Downtown Planning Code Ok’D Eugster Votes Against Measure Despite Numerous Revisions

The squeaky council member gets the grease, even if he doesn’t vote for the final product.

After Councilman Steve Eugster complained at length about the inadequacies of a downtown planning code, the city planning staff spent nearly a month revamping it, addressing many of Eugster’s issues.

The revised version was presented to the council Monday night, and while Eugster said it was much improved, he still voted against it.

“I do think we have a vast improvement, but I think we should do it in a more considered fashion,” he said.

Despite Eugster’s opposition, the three planning measures were approved by 6-1 votes by the rest of the council, most of whom would have likely voted for the initial versions when they came around Oct. 2.

Mayor John Talbott acknowledged Eugster’s criticisms but noted that the ordinances could be modified in the future.

“It is a planning process, it is a process that is ongoing,” Talbott said. “We hope it will continue to be a cutting edge plan, a plan that will lead our downtown forward.”

The ordinances passed Monday implement the sweeping downtown plan accepted by the council last year by changing the zoning code and installing design guidelines.

The goal is to retain and improve downtown’s unique characteristics, said Downtown Spokane Partnership President Mike Edwards.

“If it all begins to look like something else, there’s really no point in coming downtown,” said Edwards.

Before presenting the ordinances to the council a second time, city planners made a number of changes to comply with Eugster’s complaints.

Those changes included allowing certain forms of scientific research downtown, allowing car washes and auto detailing in downtown garages and allowing warehousing in basements. They also removed a requirement that new or rehabilitated residential buildings include balconies, patios or other open space.

But while Eugster said he approved of the changes, he said the whole process should have waited until the completion of the city’s comprehensive plan. He also said the city attorney’s office needs to be involved in making sure land-use codes are uniform throughout the city.

One change that was requested but not yet made came from the Peaceful Valley neighborhood, which said the code, as written, allowed buildings 150 feet high along Cedar Street. The council instructed the planning staff to work out a solution for the neighborhood.

Supporters of the downtown plan said the changes made didn’t do much to alter the essence of the ordinances.

“When you look at the code, it has to be acceptable to the development community and acceptable to elected officials,” said downtown developer and former plan commissioner Jim Kolva. “I think the guts remained.”