People need more affordably priced housing options in appropriate locations.
Recently, the City passed three ordinances effective February 27, 2019, aimed at more housing development and homeownership in residential areas mostly located near Spokane’s growth Centers and Corridors. The development code changes make it easier to achieve the planned number of homes per acre and follow work by a 2016 infill development steering committee. The changes are intended to make more efficient use of available land near existing services and facilities, effectively reducing additional expenses for taxpayers.
The proposed changes address development of vacant lots and parcels in already built-up areas – also called "infill development." Current work also includes mapping tools and other resources to provide information about available land and benefits of development near built-up areas, as well as continued work on some of the recommended revisions to the Unified Development Code.
The City's Comprehensive and Strategic Plans encourage the development of more compact, affordable forms of housing and high-quality, diverse residential development. In 2016, a subcommittee of the Spokane City Plan Commission engaged a steering committee comprised of 16 developers, design contractors, community representatives, and leaders, to ask what changes are needed to encourage high-quality housing and commercial development in appropriate designated areas of Spokane. A series of 24 recommended actions provides a guide to address residential and commercial development on vacant lots in now built-up areas. The committee’s recommendations were adopted by Spokane City Council in November 2016. The City adopted a separate set of code amendments in early 2018 for cottage housing and other alternative residential development in Spokane’s lower-density residential areas.
The public is invited to participate by attending scheduled meetings and providing written comments throughout the process. City staff encourages the public to contact the Planning and Development Department for information.
Written comments should be mailed, delivered, or emailed to:
Nathan Gwinn, Primary Contact
Assistant Planner
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201-3329
509.625.6893
ngwinn@spokanecity.org