2021-09-23 PC SIGNED APPROVED MINUTESMeeting Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers — City Hall
September 23, 2021
I. Planning Commission Chair Bob McKinley called the meeting to order at 6:13 p.m. The
meeting was delayed due to a technical glitch. The meeting was held remotely via ZOOM
meeting.
H. Administrative Assistant Taylor Dillard took attendance, and the following members and
staff were present:
Fred Beaulac, absent
Karl Granrath
Walt Haneke
Bob McKinley
Nancy Miller
Paul Rieckers, arrived late
Sherri Robinson, absent
Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Jenny Nickerson, Building Official
Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Taylor Dillard, Administrative Assistant
Marianne Lemons, Administrative Assistant
There was consensus from the Planning Commissioners to excuse Commissioner
Robinson, Commissioner Rieckers, & Commissioner Beaulac.
III. AGENDA: Commissioner Haneke moved to approve the September 23, 2021 agenda as
presented. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was four in favor, zero against
and the motion passed.
IV. MINUTES: Commissioner Haneke moved to approve the September 9, 2021 minutes as
presented. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was four in favor, zero against
and the motion passed.
V.
VI.
VII.
COMMISSION REPORTS: There were no Commission reports.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: There was no administrative report.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
VIII. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a. Public Hearing: CTA-2020-0006: Planned Residential Development Code Text
Amendment
The public hearing was opened at 6:22 p.m.
Senior Planner Lori Barlow gave a staff presentation regarding the City -initiated code
text amendment to delete Chapter 19.50 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code (SVMC)
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and prohibit Planned Residential Developments (PRD) in residential zones. She
explained that the PRD is a flexible development tool that provides flexibility in design,
preserves environmental amenities, preserves open space, preserves natural
characteristics, and encourages a variety of housing types. Planned Residential
Developments are currently allowed in all the residential zones and allow development
standards of the underlying zoning to be relaxed for better site design, land use
relationships, and conservation of natural resources.
Ms. Barlow explained that City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a one-year
moratorium on the submission, acceptance, processing, modification, and approval of
PRD's. The moratorium was passed on November 24, 2020 and will expire on
November 24, 2021. The reason for the moratorium was due to community concerns that
the range of housing allowed within the PRD regulations is inconsistent and incompatible
with surrounding existing uses in single-family zoning districts.
Ms. Barlow stated that the adoption of CPA-2020-0007 (Ordinance 20-0008 & 20-0009,
effective September 23, 2020) was also a contributing factor to the moratorium of PRD's.
The adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment added additional housing policies
to the SVMC that helped address community concerns about the influx of duplex
developments and provided areas within the City for denser housing options that are
supported by transit and services (the creation of the R-4 zoning district). It also helped
to preserve and enhance the City's established single-family neighborhoods by
minimizing the impacts of more dense housing typologies such as duplexes and cottage
developments.
Ms. Barlow outlined that staff conducted a review of the Comprehensive Plan goals and
policies. During this review it was found that PRDs are not consistent with four of the
goals and policies outlined in the comprehensive plan.
Ms. Barlow outlined the staff conclusions:
• The current PRD regulations are inconsistent with several Comprehensive Plan
goals and policies
• Sites meeting size criteria are predominantly located in the R-3 zone.
• Approximately half of those sites are impacted by critical areas.
• CPA-2020-0007 addressed community concerns regarding incompatible housing
and density issues in the R-3 zone.
• Current PRD regulations allow for incompatible land uses in the residential zones.
• The City has numerous alternative housing options that allow a variety of housing
types.
• Critical areas present a unique challenge to development.
Ms. Barlow stated that staff recommends eliminating the PRD regulations and code
references. The proposed change will eliminate SVMC Chapter 19.50 and make changes
to other chapters within the code that reference PRD's so that the Comprehensive Plan is
consistent throughout.
The public hearing was closed at 6:48 p.m. Commissioner Rieckers joined the meeting at
6:49 p.m.
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Commissioner Miller asked if staff is going to continue to evaluate the need for PRD
regulations as they relate to critical areas. Ms. Barlow stated that the current proposal is
to delete the chapter in the Comprehensive Plan regarding PRD's. However, staff will
continue to review if there is a need for development criteria that addresses critical areas.
Any additional regulations would be brought back to the Planning Commission for
review and approval.
Commissioner Granrath and Commissioner Haneke expressed that they are in support of
deleting the chapter from the code, but they would like staff to continue to research
options for the development of properties that have critical areas.
Commissioner Miller moved to recommend that City Council approve CTA-2020-0006 as
presented. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was four in favor, zero
against and the motion passed. Commissioner Rieckers abstained from voting because
he was not in attendance during the presentation.
This item will return for findings of fact on October 14, 2021.
IX. GOOD OF THE ORDER: Commissioner McKinley said that there will not be any
meetings held during the month of November due to holidays. Staff will be presenting a
street vacation for discussion and public hearing during the month of October and the
Findings of Fact will be held at the first meeting in December. However, if any issues arise
with the street vacation, a special meeting could be called during November to discuss the
project further.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Haneke moved to adjourn the meeting at 7: 0S p. m. The
vote on the motion was five in favor, zero against, and the motion passed.
Bob McKinley, Chair Date Signed
Marianne Lemons, Secretary