Brian Walker, Communications Manager, 509.655.1387
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 12:20 p.m.
The City of Spokane is seeking public comments through Oct. 4, 2023, on proposed housing changes to the Spokane Municipal Code as part of its Building Opportunity for Housing project aimed at addressing the housing crisis.
Following on the heels of the successful interim ordinance called Building Opportunity and Choices for All, the City is proposing amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code that will increase the opportunity for different housing types in the City’s development code.
Phase 1 of Building Opportunity for Housing updated the vision of housing within the City’s Comprehensive Plan and was approved unanimously by City Council on July 31, 2023.
Phase 2 seeks to make permanent changes to residential regulations in the Spokane Municipal Code (SMC).
The proposal amends several SMC sections and includes renaming Residential zones, expanding permitted housing options, adjusting dimensional and design standards for single-unit and middle housing development, and modifying related processes and procedures.
The intent of the proposed amendments is to increase housing choice and feasibility throughout Spokane while ensuring compatibility within existing neighborhoods and the community’s vision.
Review Documents: Proposed text amendments are available on the City website at: https://my.spokanecity.org/projects/shaping-spokane-housing/building-opportunity-for-housing/. A text amendment tracker is also available to provide an overview of the proposals.
The public comment period ends Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. However, written comments will still be accepted up to the City Council public hearing expected for November. The public comment period simply provides the City with a set time to receive comments before making any changes to the proposed language that is presented to Plan Commission at its public hearing scheduled for Oct. 11. All public comments are shared with Plan Commission and Spokane City Council.
Submit comments to:
KayCee Downey
kdowney@spokanecity.org, 509-625-6194
City of Spokane Planning Services, Third Floor
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201
Public Open Houses:
Open houses are scheduled to provide the public information about the proposed text amendments and provide staff with community feedback. Visit the Building Opportunity for Housing webpage closer to the dates for more information.
What is the Building Opportunity and Choices for All interim ordinance?
In 2021 the City completed the Housing Action Plan, laying out strategies and actions that could help to address the critical need for housing units. Through the Housing Action Plan process proposed studies and actions were developed. Building on the years of engagement and outreach around the need for housing, last year the City utilized the tool of an interim zoning ordinance to enact swift changes to address the urgent need for housing. Building Opportunity and Choices for All is a temporary pilot program that modified residential zoning to accelerate construction of more housing in neighborhoods, with more variety in the types of housing being provided, while identifying additional barriers to housing development.
The interim ordinance allows for:
Approved by City Council on July 18, 2022, the interim ordinance was extended to end Dec. 18, 2023, allowing for the proposed permanent code amendments to go into effect before ending.
