Almost 100 years ago, the Olmsted Brothers recognized the Spokane River Gorge as a valuable community treasure worth preserving as an accessible greenbelt for generations to come. Since 1997, Friends of the Falls has worked to achieve this vision.

In a public design process begun by Friends of the Falls, the Great Spokane River Gorge Strategic Master Plan (SMP) project will host a community workshop on Monday, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Falls Room of the Masonic Temple, 1108 W. Riverside Ave. The purpose of this public workshop is to “capture increasingly specific input into the Spokane River Gorge SMP, a process working toward defining short-, medium- and long-range projects and programs for the Spokane River Gorge area between Spokane Falls and the river confluence at Hangman Creek.”

Speaking on behalf of Friends of the Falls, Project Manager Sue Lani Madsen says, “In continuing collaboration with adjacent citizen neighbors, public agencies, recreational users and businesses, we are promoting further public engagement by inviting people to work hard for three hours in a historic building overlooking our community’s most valuable natural asset, the Spokane River.”

A final report and draft plan is targeted for presentation to a City Council/Spokane Parks Board meeting later this year. The plan will include commentary and recommendations regarding land use, transportation, planning guidelines, culture, trails, signage, access opportunities and habitat restoration.

For further details concerning the proposed plan, visit www.friendsofthefalls.org.

• The City Development Code Project now under way is a comprehensive review to ensure that existing regulations are consistent with the comprehensive plan and the Growth Management Act. The Spokane City Plan Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday on the Draft Commercial Land Use Regulations. This is the first of three phases of the zoning code rewrite being done as part of the City Development Code Project. Phases two and three will cover industrial and residential zoning categories.

City staff will be on hand Wednesday in the City Council Chambers from 3 to 5:30 to answer questions regarding the proposed regulations. The public hearing will begin at 5:30, also in City Council Chambers. For more details visit www.spokaneplanning.org or call City Planner Ken Pelton, 625-6063, or Louis Meuler, 625-6096. Written comments may be sent to kpelton@spokanecity.org.