PC APPROVED Minutes 12-08-16 APPROVED Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers—City Hall
December 8,2016
I. Chair Graham called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners, staff and audience stood for
the pledge of allegiance. Secretary Deanna Horton took roll and the following members and staff were
present:
Kevin Anderson Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Heather Graham Lori Barlow, Senior Barlow
James Johnson Micki Harnois, Planner
Tim Kelley
Mike Phillips
Michelle Rasmussen
Suzanne Stathos Deanna Horton, Secretary for the Commission
II. Agenda: Commissioner Rasmussen moved to accept the December 8,2016 agenda as presented. The
vote was seven in favor, zero against and the motion passed.
III. Minutes: Commissioner Anderson moved to approve the October 20, 2016 minutes. The vote on this
motion was seven in favor, zero against, motion passes. The vote on this motion was seven in favor,
zero against, motion passes.
IV. COMMISSION REPORTS: The Commissioners had nothing to report.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Senior Planner Lori Barlow offered the only administrative report
was a thank you to Commissioner Anderson for his years of service to the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Anderson joined the Commission in 2013 and participated in the City's Shoreline
Master Plan, the Comprehensive Plan update and many development regulation changes.
VI. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a) Study Session: Supportive Housing
Planner Micki Harnois began by giving a presentation regarding supportive housing, a review of a
presentation given on June 9,2016 regarding tiny homes and a review of proposed draft regulations.
Ms. Harnois stated tonight's discussion was about supportive housing in general, rather than
location specific lot. Ms.Harnois said the Planning Commission recommended supportive housing
section should be removed from the draft regulations accompanying the Comprehensive Plan
update for further review. The City Council removed this section of the proposed development
regulations in order for further study.
Ms. Harnois reviewed the demographics and emerging trends of tiny homes. Commissioner
Anderson asked if a park model home would be considered acceptable as a tiny home. Ms.Harnois
said based on the way the way they are manufactured they are still considered a recreational vehicle
(RV) and RVs arc only allowed on a property for 30 days, They would be allowed in a RV park
and treated like an RV.
Ms.Harnois showed an example of a tiny home village,of supportive housing call Quixote Village
in Olympia. A village of tiny homes on 2.17 acres,homes are 144 square feet in size,and is owned
by a non-profit. Ms.Harnois stated she visited the village,which has a transit stop across the street
and a community garden. She also showed the a design for a village which has been proposed by
the Fuller Center in Spokane Valley, and pictures of tiny home villages in Portland and Seattle.
Ms, Harnois then explained the definition in the SVMC for a small residential dwelling is: Any
structure built on a lot for dwelling purposes, with access to water, sewer, and electricity, is
considered as a "small residential dwelling". Small residential dwellings on wheels are prohibited.
Ms, Harnois stated to take note of the part which states it must have access to water, sewer and
electricity. Commissioner Anderson clarified the building code would determine the suitable
foundation for a tiny home. Commissioner Stathos clarified there would not be a requirement for
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each unit to hook up to water, sewer and electricity. Ms. Barlow pointed out the proposed
requirements would have a community building where there would be access to water, such as
showers,kitchens and laundry and sewer, such as bathrooms.
The proposed supportive housing requirements are currently:
• Maximum density is 15 dwellings per acre;
• Structure size maximum: 200 sq. ft.excluding porches;
• Building permit required; (Consistent with Title 24 SVMC)
• 0.5 Off-street parking space provided per dwelling;
• Located within a half mile of a bus stop or other transit service;
• On-site community facilities i.e. kitchens, dining,shower, laundry;
• Recreation. areas,garden areas, etc. designed as shared community facilities;
• Buffered and screened from adjacent ROW and surrounding properties;
• Must have a sponsoring agency and operations and security plan
Commissioner Anderson asked where the density of 15 units came from. Ms. Harnois stated the
consultants recommended this density based on what they have seen in other communities.
Commissioner Anderson clarified the maximum of 200 square feet per unit was a consultant
recommendation. Commissioners questioned the 0.50 per unit of off-street parking required, and
how this would be figured out. Commissioner Anderson stated the transit requirement would
hinder any development because of the limited transit service in our city. Commissioner Phillips
clarified the operations and security plan should also have a decommissioning plan should
something happen and the operation did not work out. Ms. Barlow stated all of these items would
be taken care of in the operations manual. Commissioner Anderson suggested having a full-time
manager should be required to be on site at all times.
Commissioner Graham said the Fuller Center is proposing an option of rent to own. Would there
be a rent only requirement for this type of housing, not rent to own so the homes could not be
picked up and moved. Ms. Barlow said this was not addressed in the draft regulations.
