Zoning Measure Should Be Passed
The Spokane City Council should pass an amendment to the downtown zoning codes so the Davenport Hotel can build a parking structure without the required retail or office space on the ground floor.
The downtown zoning code and design guidelines passed by the Spokane City Council this fall requires all parking garages on streets designated as pedestrian-friendly to include commercial or public space on 50 percent of their street frontage to a depth of 25 feet. This ordinance includes First Avenue.
Last Monday, Steve Eugster proposed an emergency amendment to the downtown zoning code that would not require the retail or office space on the ground floor if the parking structure is associated with a historic downtown structure. His proposal did not receive the required five votes. The Davenport Hotel would qualify as a historic structure but so would over 200 city buildings.
Tonight, Eugster will present the measure as a regular amendment, with a few modifications. A regular amendment only requires four yes votes.
City Planning Director John Mercer has offered some language changes. The changes would limit the exceptions to historic buildings over a certain height, with a certain number of floors or by square footage. This would reduce the number of buildings affected by the original amendment from 236 to fewer than five.
Developer Walt Worthy purchased the Davenport in May. He predicts he will renovate the hotel in two years at a cost of $15million. Work continues with demolition on the upper floors, and windows are set to be replaced.
But before he spends additional funds, he needs the parking structure issue resolved.
Some may argue that the code is being massaged for the benefit of one developer. But the zoning code’s own goals are favorable to the Davenport’s restoration. The code aims to make downtown pedestrian-friendly but not at the expense of preventing development.
Nobody wants to hinder the continued renovation of the Davenport Hotel.
When the downtown zoning codes and design guidelines were put into place in October, it was done with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, even the best of plans cannot foresee every possible scenario the zoning code and design guidelines may encounter.
One way to make a change to the code is by the “plan in lieu” process. The “plan in lieu” process can take anywhere from 60 to 120 days. This process requires a hearing with the hearing examiner along with public hearings, public comment and notification. Involving everyone in the process takes time and creates uncertainty that could prevent Worthy from obtaining financing. And there isn’t a legal way to speed up the process. Since that process can’t be accelerated, the amendment should be passed.
A positive aspect of the amendment not passing last week is, it gave time for the Plan Commission and others to remain involved and make recommendations. This also shows flexibility, a quality essential if a zoning code is to achieve its goals in the real world.
Walt Worthy can’t afford to continue making renovations on the speculation that “plans in lieu” might be approved months from now. Time is of the essence. The City Council should approve this amendment and keep the Davenport Hotel on its path toward reopening.