2022-10-13 PC SIGNED APPROVED MINUTESMeeting Minutes
Spokane Valley Planning Commission
Council Chambers — City Hall
October 13, 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. Administrative Assistant Marianne Lemons 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 Gramath Martin Palaniuk, Associate Planner
Walt Haneke, absent Chad Knodel, IT Manager
Bob McKinley Marianne Lemons, Administrative Assistant
Nancy Miller
Sherri Robinson
There was consensus from the Planning Commission to excuse Commissioner Haneke
from the meeting.
IV. AGENDA: Commissioner Beaulac moved to approve the October 13, 2022, 2022 agenda as
presented. There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was six in favor, zero against and the
motion passed.
V. MINUTES: Commissioner Robinson moved to approve the September 8, 2022 minutes as presented.
There was no discussion. The vote on the motion was six in favor, zero against and the motion passed.
VI. COMMISSION REPORTS: Commissioner Robinson stated that she toured the Bhutanese
Community Garden in northeast Spokane. Commissioner McKinley stated that he attended Valleyfest
and was happy with the turnout for the festival.
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Planning Manager Chaz Bates reported that the City Council has
remanded CTA-2022-0002 regarding multi -family parking regulations back to the Planning
Commission for additional comment and recommendation. This item will be on the Planning
Commission agenda after the new year. He also stated that the October 27, 2022 and November 24,
2022 meetings will be cancelled but that there will be two meetings during the month of December
(despite the second meeting being held so close to Christmas).
There was a discussion by the Planning Commission about changing the day of the Planning
Commission meeting from Thursday to Wednesday. Attorney Beattie said that he would research the
rules and by-laws to find out if it was possible to make that sort of change.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
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IX. COMMISSION BUSINESS:
a. Study Session: CTA-2022-0003: Privately Initiated Map Amendments Update
Associate Planner Martin Palaniuk gave a staff report. He stated that CTA-2022-0003 is a city -initiated
code text amendment to revise Chapter 19.30 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code (SVMC) as it
relates to privately initiated site -specific Comprehensive Plan land use map amendments and privately
initiated site -specific zoning map amendments. The proposed regulation would identify additional
criteria that would be "considered" when reviewing the proposed map amendments.
Mr. Palaniuk explained that there is a planning concern regarding the intrusion of more intense land
uses into areas of less intense uses. The cause of this concern is because the SVMC does not identify
criteria for approving a change to the land use designation map and the criteria for zoning map
amendments allows land use changes when adjacent to the same or higher zoning classification.
However, the code does not define the word "higher" regarding zoning classifications. The code also
includes 'corner touches" and allows crossing right-of-way.
Mr. Palaniuk explained that the City has a Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation Map which
identifies the different land uses throughout the community. Each of the uses are implemented through
the Zoning Map. These maps generally look the same, except for Single -Family Residential (SFR).
Comprehensive Plan Map Amendments are only allowed one time per year. The decision authority is
the City Council. Changes to the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map automatically require a zoning
map amendment because the two maps must be consistent. Therefore, both map amendments are done
concurrently.
Mr. Palaniuk stated that Zoning Map Amendments must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan
land use designation. They can be requested at any time (unless a Comprehensive Plan Map amendment
is required as well). The decision authority is the Spokane Valley Hearing Examiner. Changes to the
zoning map may or may not require a Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map amendment. Any change
other than a residential zone requires a change to the Comprehensive Plan land use map.
Mr. Palaniuk said that the proposed code text language would develop criteria to "consider" for privately
initiated site -specific Comprehensive Plan Map Amendments that includes the following:
• The effect on surrounding land use and traffic circulation
• The existence of logical boundaries
• Avoids creating peninsulas or protrusions into different land use zones
• Meets all zoning map amendment criteria.
Mr. Palaniuk stated that the proposed code text language would also develop criteria for site -specific
zoning map amendments that includes the following:
• Avoiding protrusions into different zoning districts
• Considers boundaries and barriers
• States that properties must be adjacent to and contiguous to a similar zoning district
• Defines "similar" as allowing substantially similar uses or density.
Mr. Palaniuk explained that the existing regulations for Comprehensive Plan Map Amendments state
that changes can only occur once per year, except for limited circumstances. The proposed regulations
will keep the current existing regulations and add the following considerations:
• The effect on surrounding land uses and transportation circulation
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Avoid allowing changes that extend across freeways, highways, railroad,
Avoid changes that create peninsulas or intrusions
• Changes would follow rezoning criteria.
Mr. Palaniuk stated that the existing regulations for the zoning map criteria state the following:
• Concurrency.
• Consistent with the comprehensive plan
• Substantial relation to public health
• Is needed for comprehensive plan goals,
• Adjacent to a higher zone
• Cannot be detrimental to surrounding properties
• Must have community wide benefit.
Mr. Palaniuk said that the proposed regulations will keep all the current existing regulations except for
"adjacent to a higher zone" and would add the following:
• Must avoid creating peninsulas or intrusions
• Must consider right-of-way, river, railroad corridors
• Must be adjacent to a substantially similar zoning district.
Commissioner Beaulac asked if there will be a definition for "detrimental to surrounding properties".
Mr. Palaniuk stated that staff will do an initial analysis of detriment which will then go to the Planning
Commission for recommendation and to the City Council for the final determination.
Mr. Palaniuk stated that another study session for this item will be held on November 10, 2022 and a
public hearing will be held on December 8, 2022.
X. GOOD OF THE ORDER: There was nothing offered for the Good Of The Order.
X1. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Beaulac moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 p.m. The vote on
the motion was six in favor, zero against and the motion passed.
Bob McKinley, Chairman
Marianne Lemons, Secretary
Date Signed