PC APPROVED Minutes 04-13-17 APPROVED Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers--City Hall
April 13,2017
I. Vice Chair Johnson 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, absent--excused Cary Driskell, City Attorney
James Johnson Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Tim Kelley Micki Harnois, Planner
Mike Phillips
Michelle Rasmussen
Suzanne Stathos
Matt Walton Deanna Horton, Secretary for the Commission
Hearing no objections Commissioner Graham was excused from the meeting.
H. AGENDA: Commissioner Rasmussen moved to accept the April 13, 2017 agenda as presented. The
vote on the motion was six in favor, zero against and the motion passed.
III. MINUTES: Commissioner Rasmussen moved to approve the March 23, 2017 minutes as presented.
The vote to approve the motion was six in favor, zero against, the motion passes.
IV. COMMISSION REPORTS: Commissioner Johnson welcomed new member Matt Walton to the
Commission.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: There was no administrative report.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
VII. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a) Planning Commission Findings of Fact: STV-2017-0002, Street Vacation of a portion of
McMillian Road and an unnamed Right-of-Way on the City's border.
Senior Planner Lori Barlow presented the Commission with the Planning Commission's Findings
of Fact for the City initiated street vacation STV-2017-0002. Commissioner Kelley clarified this
street vacation would not conflict with the grade separation project being considered for Barker
Road. The Findings have been prepared based on the Commission's discussion and public hearing.
Commissioner Rasmussen moved to approve the Planning Commission's Findings for STV-2017-
0002. This niotion was approved with a vote of six in favor, zero against.
b) Study Session: Urban Farming,Animal Keeping:
Planner Micki Harnois began her presentation with a discussion regarding urban farming and
selling produce grown on the same parcel. Ms. Harnois explained the state law already allows
anyone to sell produce they grow on their own property. The City Council would like to investigate
allowing neighbors to be able to sell each other's home grown produce on a single parcel. Other
cities allow a stand,allow for prepackaged food to be sold on the site,and some have a limit on the
size the display could be. The Commissioners felt neighbors being able to gather together and sell
produce they had grown in their own yards was a long standing tradition which should be supported
in the City. They also had concerns about someone having a sale consistently, such as a perpetual
garage sale,and the traffic which could be generated by customers. The Commissioners discussed
if a permit should be required and most felt it should not be required, only if the traffic would
become an issue. They talked about a display booth, an awning cover, if it should be enclosed or
open air, and how large it should be if allowed. They also discussed allowing other non-profit
groups to sell their goods at a display on a residential lot. The Commission concluded they would
suggest changes which would allow neighbors to sell their home grown produce together on one
2017-03-23 Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 2
parcel, use an open air temporary structure(s) not to exceed a combined total of 500 square feet
and limit to home grown produce only.
The Commission discussed animal keeping. Ms.Harnois covered the City of Spokane regulations
which are very similar to Spokane Valley regulations. Spokane allows twice the amount of
chickens per lot. Miniature farm animals are allowed on smaller lots, but males have special
requirements. Spokane also allows an animal owner to build an animal structure on the lot which
does not have the primary structure, which is not allowed in our city. Spokane requires WSU
certification for animal keeping in certain circumstances. The Commissioners discussed the ability
of allowing more animals on smaller lots. The Commissioners felt someone with two lots under the
same ownership which added up to the minimum lot size for having animals should be able to use
both lots to meet the minimum lot size. They also felt that should one of the lots end up being sold,
it should trigger the need to have to remove the animals from the lot. They agreed there would not
be a non-conforming use of animals after the fact. They raised concerns about male animals
creating an odor problem. They felt the allowance for chickens could be increased.
The subject changed to beekeeping, which is a controversial subject. The City already has
beekeeping regulations and which were updated in 2015. After a lively discussion the
Commissioners asked for more specific information regarding complaints which the Code
Enforcement Officer has responded to in regard to bees.
Ms. Barlow stated based on the feedback received from the Commissioners, staff would be
relocating the various farming and animal keeping regulations and co-locating them to one section
to the code. Staff will take the suggestions and return with draft language for the Planning
Commission review and recommendation to the City Council.
VIII. GOOD OF THE ORDER: Commissioner Johnson shared he had read Spokane Falls Community
College was building homes similar to Quixote Village. He said he felt this was a concern which should
not be forgotten.
IX. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. The vote on
the motion was unanimous in favor, motion passed.
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Heather Graham, Chair Date signed
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Deanna Horton, Secretary