeed within a range of likely conditions and must be adjusted as those conditions are monitored and evaluated, while maintaining a steady aim at the ultimate goals. A comprehensive plan is not a static document. In order to remain a useful planning and decision making tool, it must be updated regularly to reflect the changing conditions of the city and region. How Will the Plan be Implemented? Adopting a comprehensive plan is only the first step toward realizing the City's vision. The vision is actually achieved through the implementation of the policy direction of the comprehensive plan. Spokane Valley's implementation program is comprised of short- term and long-term actions. Short-term actions include the approval of rezones that match the SVCP's plan map designations. Other actions include updating the City's development regulations, including zoning, subdivision, critical areas, and others, to be consistent with and implement the strategies and implementation statements in the comprehensive plan. Additionally, annually updating the city's Capital Facilities Plan, which describes the street, park, and other capital projects the city intends to build. There are also long-term actions that will be necessary including sub-area plans, monitoring, evaluating, and amending the Plan as conditions change; and developing a capital investment program to allocate resources to projects that will spur the City's development in the direction envisioned in the SVCP. Application of the Plan The principal purpose of the comprehensive plan is to provide policies that guide development of the City in the context of regional growth management. These policies can be looked to by citizens and all levels of government for the future of the City of Spokane Valley. SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 7 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION The SVCP format generally presents a discussion about an issue followed by strategies and implementation statements related to the strategy. Strategies describe what the City hopes to realize over time and are not mandates or guarantees. Implementation statements describe specific actions that will need to be taken if the City is to realize the community's vision. Implementation statements should be read as if preceded by the words, "It is the City's general policy to ". Implementation statements help guide creation or modification of specific rules or strategies (such as development regulations, budgets, or program area plans). Implementation involves a range of city actions over time, so one cannot simply ask whether a specific action or project would fulfill a particular implementation statement. Some implementation statements may appear to conflict, particularly in the context of a specific fact, situation, or viewed from the different perspectives of persons whose interests may conflict on a given issue. A classic example is the perceived "conflict" between implementation calling for the "preservation of the environment" and statements that "promote economic development". Because SVCP implementation statements do not exist in isolation and must be viewed in the context of all potentially relevant implementation, it is largely in the application of those implementation statements that interests, which they embody, are reconciled and balanced by the legislative and executive branches of city government. Discussion is provided to explain the context in which decisions on strategies and implementation statements have been made, the reasons for those decisions, and how the strategies and implementation statements are related. The discussion portions of the SVCP do not establish or modify implementation statements, but they may help to interpret those statements. Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process The City will update the SVCP annually in order to keep this document current with the community's vision and the City Council's policy direction. In addition to updating chapters, such as Capital Facilities, the public will also be notified that a comprehensive plan amendment process will be taking place. Individual requests will be considered during the annual update process. SPOKANE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 8 CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION T.:- ,- "a REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH February 25, 2004 Marina Sukup Director of Community Development City of Spokane Valley 11707 E. Sprague Ave, Suite 106 Spokane Valley, WA. 99206 Dear Marina Sukup, On behalf of Redeemer I would like to extend an invitation to you to use Redeemer as a vehicle for both sharing information and receiving communication from our community regarding the new city comprehensive plan. We would like to invite you and/or one of your colleagues in the planning department to come to a community workshop on March 25, 2004 from 7—9 p.m. If this date doesn't work, be sure to get back to us because we will try to be as flexible as we possibly can in scheduling this. We want you to know that as an organization within the new city, we appreciate your work and appreciate the planning process very much. We would like you to know that Redeemer appreciates all that you are doing and have done and we appreciate your reaching out into the community seeking input on these very important issues. If there is anything that we can do to further this process or to be helpful be sure to let us know. Sin e , Philip . Streufert, Senior Pastor 3606 South Schafer Road Spokane,Washington 99206-9516 (509) 926-63t