On January 29, 2024 at their regularly scheduled 6 p.m. meeting City Council voted 5-2 to adopt the proposed amendments to SMC 17C.122.010 and 17C.122.030 and designate a portion of E 29th Ave, between S Martin St and S Fiske St, as a pedestrian street. These changes were adopted through Ordinance C36487, going into effect immediately. A recording of the City Council Hearing is available for those interested in viewing.
A Plan Commission Workshop was held on December 13, 2023, where staff presented and Commissioners discussed the pedestrian street proposal. A recording of the workshop as well as the accompanying presentation slides can be found below.
A Plan Commission Public Hearing was held on January 10, 2024. At the hearing, Plan Commission reviewed the proposal, heard public testimony, and voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the proposal. A recording of the hearing, the staff presentation slides, and the Plan Commissions Findings of Fact, which include their recommendations to the City Council, are below:
This proposal was evaluated under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) as a non-project action. A SEPA Determination of Non-significance (DNS) was issued on December 20, 2023. Comments regarding this DNS must have beeen submitted no later than 4 p.m. on January 9, 2024, if they were intended to alter the DNS. No comments relating to the DNS were received.
Mailed notice was sent to property owners, taxpayers, and residents within 400 feet of the proposed designation before the December Plan Commission Workshop and again before the January Plan Commission Hearing. All future notice for this proposal will occur via email. Please email bwhitmarsh@spokanecity.org to be added to the notification list.
Any person may submit written comments on the proposed actions, appear at the public hearing, or call for additional information:
City of Spokane Planning and Economic Development Services
Attn: Brandon Whitmarsh, Planner I
808 West Spokane Falls Boulevard
Spokane, WA 99201-3333
Phone: 509.625.6846
Email: bwhitmarsh@spokanecity.org
All comments received will be passed along to City Council ahead of their hearings.
The City received a request from the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council to designate the portion of E 29th Ave between S Martin St and S Fiske St as a Pedestrian Priority Zone and outlined previous and current neighborhood and planning efforts to establish a more walkable area around the Lincoln Heights District Center and throughout the neighborhood.
The Centers and Corridors focused growth strategy was adopted in 2001 with the intent of developing a higher intensity mix of uses where access to housing, amenities, services, and employment were highest. The Lincoln Heights District Center is comprised of both Type 1 and Type 2 Center and Corridor zoning (CC1-DC and CC2-DC) which promote pedestrian oriented design and limit some auto oriented uses.
An additional component to center and corridor zones is a pedestrian street zoning designation. This zoning designation can be applied to any street where adjacent parcels have center and corridor zoning. Pedestrian streets have additional development and design standards to promote a pedestrian friendly environment. Design features include minimal interruptions of the sidewalk by driveways, publicly usable site furnishing such as benches, tables, and bike racks, and visually interesting buildings close to the sidewalk.
On October 2, 2023, Spokane City Council passed Resolution 2023-0084 adding a review of the proposal to the Spokane Plan Commission’s work program. Following agency comment, SEPA determination, and the Plan Commission Hearing, final approval was needed from City Council.
This proposal was adopted by City Council on January 29, 2024. This action does not close E 29th Ave to vehicular traffic or change the street classification from a Principal Arterial. This proposal also does not come with any funding.
City of Spokane
Department of Planning & Economic Development
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201
509.625.6500
Tirrell Black, AICP
Assistant Planning Director
tblack@spokanecity.org
509.625.6185
Brandon Whitmarsh
Planner I
bwhitmarsh@spokanecity.org
509.625.6846
