PC APPROVED Minutes 03-23-17 Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers—City Hall
March 23,2017
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 Karen Kendall, Planner
Mike Phillips
Michelle Rasmussen
Suzanne Stathos,absent excused
Deanna Horton, Secretary for the Commission
Hearing no objections Commissioner Stathos was excused from the meeting.
H. AGENDA: Commissioner Johnson moved to accept the March 23,2017 agenda as presented. The vote
on the motion was five in favor, zero against and the motion passed.
III. MINUTES: Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the March 9, 2017 minutes as presented. The
vote to approve the motion was five in favor, zero against, the motion passes.
IV. COMMISSION REPORTS: The Commissioners had no reports.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: There was no administrative report.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
VII. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a) Public Hearing: STV-2017-0002, Street Vacation of a portion of McMillian Road and an
unnamed Right-of-Way on the City's border.
Chair Graham opened the public hearing at 6:04 p. m. Planner, Karen Kendall presented the
Commissioners an overview of a City initiated street vacation located in the northeast corner of the
City. The request is to vacate a portion of McMillian Road 30 feet in width and an unnamed ROW
16 feet in width along the City's eastern border. The parcels are located east of Barker and north
of the railroad ROW which runs north of Euclid Avenue. The surrounding parcels have the same
owner and are zoned Industrial. Currently the parcels are vacant.. It is recommended to approve
the vacation with conditions.
Having no one who wished to test, Chair Graham closed the public hearing at 6:10 p.m.
Commissioner Johnson moved to recommend approval of STV-2017-002. This motion was
approved five in favor, zero against.
b) Findings of Fact: STV-2017-0002,Street Vacation of a portion of Wilbur between Pines and
Bowdish.
Ms. Kendall presented the staff report and the Planning Commission's Findings of Fact based on
the public hearing for STV-2017-0001, from the March 9,2017 public hearing.
Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the Planning Commission findings for STV-2017-0001.
The vote on this motion was five in favor, zero against, the motion passed.
c) Update on items to come: Senior Planner Lori Barlow gave a brief overview of items which staff
had recently given to the City Council, City Council would like to investigate the possibility of
allowing shipping containers as storage on residential property. Both Spokane and Spokane County
do allow them. Concerns which were raised where aesthetics, and the possibility of the containers
having had hazardous materials in them. Commissioner Graham clarified this would only be
considered for an above ground installation. There is a renewed interest in urban farming and
2017-03-23 Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 2
animal keeping. The some of the subjects which have come up are, reducing water usage by
collection of rain water and gray water for irrigation, this is regulated by the Dept. of Ecology.
Composting toilets cannot be substituted if you can connect to city sewer. Selling produce which
someone grows in their own yard is allowed by state statue. Council would like to allow smaller
animals to be allowed on smaller lots. Currently other than chickens, animals are only allowed on
lots consisting of one acre or more. The City of Spokane and Spokane County allow smaller
animals on some lots based on height and weight. Staff will be bringing forward discussion for
review by the Planning Commission.
VIII. GOOD OF THE ORDER: There was nothing for the good of the order.
IX. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:28 p.m. The vote on
the motion was unanimous in favor, motion passed.
,r/ Heather Graham, Chair Date signed
V16-)46-)6
Deanna Horton, Secretary