City Unveils Land-Use Plan Proposal Will Regulate Growth For Next 20 Years

The trappings befitted a wedding reception.

A cellist and pianist played classical favorites. Colorful balloons festooned tables. Guests nibbled gourmet treats.

The site was the Chase Gallery at Spokane City Hall.

The occasion was the unveiling Wednesday of the proposed update to the city of Spokane’s comprehensive land-use plan.

Like a wedding reception, the event was marked with feelings of relief, happiness and anticipation.

“It’s a momentous occasion,” said Steve Franks, a city planner.

Once adopted by the City Council, the plan will regulate growth and development within the city limits for the next 20 years.

City staff and citizen volunteers have spent the past five years crafting the document, but the work still isn’t finished.

The city Plan Commission will accept public comment on the document throughout the summer, then recommend one of the plan’s three alternatives to the City Council this fall.

The council will have its own hearings before adopting the final version, hopefully before the end of the year, said John Mercer, the city’s director of planning services.

There also will be negotiations with Spokane County over urban growth boundaries.

The city and county are eyeing some of the same tracts for expansion of their urbanized areas, including spots in the Spokane Valley and on the North Side.

The county Planning Commission is in the process of reviewing citizen comments on the county’s comprehensive land-use plan.

“It’s the end of something, but it really is a start,” Franks said Wednesday.

Following the public comment process, the Plan Commission will recommend one of the following alternatives to the City Council:

Current patterns: This alternative could be called the “business as usual” approach. Most existing planning policies and land-use regulations would remain in place.

Mixed-use centers and corridors: This alternative would focus growth in mixed-use areas and along transportation corridors, possibly paving the way for a light-rail system.

It would encourage development of high-density housing around or above retail businesses and offices, so people could walk to work or to shopping. Expansion of commercial or multifamily housing would be limited outside those areas.

Central city: In this alternative, most growth would be concentrated in the downtown area, providing opportunities for a traditional urban lifestyle. “The Central City serves as an area where people can select from a variety of housing and transportation alternatives while accessing a revitalized urban center,” according to city planning documents.

Copies of the plan are available for review at city library branches, neighborhood services offices and at the planning department office at City Hall. A special “comp plan lab” also has been set up in Room 6C at City Hall.

Residents also may buy copies of the plan - $5 on CD-ROM or $225 for a printed copy - or download from the Internet at www.spokanecity.org.

Bonnie Mager, a Spokane environmentalist who helped draft the city’s plan, said she hopes citizens will study the document and give their input.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Mager said. “It’s time to taste the pudding, and maybe change the recipe.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: MORE INFORMATION Planners want public comment

Planners will conduct a number of meetings to answer questions and hear comments on the city’s proposed comprehensive land-use plan.

Today, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Avista Auditorium, 1411 E. Mission.

Wednesday, 7-8:30 p.m., Unitarian Church, 4340 W. Fort Wright Drive.

June 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sacajawea Middle School, 401 E. 33rd Ave.

June 8, 4-5:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar St.

June 14, 7-8:30 p.m., Roosevelt Elementary School, 333 W. 14th Ave.

June 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Corbin Art Center, 507 W. 7th Ave.

June 19, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Spokane Association of Realtors, 1924 N. Ash St.

June 20, 1:30-3 p.m. and 5:15-6:45 p.m., downtown library, 906 W. Main Ave.

June 29, 7-9 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave.

July 10, 7-8:30 p.m., Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St.

Aug. 23, 6-8 p.m., City Council chambers, City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

A formal hearing on the plan will be Sept. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Spokane Arena’s Champion Room, 720 W. Mallon Ave.