PC APPROVED Minutes 07-25-13 Spokane Valley Planning Commission
APPROVED Minutes
Council Chambers — City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave.
July 25, 2013
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bates called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioners, staff and audience stood for the pledge of allegiance
III. ROLL CALL
COMMISSIONERS Present Absent CITY STAFF
Bill Bates-Chair x Scott Kuhta,Planning Manager
Joe Stoy--Vice Chair x - Christina Janssen,Planner
Steven Neill x Erik Lamb,Deputy City Attorney
Kevin Anderson x
Mike Phillips x r
Robert McCaslin x
Christina Carlsen x Mary Swank, secretary
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Stoy made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. This motion was
passed unanimously.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Neill made a notion to approve the July 11, 2013 minutes as presented. This
motion was passed unanimously.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
VII. COMMISSION REPORTS
VIII. There was no commission reports.
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IX. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Scott Kuhta, Planning Manager, reported he just got back from Olympia, participating in the
Department of Ecology's SEPA reform committee. Mr. Kuhta stated they updated categorical
exemptions last year and are continuing to do work under the direction from the legislature.
The committee will continue looking at the SEPA regulations and by the end of this year we
will have more reform. Mr. Kuhta informed Commissioners that next week will be a public
hearing on the text amendment being presented today and following that we will continue with
the Shoreline Regulations.
X. COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. Unfinished Business:
No unfinished Business
B. New Business:
CTA-2013-0006
Christina Janssen, PIanner, started her presentation on CTA-2013-0006, a privately
initiated Code Text Amendment, SVMC Chapter 19.120, to allow specialized
training/learning studios as permitted use in the I-1 zone and a conditional use in the 1-2
zone.
Ms. Janssen informed Commissioners how the City Council allowed indoor recreational
and entertainment facilities in the Light and Heavy Industrial zones as a permitted use. Ms.
Janssen explained the difference between this use and the entertainment recreation facility.
The recreational and entertainment uses would be a bowling alley or indoor soccer center,
where individuals would go to recreate at their own leisure. Specialized training and
learning schools deal with instruction have a teaching staff and participate in classes. Ms.
Janssen explained that Spokane Valley Municipal Code, Section 17.80. 150(f) outlines two
criteria that must be met in order to approve the amendment:
1. The proposed amendment needs to be consistent with the applicable provisions of the
Comprehensive plan.
1 2 The amendment must bear a substantial relationship with the public health safety
and welfare.
Ms. Janssen went over the approval criteria, Chapter 2-Land use, Light and Heavy
Industry, application materials, the classifications from the City of Spokane, Spokane
County, and City of Liberty Lake. All three cities allow this type of use in their industrial
zones. Ms. Janssen explained the conditional use permit process: the Hearing Examiner
process and the recommendations.
Questions:
Commissioner Anderson asked why we deny anyone in the heavy industrial area from
renting, leasing or buying. Mr. Kuhta responded that some jurisdictions take the approach
of each successive intensive zone would allow everything that is less intensive. Other
jurisdictions take the approach that industrial areas are intended just for industry. Industrial
areas are available for high employment and high paying wage jobs.
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Commissioner Stay asked if there is any vacant ground available for a brand new facility or
is this going to be leasable spaces that this is going to effect. Ms. Janssen responded that
she did not know. However, the interaction with this applicant and others interested in this
type of use is that they looking for large open span buildings without the support poles
which are typically found in industrial areas. Further, rent in the industrial areas is more
reasonable.
Commission Neill asked how many applicants we have spoken with. Ms. Janssen
responded that there have been a number of inquiries of uses of this kind,
Commissioner Bates asked about the availability of land in 1-1 and I-2 zones. Mr. Kuhta
responded that the City has a lot of vacant industrial land, but a lot of it is un-sewered.
Mike Basinger recently presented a study of industrial lands to the City Council. . The
report will be submitted into the next Planning Commission packet. Commissioner Bates
asked if Barker Road was sewered yet. Mr. Kuhta responded that east of the industrial park
is not sewered, The Department is putting together a study right now to see how much it
would cost to put sewer out there. Commissioner Bates asked if along Trent was sewered.
Mr. Kuhta responded yes, it is mostly sewered and all the Yardley areas have sewer and
water.
XI. GOOD OF THE ORDER
There was nothing for the good of the order.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
The being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
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Bill Bates, Chairperson
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Mary Swank,PC ecretary
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