City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 17C
Chapter 17C.122
Section 17C.122.090
 

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.122 Center and Corridor Zones

Section 17C.122.090 Public Amenities Allowing Bonus FAR
  1. Minor Amenities.

Each public amenity from the following list may allow an increase of two-tenths FAR from the basic allowable FAR to the maximum FAR.

    1. Additional Streetscape Features.

Seating, trees, pedestrian-scaled lighting and special paving in addition to any that are required by the design standards and guidelines.

    1. Canopy Over the Public Sidewalk.

A virtually continuous canopy structure. A canopy is a permanent architectural element projecting out from a building facade over a sidewalk or walkway. A canopy shall be at least five feet in horizontal width and be no less than eight feet and no more than twelve feet above grade.

    1. Alley Enhancements.

Decorative paving, pedestrian-scaled lighting, special paving and rear entrances intended to encourage pedestrian use of the alley.

    1. Preferred Materials on Building.

Use of brick and stone on the building facades that face streets.

    1. An amenity specifically identified and described in an adopted neighborhood plan.
    1. Building to the Street.

Buildings complying with the “Buildings Along the Street” design guidelines (page 4 of the center and corridor design guidelines) so that at least fifteen percent of the frontage of the site consists of building facades.

  1. Major Amenities.

Each public amenity from the following list may allow an increase of five-tenths FAR from the basic allowable FAR to the maximum FAR.

    1. Exterior Public Space(s).

A plaza or courtyard, with a minimum area of four hundred square feet or two percent of the total interior floor space of the development, whichever is greater. A plaza or a courtyard is a level space accessible to the public, at least ten feet in width, with a building façade on at least one side. The elevation of the courtyard or plaza shall be within thirty inches of the grade of the sidewalk providing access to it. For courtyards, at least sixty percent of the green shall be planted with trees, ground cover and other vegetation. For plazas, at least fifteen percent, but no more than sixty percent of the space shall be planted with trees, ground cover and other vegetation. Courtyards and plazas shall also include seating, pedestrian-scale lighting, decorative paving and other pedestrian furnishings. The use of artists to create fixtures and furnishings is strongly encouraged.

    1. Public Art.

Public art includes sculptures, murals, inlays, mosaics and other two-dimensional or three-dimensional works, as well as elements integrated into the design of a project (e.g, fountain) that are designed and crafted by one or more artists. Such artists must be listed on a registry of either the Washington state arts commission or the Spokane arts commission. To receive the FAR bonus, public art must be documented at a value that is at least one percent of the value of construction.

    1. Through-block pedestrian connection providing a continuous walkway accessible to the public, at least ten feet in width, paved with decorative paving and lighted for nighttime use. It may be covered or open to the sky.
    1. Residential Units.

Comprising at least twenty-five percent of the total floor area.

    1. Structured parking.
    1. If all of the standards and guidelines for Type 1 centers and pedestrian streets are incorporated into a project that is within a Type 2 center.
  1. “Super Bonuses.”

Any development that receives super bonuses shall also provide at least two of the major or minor amenities listed above. In return for providing either of the following, the maximum FAR’s may be increased by fifty percent.

    1. Underground Parking.

All of the parking is provided within a structure that is entirely below grade.

    1. Affordable Housing.

At least twenty percent of the units are set-aside for households making less than eighty percent of the median income for the City as defined by HUD.

Date Passed: Monday, December 19, 2005

Effective Date: Saturday, January 21, 2006

ORD C33774 Section 1