2022-08-25 PC SIGNED APPROVED MINUTESMeeting Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers — City Hall
August 25, 2022
I. Planning Commission Chairman McKinley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting
was held in person and via ZOOM meetings.
II. The Commissioners, staff, and audience stood for the Pledge Of Allegiance
III. Planning Manager Chaz Bates took attendance, and the following members and staff were present:
Fred Beaulac
Tony Beattie, City Senior Deputy Attorney
Susan Delucchi
Chaz Bates, Planning Manager
Karl Granrath
Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Walt Haneke
Chad Knodel, IT Manager
Bob McKinley
Nancy Miller
Sherri Robinson
IV. AGENDA: Commissioner Beaulac moved to approve the August 25, 2022 agenda as presented.
There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against and the motion
passed.
V. MINUTES: Commissioner Miller moved to approve the August 11, 2022 minutes as presented.
There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero against and the motion
passed.
VI. COMMISSION REPORTS: There were no Planning Commission reports.
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Planning Manager Chaz Bates reported that there will be a
Planning Commission training regarding meeting procedures and the role of a Planning
Commissioner at the next regular meeting.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a. Findings of Fact: STV-2022-0002: Street Vacation of 1,553 square feet of
unimproved right-of-way (ROW) intersecting with Appleway Boulevard.
Senior Planner Lori Barlow presented the Findings of Fact for STV-2022-0002 for the
street vacation of 1,553 square feet of unimproved right-of-way (ROW) intersecting with
Appleway Boulevard. She stated that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on
the proposed street vacation at the July 28, 2022 and the August 11, 2022 meetings. After
08-25-2022 Planning Commission Minutes
Page 2 of 4
receiving public testimony, the Planning Commission moved and voted 6-0 to recommend
approval to the City Council. She explained that the approval of the Findings Of Fact
would formalize the recommendations that were made at the public hearing.
Commissioner Granrath moved to approve the Findings of Fact for STV-2022-0002 as
presented. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was seven in favor, zero
against, and the motion passed.
Public Hearing: CTA-2022-0002 — Multi -Family Parking Regulations
The public hearing was opened at 6:08 p.m.
Senior Planner Lori Barlow stated that CTA-2022-0003 was a City -initiated code text
amendment to update the parking regulations for multi -family units. She stated that a
Determination of Non -Significance of Environmental Impact and the Notice of Public
Hearing were both issued and published on August 5, 2022. A study session on this item
was held at the August 11, 2022 meeting.
Ms. Barlow explained that City Council was concerned about overflow on -street parking
near multi -family developments and wanted staff to research the cause and find out if all
provided on -site parking spaces are being used by the residents of multi -family
developments. She explained that garages and paid parking spaces are not always used to
park cars but they count as part of the parking code requirement when development occurs.
Ms. Barlow stated that multi -family developments are only allowed in three zones per the
Spokane Valley Municipal Code (SVMC). They are allowed in Multi -Family Residential
Zone (MFR), the Mixed Use zone (MU), and the Corridor Mixed Use zone (CMU). Multi-
family developments consist of more than three units in a single building. Currently, there
are 315 acres of vacant land within the three zoning districts and 105 lots. She explained
that the current cost of building a garage stall is approximately $10,000 and a surface
parking stall is approximately $5,000. According to the assessor's data of properties in the
MFR zone, the average land cost is approximately $22 per square foot.
Ms. Barlow explained that the current code requires 1 to 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling
unit plus 5% of total for guests. All spaces provided, including garages or spaces that have
an extra associated fee, are counted toward the required number. The current code does not
have a reduction for Affordable Housing developments.
Ms. Barlow stated that the proposed code would require 2 spaces per dwelling unit + 5% of
total for guests. Garage and parking spaces that require an extra fee would not be counted
toward the required number. The required number of spaces would be reduced to 1 space
per dwelling unit for the developments at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI).
Ms. Barlow said that Spokane Valley Fire Department submitted comments supporting the
proposed language of the code text amendment
Commissioner Robinson asked if covered carports would count towards the parking
requirement. Ms. Barlow responded that they would count towards the number of required
spaces (unless the landlord charges an additional fee to park in those spaces).
Commissioner Haneke expressed concern about only requiring one parking space per unit
for affordable housing units. He feels that this reduction will increase the street parking
08-25-2022 Planning Commission Minutes
Page 3 of 4
problem that already exists. Commissioner Miller & Beaulac concurred that something
should be included in the code text amendment to address the current problem of parking
on the street.
Commissioner Beaulac asked if the proposed code would allow parking garages. Ms.
Barlow responded that there is nothing in the code that would prohibit parking garages.
Commissioner Beaulac asked if this requirement would apply to the Planned Unit
Development of the Painted Hills property. Ms. Barlow answered that Painted Hills was
submitted in 2015 and was vested with the regulations of the time of submittal so the new
requirements probably would not apply (this will be determined at the final time of
approval).
Commissioner Gramath asked for clarification about garage spaces. Ms. Barlow responded
that the text reads, "parking spaces within individual enclosed garages shall not be counted
when determining the number of parking spaces". She clarified that common garages could
be counted.
The item was opened for public comment. There was no public comment offered. The
public hearing was closed at 6:56 p.m.
Commissioner Haneke moved to recommend denial of CTA-2022-0002 regarding multi-
family parking regulations.
Commissioner Haneke clarified that he doesn't feel that this code text amendment will
alleviate the street parking problem. He explained that raising the requirement to two
parking spaces per unit is a good step but the reduction in parking for affordable housing
will exacerbate the existing problem because most families (even low income) have more
than one vehicle. He suggested including an additional requirement for wider streets if
parking on the street is going to be utilized or considering other solutions. He stated that he
does not want to add to the problem for future developments by not requiring enough on -
site parking. Commissioner Miller agreed that one space per unit is not enough and will
cause additional future parking issues.
Commissioner Granrath stated that he is in favor of the reduction in parking for affordable
housing because of the great need for that type of housing. He said that he thinks the
number of parking spaces should be tied to the number of bedrooms and that garages
should be included in the number of required parking spaces.
Commissioner Delucchi stated that she would like to see the number of required parking
spaces higher than the proposed number. Commission Beaulac expressed concern again
about this amendment not addressing the current problem and about making a
recommendation on the amendment without input from the development community within
the City limits about what kind of effect this will have on new construction.
The vote on the motion was five in favor and two opposed, with Commissioner Delucchi
and Commissioner Robinson dissenting. The motion carried.
X. GOOD OF THE ORDER: There were no Commissioner Reports.
08-25-2022 Planning Commission Minutes
Page 4 of 4
XI. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Beaulac moved to adjourn the meeting at 7: 39 p. m. The vote
on the motion was six in favor, zero against and the motion passed.
Bob McKinley, Chairman Date Signed
Marianne Lemons, Secretary