2005, 04-19 Special Joint Council/Planning Commission Meeting Minutes NOTES
SPECIAL JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING
SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL AND
SPOKANE.VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION
April 19, 2005, 6:00 p.m.
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff Planning Commissioners
Diana Wilhite,Mayor Dave Mercier, City Manager David Crosby, Chair
Rich Munson, Deputy Mayor Nina Regor, Deputy City Mgr Fred 13eaulac -
Mike DeVleming, Councilmember Greg McCormick, Long Range Planning Mgr Bob Blum
Mike Flanigan, Councilmember Scott Kuhta, Long Range Planner John Carroll
Gary Schimmels,Councilmember Mike Basinger,Associate Planner Bill Gothmann
Steve Taylor, Councilmember Greg"Bing"Bingaman, IT Specialist Gail Kogle
Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk Ian Robertson
Absent:
Dick Denenny,Councilmember
Mayor Wilhite welcomed everyone to the meeting, and explained that there are two issues to discuss:
community values, and the land use draft map. Mayor Wilhite announced that Councilmember Denenny is
unable to attend this meeting and asked for and received Council consensus to excuse him.
COMMUNITY VALUES-Nina Regor
Deputy City Manager Regor explained that Council and the Planning Commission had previously worked
together to draft a vision statement (February 1, 2005), and this would be a similar task: to provide a forum
for deciding the next: steps in creating a draft values statement. Ms. Regor went through her PowerPoint
presentation explaining the definition of values, the outcome of the voting from the February I, 2005 joint
meeting regarding prioritizing community values, how the core values provide the context for addressing
policy issues and provide a framework for how to conduct business, and the results of a values tabulation
taken at the April 13 community meeting. She then asked Councilmembers and Commissioners their
preference for the next step: work in small groups, large group brainstorming, forming a subcommittee, or
other ideas. Discussion followed on preferred tactics to use and it was determined that this issue cannot be
decided tonight; therefore a subsequent joint meeting dedicated to this topic alone will be scheduled. Mayor
. Wilhite suggested a list be distributed of proposed action items to decide upon prior to the next meeting, that
the next meeting will include breaking into small groups to share thoughts, and then discussing the issues as
a whole in a collaborative, cooperative spirit. [David Crosby arrived at 6:20 p.m.]
Terms were then discussed, including the importance of precise definitions. Deputy City Manager Regor
stated she will send out information containing the breakdown of how she came up with the terms and which
items were combined to make one topic — such as all the various issues that fall into the category of
"neighborhood." Ms. Regor stated that she will schedule a follow-up meeting and send out the requested
information prior to the meeting. It was noted that there is another joint meeting set for May 17 but the topic
is the comprehensive plan.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: LAND USE DRAFT MAP—Greg McCormick and Scott Kuhta
Long Range Planning Manager McCormick introduced the Draft Land Use Map and brought attention to the
current maps on display in the room. He explained that the Community Development Department has been
developing a Draft Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map as part of the Spokane Valley's first Comprehensive
Plan; that the map will provide guidance for future development within the City for the next 20 years, and
April 19,2005 Joint Meeting Council&Planning Commission—Notes Page I oft
Approved by Council: 5-10-05
works in tandem with land use descriptions and policies within the Land Use Element of the Plan. Mr.
McCormick further stated that the purpose of today's meeting is to present an overview of the land use
concepts prior to issuing a Draft Plan, which Plan will then be the subject of public review and hearings.
Mr. McCormick said that the Comprehensive Plan consists of two major urban activity centers: the area
around the Fairgrounds, and the center of the City around Sprague and University; that those areas were
designated as major stops along the corridor and are suitable activity centers. He then gave brief descriptions
of the various sections of the City and their current designations, such as the northeast portion as traditionally
industrial; a brief overview of existing interim comp plan map lay outs, followed by an overview of the basic
underlying principles of the new draft plan map, including mention of some of the new category names such
as"office"and"quasi-public."
After a brief discussion of some zoning issues, (hospital or automotive district), which will be implemented
through a series of amendments and new zoning districts, Mr. McCormick went over some of the underlying
principles used in the map development:
1. Create a city center within the city; which was discussed in the values section earlier; this will
require input from community to identify a city center perhaps running from Farr Road on the west
to just east of University and then from Valleyway down to 4` .
2. Preserve existing neighborhoods; the majority of the area is still low density residential, although
some areas are being examined as higher density residential.
3. Focus retail at major cross-roads; shrink the areas designated as commercial to more of the major
intersections of arterials,and concentrate regional commercial at major interchanges.
4. Create office designation; these are mostly around the medical campus area around the Hospital and
Pines Road, with some along the MullanlArgonne Road couplet.
5. Encourage redevelopment along the strict corridors into office/residential development; collapse the
commercial areas into major intersections with the concept not to zone things out of existence, but to
add incentives to develop things like office and/or residential. (Incentives were described as perhaps
allowing additional height,different parking requirements, etc.)
6. identify mix use centers; such as areas around Mirabeau Point which is developing in that fashion
now, and the area north of Trent from the Spokane River west to the city limits of Millwood.
Discussion then included the need to define a city center; getting public feedback; inducements to
developers; the various map designations; designating the schools in green on the map; wetlands, critical
areas (which will be a separate map); plans for gathering public (citizens and businesses) input including
upcoming meetings/open houses/workshops; and having a database of all public comments.
As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
A Mgrs, Diana Wilhite,Mayor
it
ristine Bainbridge, City Clerk
April 19,2005 Joint Meeting Council& Planning Commission—Notes Page 2 of 2
Approved by Council: 5-10-05