Commissioner Graham asked if there was a zone which would allow these homes on a regular lot.
Ms. Barlow stated the current regulations have a minimum width requirement, but the proposed
regulations do not have minimum width requirements, so a small home could be built as long as it
met the building code requirements.
There was a discussion about requiring restroom facilities in each unit,and not in just a community
building. Commissioner Kelley clarified the building code would dictate having the bathrooms in
houses. Mr. Lamb stated the reason for the provision in the proposed regulations was as long as
there was access to a comprehensive supportive unit, there would be access to those services.
Commissioner Phillips stated lie is opposed to not having bathrooms in each facility, he said he
thought this was a part of the discussion when the regulations were proposed earlier in the year.
Commissioner Graham said there was some dignity in being able to have a bathroom in their own
place,as opposed to having to share a facility with someone. Commissioner Johnson stated,he had
not determined his support of the proposal however, the people which are considered to be served
by what is being proposed would appreciate any kind of facility regardless of sharing and anything
which the Commission mandates must be inside will increase the cost of those units.
The supportive housing would be allowed in the R-3, Multifamily, Mixed Use, Corridor Mixed
Use, Neighborhood Commercial, Regional Commercial, and Industrial zones. Commissioner
Graham asked why they would not be allowed in Industrial Mixed Use zone. The supportive
housing would require a conditional use permit which will allow neighbors to comment on the
proposed use. Commissioner Johnson asked if the conditions could be different in each zone. Ms.
Barlow stated the conditions would be the ones which Ms.Harnois had laid out earlier and would
apply to each zone, Ms. Barlow also stated that through the Conditional Use Permit process,
conditions unique to each development could be imposed on the different proposals, but not any
less that what would be required. Commissioner Johnson said there could be an escalating number
of conditions for each zone. Ms. Barlow stated it was possible but did not know how it would be
implemented in the code.
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Ms. Harnois explained the Conditional Use Permit(CUP)process and the steps involved. A CUP
would require a notice of application,a notice of public hearing,and environmental review,it would
have a hearing in front of the Hearing Examiner and would also have an appeal period.
Commissioner Graham clarified the discussion as supportive housing which would be required on
a foundation, people could not rent to own because they would not be able to move the structure.
Ms. Barlow said in theory they could be moved, since they would be placed on a foundation,they
could be picked up and moved, but did agree the homes could not be on wheels. Ms. Barlow also
noted this could be a development for older people in a retirement mode, but this could also be a
development of homeless people looking to try and improve their situation. These could be two
different types of developments, but she did not know how different that would be. Commissioner
Graham asked if a retirement facility could be allowed in an R-3 zone where all the facilities are
required within the unit,but a homeless facility could require community facilities and only allowed
in Industrial zones, for example. Ms. Barlow said staff could look at the possibility of reviewing
the options of differing types of development, but it would implemented in different zones.
Commissioner Stathos stated she has only heard of tiny homes in reference to homeless
developments, she has not heard of any retirees wanting to be in a tiny home. Commissioner
Stathos asked if this would be required to be on church property, Ms. Barlow stated this was not a
requirement at this time. Commissioner Phillips asked about the noticing requirements for the CUP
and hopes that the standard 400 feet noticing requirement should be expanded in this case. Mr.
Lamb stated he wanted to review the proposed noticing language before making any determination
on expanding the noticing requirements. Commissioner Rasmussen asked if staff had reviewed the
homeless projects in Los Angeles or Salt Lake City as Commissioner Graham suggested.
Ms. Barlow reviewed what the Commissioners requested additional information on; Foundation
requirements, the rationale for 15 units per acre, information regarding supervision on site,
requiring bathroom facilities in each unit, rationale for not allowing in Industrial Mixed Use zone,
can different types of developments have different types of requirements (retirement
facility/homeless shelters),why the 0.50 parking space per unit, expanding noticing requirements,
looking at Los Angles and Salt Lake City's experiences, clarifying access to facilities, clarify the
operating plan making sure there is a sponsoring agency and a decommissioning plan, Want to
make sure the plan is being developed in a manner the City wants it developed. Commissioner
Anderson was asking about the possibility of obtaining the information about Quixote Village,such
as sewer, operations and such in order to get an idea as to how they run their facility. There was
some discussion regarding the communal living of the homeless and what they would and would
not do in regards to using a kitchen or community building.
VII. GOOD OF THE ORDER: There was nothing for the good of the order.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:24 p.m. The vote on
the motion was unanimous in favor,motion passed.
c ) r4. a q aor--
Heather Graham, Chair Date signed
/01/3-8,TO
Deanna Horton, Secretary