PC APPROVED Minutes 02-09-17 Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers—City Hall
February 9,2017
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:
Heather Graham Cary Driskell, City Attorney
James Johnson Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Tim Kelley Micki Harnois, Planner
Mike Phillips
Michelle Rasmussen
Suzanne Stathos
Deanna Horton, Secretary for the Commission
II. Agenda: Commissioner Johnson moved to accept the February 9, 2017 agenda as presented. The vote
was six in favor, zero against and the motion passed.
III. Minutes: Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the January 09, 2017 minutes. The vote on this
motion was six in favor, zero against, motion passes.
IV. COMMISSION REPORTS: Commissioner Kelley reported he attended a Traders Club meeting,
which is a group of commercial real estate brokers.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Senior Planner Lori Barlow informed the Commission the next
meeting would have a study session for a street vacation.
VI. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a) Study Session: Supportive Housing
Planner Micki Harnois gave the Commissioners an update on supportive housing with information
the Commissioners had requested from the previous meeting. Ms. Harnois had gathered
information regarding how different cities handled their supportive housing regulations:
• Olympia has regulations for temporary emergency homeless encampments, generally
tents, which must be hosted by a religious organization and regulations for a homeless
encampment in an industrial area which has permanent housing for the temporary use of
homeless people. The County homeless encampment provides temporary housing on a
permanent site in an industrial area, is owned by a non-profit and was built with grants
and donations. There is on site supervision and community building for showers,
gathering and laundry. Quixote Village was constructed under the County homeless
encampment regulations.
• Portland has regulations which allow sites to be declared as designated campgrounds.
One of two such Portland campgrounds allowed for transitional housing
accommodations which have a maximum two-year stay. This supportive housing
provides for the residents to govern themselves. Dignity Village was constructed under
these regulations.
• Seattle has regulations to allow supportive housing in industrial and commercial areas
but allowed in any zone if an accessory to a religious organization. The property must
be owned by the city, private party or educational institute. Both transitional housing
and tents on wooden platforms are allowed.
• Los Angeles does not have any kind of supportive housing regulations. Currently they
are converting old motels and developing unused city land for homeless apartments.
• Salt Lake City does not have any supportive housing regulations. Currently Salt Lake
City is working to site four new homeless shelters with 150 beds each.
2017-02-09 Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 3
• The Transitional Living Center located in northwest Spokane is building cottage housing
development with supportive services for the homeless.
http://www.help4women.org/new-housing-for-homeless-families-begins-in-northwest-
spokane.
• Several examples of permanent supportive housing for the homeless in the form of
apartment type buildings were provided. Olympia, Portland, Seattle, Spokane and
Spokane Valley either have already built or are in the process of building apartment like
transitional housing complexes for homeless populations.
Commissioner Rasmussen requested staff to print copies of WA Senate Bill SB 5656 which is
currently being proposed concerning the goals of ending homelessness. Commissioner Rasmussen
was concerned by Part IV which states"By July I, 2018, a local government that duly enacts laws
and ordinance that provide for homeless encampments must authorize as many spaces as necessary
to house all of that local government's homeless population." Ms. Rasmussen was concerned how
this could affect the City. City Attorney Cary Driskell stated he was not familiar with the bill and
stated that this is not something which the Council has added to the legislative agenda. He also
stated he was not sure how likely it was to be adopted,and he would rather not offer an opinion on
it at this time. Commissioner Rasmussen also requested the link to the Spokane County Regional
Plan to End Homelessness https://static.spokanecity.org/documents/chhs/plans-
reports/reports/2009-road-home-update.pdf, and the update for the plan
https://static.spokaneeity.org/documents/chhs/plans-reports/planning/2015-2020-
strategic-plan-to-end-homelessness.pdf, as well as the Resolution 10-001 which is the
City's agreement to participate in the regional plan, be included as part of the record.
The Commissioners discussed what their end result should be. Ms.Barlow simply stated the draft
regulations had been removed from the Comprehensive Plan for further study and returned to the
Planning Commission for review. Commissioners Stathos stated she was in favor of permanent
housing for the homeless if someone would be monitoring and caring for a facility, but was not in
favor of encampments or tiny house villages. Commissioner Kelley stated in the beginning the
discussion was around people being able to become home owners. He said lie likes the idea of
permanent apartments. They are an efficient use of land and can provide more housing than putting
tiny homes on a site. He has seen the apartments which are being built in downtown Spokane and
feels those are a good example. He would support either development. Commissioner Phillips
stated he was glad the cottages stayed in the regulations however,lie does not support a tiny home
development or encampments. He is happy the regulations are the way they are. Commissioner
Rasmussen said based on the research she has done she would support charities building all of the
apartment type housing they would like, however after seeing what has happened in Seattle she
feels there needs to be another way to provide for the homeless. Commissioner Graham clarified
there was nothing in the current code which would prevent a charity from building apartment type
housing in the City in commercial zones and Multifamily Residential zones. Commissioner
Johnson still had too many questions to make a decision. Commissioner Graham asked what the
obligations were. Mr.Driskell stated there were no obligations to provide homeless encampments
in the City. The City does not want to be a provider of social services. Staff will contact some of
the service providers to consult with them to determine if our regulations preclude the types of
projects they anticipate providing in the future. If our current regulations are sufficient, then the
Commission would see no reason to pursue any further development of regulations for supportive
housing.
VII. GOOD OF THE ORDER: There was nothing for the good of the order.
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VIII. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m. The vote on
the motion was unanimous in favor, motion passed.
011/<1. 416 gIao11--
Heather Graham, Chair Date signed
a IML.4/0
Deanna Horton, Secretary