Ordinance 23-005 re 19.30 CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
SPOKANE COUNTY,WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO.23-005
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY, SPOKANE COUNTY,
WASHINGTON, AMENDING CHAPTER 19.30 OF THE SPOKANE VALLEY
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE MAP
AMENDMENT AND ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REGULATIONS, AND OTHER
MATTERS RELATING THERETO.
WHEREAS, the City of Spokane Valley (City)previously adopted Title 19 of the Spokane Valley
Municipal Code(SVMC)relating to zoning regulations, and has made subsequent amendments from time-
to-time as appropriate; and
WHEREAS, such regulations are authorized pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW; and
WHEREAS, City staff has proposed an amendment to Title 19 SVMC revising chapter 19.30
SVMC as it relates to privately initiated site-specific Comprehensive Plan land use map amendments and
privately initiated site-specific zoning map amendments, establishing additional criteria that shall be
considered when reviewing the proposed map amendments.
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2022,the Washington State Department of Commerce was notified
pursuant to RCW 36.70A.106, providing a notice of intent to adopt amendments to Spokane Valley
development regulations; and
WHEREAS, on October 13, and November 10, 2022, the Planning Commission (Commission)
held study sessions to review and consider the proposed amendment; and
WHEREAS, on November 18 and 25, 2022, notice of the Commission's public hearing was
published in the Valley News Herald; and
WHEREAS, on December 8, 2022, the Commission held a public hearing, received evidence,
information,public testimony, and a staff report with a recommendation, followed by deliberations; and
WHEREAS,on December 22,2022,the Commission approved the findings and recommended that
City Council adopt the amendment; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2022, City Council reviewed the proposed amendment and
Commission's Findings and Recommendation; and
WHEREAS, on February 7, 2022, City Council considered a first ordinance reading to adopt the
proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS,the amendment set forth below is consistent with the goals and policies of the City's
Comprehensive Plan;and
WHEREAS, Title 19 SVMC, as amended, bears a substantial relation to the public health, safety,
welfare and protection of the environment.
NOW, THEREFORE,the City Council of the City of Spokane Valley ordains as follows:
Ordinance 23-005—Title 19 SVMC Amendment Page 1 of 4
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Ordinance is to amend Title 19 SVMC to revise
chapter 19.30 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 will
identify additional criteria that shall be considered when reviewing the proposed map amendments.
Section 2. Findings and Conclusions. The City Council acknowledges that the Commission
conducted appropriate investigation and study, held a public hearing on the proposed amendments, and
recommends approval of the amendments. The City Council has read and considered the Commission's
findings. The City Council hereby makes the following findings:
A, Growth Management Act Policies - Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA)
provides that each city shall adopt a comprehensive land use plan and development
regulations that are consistent with and implement the comprehensive plan.
B. City of Spokane Valley Goals and Policies-The City of Spokane Valley has adopted goals
and policies consistent with the GMA and adopted County-Wide Planning Policies, set
forth below.
LU-GI Maintain and enhance the character and quality of life in Spokane Valley.
LU-G2 Provide for land uses that are essential to Spokane Valley residents,employees,
and visitors.
LU-P7 Protect residential neighborhoods from incompatible land uses and adverse
impacts associated with transportation corridors
H-P6 Preserve and enhance the city's established single-family neighborhoods by
minimizing the impacts of more dense housing typologies such as duplexes and cottage
development
C. Conclusions
1. The proposed amendment bears substantial relation to public health, safety,
welfare and protection of the environment. The encroachment of
incompatible densities and land use intensities into adjacent areas should be
avoided. It is especially important to preserve the integrity of residential
neighborhoods.
2. The proposed City-initiated Code text amendment is consistent with the
City's adopted Comprehensive Plan and the approval criteria pursuant to
SVMC 17.80.150(F).
Section 3. Amendment. Title 19 SVMC is hereby amended as follows:
19.30.010 Comprehensive Plan text and map amendments.
A. Pursuant to RCW 36.70A.130(2)(a),proposed updates to the Comprehensive Plan shall only be
processed once per year except for the adoption of original subarea plans,amendments to the SMP,the
amendment of the capital facilities chapter concurrent with the adoption of the City budget, in the event of
an emergency, or to resolve an appeal of the Comprehensive Plan filed with the Growth Management
Hearings Board.
B. Privately initiated Comprehensive Plan land use map amendments shall consider the following
criteria:
Ordinance 23-005—Title 19 SVMC Amendment Page 2 of 4
1. The effect of the proposed amendment on the land use and circulation pattern of the surrounding
area.
2. The existence of boundaries such as right-of-way and natural areas shall be observed. In general,
proposals shall avoid extending land use designations across freeways, highways, or railroad rights-of-
way that present a logical boundary.
3. Proposed amendments shall avoid creating or expanding zoning peninsulas or islands, or otherwise
create intrusions into a different land use designation.
4. A site-specific land use map amendment also requires a site-specific zoning map amendment and
shall additionally meet the criteria in SVMC 19.30.030.B
C. Comprehensive Plan text and map amendments are classified as Type IV development applications
and shall be processed pursuant to SVMC 17.80.140.
19.30.020 Area-wide rezones.
A. Area-wide rezones shall be considered only in conjunction with updates to the Comprehensive Plan
text and maps to ensure full consideration of the cumulative effects of all changes.
B. Area-wide rezones are classified as Type IV development applications and shall be processed pursuant
to SVMC 17.80.140.
19.30.030 Site-specific zoning map amendments.
A. Site-specific zoning map amendment requests may be submitted at any time. Site-specific zoning map
amendments are classified as Type III development applications and shall be processed pursuant to
SVMC 17.80.140.
B. All site-specific zoning map amendment requests shall meet all of the following criteria:
1. Provide a general review of the capacity of transportation, public water, and public sewer to meet the
demands of the proposed new land use;
2. Be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan land use designation;
3. Bear a substantial relation to the public health, safety,and welfare;
4. Be warranted in order to achieve consistency with the Comprehensive Plan or because of a need for
additional property in the proposed zoning district classification, or because the proposed zoning
classification is appropriate for reasonable development of the subject property;
5. Avoid creating or expanding zoning peninsulas or islands, or otherwise create intrusions into a different
zoning district;
b.Not be materially detrimental to uses or property in the immediate vicinity of the subject property;
7. Have merit and value for the community as a whole; and
8. Consider logical boundaries and barriers such as right-of-way, Spokane River, and railroad corridors.
Ordinance 23-005—Title 19 SVMC Amendment Page 3 of 4
Section 4. Severability. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall be
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section,sentence, clause,or
phrase of this Ordinance.
Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect five days after
publication of this Ordinance or a summary thereof in the official newspaper of the City of Spokane Valley
as provided by law.
Passed by the City Council this 7th day of February, 2023.
A E ' QVct-
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x I e
)3' „ rvli L Pam Haley Mayor
o
Christine Bainbridge, City CIerk
Approved as to Form:
of the City Attorney
Date of Publication: —/ 9-, 6u 3
Effective Date: j- 01. 3 -- Q 6 .3
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