Meetings planned on changes to residential zoning code

The city of Spokane Plan Commission will hold a series of “quadrant open houses” to unveil its draft residential development code, which is expected to change how development occurs in all residential zones within the city.

Some of the proposed features of the new residential codes include more housing options such as cottage housing, zero lot lines, accessory dwelling units (granny flats), provisions for smaller lots, and transition areas between new and older developments.

These meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following dates at these locations:

• Southwest: Wednesday in the lower level, Spokane City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

• Northwest: Sept. 21, in the Newton Room, West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St.

• Southeast: Sept. 28, in the Senior Room, East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St.

• Northeast, Sept. 29, in the Assembly Room, Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St.

The meetings also will include a discussion of all areas zoned residential in the city, but particularly areas that the city’s comprehensive plan suggests should be down-zoned.

These areas include portions of the lower South Hill, West Central, Logan and other city neighborhoods where the current residential zoning is higher intensity (such as for apartments) than the comprehensive plan suggests is desired.

For example, some affected neighborhoods include mostly single-family homes with zoning that currently allow duplexes or apartments.

The city Plan Commission is expected to hold a public hearing on the code in October. After the commission makes a recommendation, the City Council will consider the code and accept public comment, later this fall.

The draft residential development codes and zoning maps are available on the city of Spokane Planning Services Department Web site at www.spokaneplanning.org.

Meetings

• The Latah/Hangman Valley Neighborhood Council will meet at 7 tonight, second-floor meeting room at Tidyman’s on the Cheney-Spokane Road off Highway 195.

• The Cliff/Cannon Neighborhood Council will meet at 7 tonight at Roosevelt Elementary School, 333 W. 14th Ave.

• The Peaceful Valley Neighborhood Council will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Peaceful Valley Community Center, 214 N. Cedar St.

• The Comstock Neighborhood Council will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Sacajawea Middle School cafeteria, 401 E. 33rd Ave. Please enter on the west side of the building.

The three candidates for City Council Position for District 2 – Mary Verner, Dallas Hawkins and Jeff Bierman – will offer a 10- to 15-minute presentation. Also on the agenda: more details on Grand Center planning.