PC APPROVED Minutes 05-11-17 APPROVED Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers—City Hall
May 11,2017
1. 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 Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
James Johnson Micki Harnois,Planner
Tim Kelley
Mike Phillips
Michelle Rasmussen, absent--excused
Suzanne Stathos
Matt Walton, absent-excused Deanna Horton, Secretary for the Commission
Hearing no objections the Commission excused Commissioners Rasmussen and Walton from the May
11, 2017 meeting.
IL AGENDA: Commissioner Johnson moved to accept the May 11, 2017 agenda as presented. The vote
on the motion was five in favor, zero against and the motion passed
M. MINUTES: Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the April 13, 2017 minutes as presented. The
vote to approve the motion was five in favor; zero against, the motion passes.
IV. COMMISSION REPORTS: Commissioner Kelly reported he attended the Trader's Club Meeting.
V. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Senior Planner Lori Barlow reported to the Commission the public
hearing for the amendment on farming and animal keeping would be on May 25,2017. She said at the
same meeting,there would be a study session regarding storage containers.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
VII. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a) Study Session: CTA-2017-000I — Proposed changes to Spokane Valley Municipal Code
(SVMC) 19.65.020 and 19.78 Urban Farming and Animal Keeping:
Planner Micki Harnois gave the Commission a presentation reviewing the proposed changes to
SVMC 19.65 and 19.85. Ms. Harnois explained the large and medium animal keeping,along with
the community garden section, would be struck from SVMC 19.65. Animal shelters and kennels
will be left in SVMC 19.65. The animal keeping and gardening sections of the code, along with
newly proposed language would be placed into a new section of the municipal code as SVMC 19.78
Urban Farming and Animal Keeping.
Three new definitions are being added to Appendix A, Definitions: agricultural products,
community garden and residential produce sales. In SVMC 19.60.050 the Permitted Use Matrix,
animal keeping will be allowed in all single family residential zones. In Mixed Use zones, lots
which have legally established residential uses may also keep animals. A new line will be added
for Residential Produce Sales, which will be permitted in the Residential and Mixed Use zones to
allow for the sales of produce grown in home gardens. Commissioner Graham said she wondered
why bees were not allowed in other zones, such as Mixed Use zones where there might be an
established residential use. Ms. Barlow responded the only change to the beekeeping regulations
was the otie suggested by the Commission regarding the movable frame hives.
Community gardens will be allowed in residential, mixed use and parks zones; The draft
regulations indicate operating rules are required, water and fertilizer can't drain onto adjacent
properties,accessory structures must meet lot coverage and setback requirements,marijuana cannot
be grown,and produce grown can be sold off-site if proceeds are for a non-profit.
Residential produce sale standards were drafted based on previous discussions with the
Commission. Open-air structures of not more than 500 square feet will be allowed, but only food
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grown in a home garden is allowed to be sold and must be stored at night to not attract vermin. The
structures must meet setback requirements and garbage must not create a health hazard. One A-
frame sign will be allowed, marijuana products of any kind are not allowed and a business license
is not required per RCW 36.71.090.
The minimum lot size for large animal keeping is proposed to return to 40,000 square feet. The lot
size changed to one acre during the Comprehensive Plan update was unintended. The lot size
relates to the minimum lot size in the R-1 zones. Animal raising will be divided into small and
large domestic animals. No more than three large animals, including swine, will be allowed per
40,000 square feet. Swine is a new proposed addition to the large animal group,which consists of
large animals such as cows, horses, lamas, sheep and goats. Commissioner Stathos clarified the
setback requirements regarding structures need to be 75 feet from another structure regardless of
location.
Small domestic animals will not be restricted to a certain lot size. Small domestic animals are those
less than 36 inches in height at the shoulder and weighing less than 150 pounds,and includes fowl.
Small domestic animals are limited to livestock of one per 2,500 square feet, or fowl at one per
1,000 square feet. Male animals must be descented or neutered. Animal enclosures may be placed
on an adjourning lot if the property is under the same ownership. Chicken regulations are proposed
to change from one per 2,000 square feet to one per 1,000 square feet, with a maximum of 25
chickens total.
Ms. Harnois commented on code enforcement information the Commissioners had requested
regarding bees. She stated officers from both Spokane Valley and Spokane said their calls typically
ended up being about wasps, rather than honey bees,the amount of hives on the property, setbacks
and/or the lack of water. Both had shared they felt having the requirement of a beekeeper
certification has been helpful in assisting in their code cases.
VIII. GOOD OF THE ORDER: Commissioners had nothing for the Good of the Order
IX. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 p.m. The vote on
the motion was unanimous in favor,motion passed.
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Heather Graham, Chair Date signed
Deanna Horton,Horton, Secretary