Mixed Use Medical Lake Panel Considers Type Of Development For 156 Acres In/Around: Medical Lake

The city of Medical Lake may be small, but it’s well ahead of the city of Spokane when it comes to land-use planning.

For several years, Medical Lake property use has been governed under the state’s Growth Management Law.

Growth management has yet to be adopted in the city and unincorporated county of Spokane. Both government agencies are three years behind schedule for adoption of growth management.

Now, Medical Lake is about to undergo its first major revision under its growth-management land-use plan.

The planning commission is considering revisions on 156 acres of the city to allow mixed-use commercial and residential development.

Mixed-use development has been advocated for its people-friendly nature by planners, developers and neighborhood groups around the country.

But they can’t be built in Spokane until the city adopts a state-required growth-management land-use plan.

Doug Chase, the former planning director in Medical Lake, said the proposal for mixed-use development in Medical Lake stemmed from community meetings and a need to increase the amount of land available for commercial use.

The land under review in Medical Lake is called the north subarea.

Chase said the owner of Denny’s Foods in Medical Lake has been talking about building a new store. The city needs a new commercial area with larger parcels to accommodate a supermarket.

“We recognize there is a need to increase the amount of land that is zoned for commercial use in the north subarea (of Medical Lake),” Chase said.

Completion of a new sewage treatment plant has opened the way for new development in Medical Lake.

While the city is urged to increase the amount of land available for commercial use, community members have pushed for the revival of mixed-use development, Chase said.

Mixed-use was once the common style of development in urban neighborhoods before automobiles dominated.

One of the alternatives under consideration would allow up to 42 acres of mixed-use development in which shops could be built beside or below apartments.

The idea is to create areas that are more hospitable to pedestrians and to maintain a people-oriented neighborhood character.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., is often pointed to as an example of the success of mixed-use development. Other cities, including Portland, have allowed mixed-use developments for urban renewal.

The area under study in Medical Lake is along the state highway entrance on the north side of Medical Lake near the high school and Fox Hollow housing development.

The proposals not only increase commercial areas but also allow more land for multifamily housing, Chase said.

City Administrator Curt Kelling said Medical Lake’s business core has no parcels large enough for supermarket development.

He said mixed-use gives developers new options and more flexibility in designing projects.

A zoning ordinance also would be written to govern details of mixed-use development, he said.