Valley, county take steps toward joint planning

Spokane County and Spokane Valley officials have agreed to take some “baby steps” toward joint planning of developing areas just outside the city’s boundary.

The first step calls for implementation of a joint planning agreement in the Turtle Creek area east of Barker Road, roughly between Eighth and 11th avenues.

The area is one of several “urban growth areas” around Spokane Valley, and Mayor Diana Wilhite says it is a top priority for the city because one subdivision has been built there and others are planned.

Wilhite was part of a delegation of city officials who asked county commissioners last week to give the city a formal voice in planning existing growth areas adjacent to the city.

Agreeing on joint planning “is a baby step,” compared with the time-consuming process for establishing new urban growth areas under the state Growth Management Act, City Attorney Mike Connelly said. “We can take baby steps.”

But Spokane County’s planning chief, Assistant Building and Planning Director John Pederson, said designation of joint planning areas must follow procedures outlined in the county’s comprehensive land-use plan.

“Is it difficult? Probably not,” Pederson said. “I just want to make sure we go through all the right steps.”

County Commissioner Todd Mielke noted the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board has slapped the county several times for failure to follow proper procedures.

As a result, “I’ve got to tell you, this board is extremely sensitive to process,” Mielke told Spokane Valley officials.

However, the commissioners’ attorney, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor Jim Emacio, told commissioners they could begin joint planning informally while waiting for formal designation of joint planning areas.

Spokane Valley City Manager David Mercier offered to present a draft agreement for the Turtle Creek area by the end of the year.

Commission Chairman Mark Richard called adoption of a joint planning agreement “a tangible piece of work that we could try to achieve” by the end of March.

Meanwhile, he called for county planners to adopt Emacio’s suggestion for better communication during project reviews required by the State Environmental Policy Act.

After the meeting, Wilhite said she thought the commissioners’ offer showed good faith, “but we do want to hold their feet to the fire that we will have something by the end of the first quarter.”

She said the timing is important because spring will bring new construction proposals in the Turtle Creek area. City officials are concerned about traffic problems, including improvements that may be needed on Barker Road, Wilhite said.