The Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year vision for the City and a roadmap for Spokane's future that sets the framework for physical, social, and economic development of the City. As such, it provides guidance for city development – the major land uses, transportation systems, parks, open spaces, and centers for shopping and employment, as well as where investment in utilities, capital facilities, and services will be needed. On June 26th, 2017, the City Council must passed Ordinance C35509 adopting the 2017 Comprehensive Plan update.
Moving forward after adoption of this update, and as the City nears its 20-year anniversary of the Plan in 2021, the City will begin to address some of the larger, substantive issues that have not been addressed in this update due to time and resource constraints. Staff will include future strategic actions for implementation in this 2017 updated plan - items that will need much more public discussion and work than this current update allows.
Beginning in October 2016 staff presented the draft chapters to the City Council in a series of study sessions. The final study session was held February 16, 2017.
On February 21, 2017 a completed draft document was made available online for review. The City also issued a SEPA addendum Staff also issued a SEPA determination on the companion development regulation changes and opened the 14 day comment period on that determination; the comment period closed March 7, 2017.
The Plan Commission held a hearing for Shaping Spokane starting March 8 and concluding March 22, during which they voted unanimously to recommend the City Council adopt the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Update, as well as the proposed amendments to the Wetlands standards in Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) 17E.070. Shaping Spokane has since been forwarded to the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) and the Washington State Department of Commerce, as required by state and local regulations, for their 60 day review. SRTC has since certified Shaping Spokane. The Department of Commerce continues their review.
Tentative dates for a hearing before the City Council have been established. Adoption of the final plan was scheduled for June, 2017.
The City was on a state-mandated timeline to complete the update by June 30, 2017. Moving forward after adoption of this update, and as the City nears its 20-year anniversary of the Plan in 2021, the City will begin to address some of the larger, substantive issues that have not been addressed in this update due to time and resource constraints. Staff has included future strategic actions for implementation in this 2017 updated plan - items that will need much more public discussion and work than this current update allows.
Beginning in October 2016 staff presented the draft chapters to the City Council in a series of study sessions. The final study session was held February 16, 2017.
On February 21, 2017 a completed draft document was made available online for review. The City also issued a SEPA addendum Staff also issued a SEPA determination on the companion development regulation changes and opened the 14 day comment period on that determination; the comment period closed March 7, 2017.
The Plan Commission held a hearing for Shaping Spokane starting March 8 and concluding March 22, during which they voted unanimously to recommend the City Council adopt the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Update, as well as the proposed amendments to the Wetlands standards in Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) 17E.070. Adoption of the final plan happened on June 26th, 2017.
After the final open house, staff analyzed the public input and incorporated comments where appropriate. These proposed changes were presented to the Plan Commission and City Council.
If you would like to receive notice of upcoming opportunities to comment, please contact the Planning and Development staff.
The update process began in 2012 with a preliminary staff review of the plan and determination of Washington State GMA requirements. Staff held three Council District meetings in 2013 as well as a Plan Commission Open House in order to acquaint citizens with the update process and to get initial input on policy direction for the plan. Following those meetings planning staff worked with teams of citizen volunteers, known as Policy Focus Groups, to review and revise several sections of the Comprehensive Plan. The Policy Focus Groups provided direct input into proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan for the following chapters:
In addition, staff worked to streamline discussions and clarify policy in the remaining chapters. Work on the individual chapters and participation by the Policy Focus Groups occurred throughout 2013.
Work on Chapter 4, the Transportation Chapter, also began in 2013 as a separate update process. Known as Link Spokane, this process seeks to substantially update the City's transportation planning as well as some of its utility and capital facilities planning. Link Spokane is being prepared concurrently with the Comprehensive Plan and has been included in the update as a new Chapter 4.
In 2014 the City also secured the services of BergerABAM to perform an audit of the 2001 Comprehensive Plan and prepare a report with their findings, as well as to complete three Neighborhood Plans (which have since been completed and adopted by the City Council).
In 2014/2015, staff worked closely with each of the 28 neighborhood councils to develop a series of neighborhood profiles showcasing the history, events, daily life, treasures, the natural and built identity, and tales of each neighborhood to serve as an educational tool for those interested in finding out more about our neighborhoods.
If you have questions or comments on the City's Comprehensive Plan or update process please contact: shapingspokane@spokanecity.org
Planning & Development
509.625.6300
shapingspokane@spokanecity.org
Tirrell Black
Associate Planner
509.625.6185
tblack@spokanecity.org
Kevin Freibott
Assistant Planner II
509.625.6184
kfreibott@spokanecity.org
