Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17D City-wide Standards

Chapter 17D.075 Transportation Impact Fees

Section 17D.075.070 Fee Reductions and Credits

1. The city council finds that certain types of development activity such as development with the City’s center and corridor zones and housing at a density of at least fifteen (15) units per acre) are likely to generate fewer p.m. peak hour vehicle trips than other development activity. Consistent with this finding, a feepayer may request a fee reduction for the following:

1. 1. Development within center and corridor zones shall qualify for a fee reduction of ten percent of the impact fees otherwise payable as a result of the development activity.

1. 2. Mixed use development which features both an “active” first floor (e.g. office, retail) and a residential component shall qualify for a fee reduction of ten percent (10%) of the impact fees otherwise payable as a result of the development activity, which shall be doubled if at least twenty percent (20%) of the residential portion of the mixed-use development is affordable housing for low-income households or individuals, as these terms are defined in SMC 08.15.020(A) and (G).

1. 3. Development of bicycle and pedestrian connections through their site to a public park or school, or that expand the connectivity of the trail network shall entitle a feepayer to a fee reduction of ten percent of the impact fees otherwise payable as a result of the development activity.

1. 4. Development projects that incorporate covered and lockable bicycle storage for at least fifty percent of their required bicycle parking shall qualify for a fee reduction of $1,000 per bike space. The bicycle storage area must be dedicated for that use only. See SMC 17C.230.200 for space requirements.

1. 5. Development projects located within one-quarter-mile of a frequent transit corridor shall qualify for a fee reduction of ten percent of impact fees otherwise payable as a result of the development activity. Frequent transit is defined as fixed route service at intervals of no less than fifteen minutes for at least five hours during the peak hours of operation on weekdays. 

1. 6. The director shall be authorized to determine whether a particular development activity falls within a fee reduction identified in this Section A, in any other section, or under other applicable law.

2. A feepayer can request a credit for the total value of dedicated land or public facilities provided by the feepayer if the land and public facilities are identified as system improvements or in cases where the director, in the director’s discretion, determines that such dedication of land or public facilities would serve the goals and objectives of the capital facilities plan.

3. For each request for a credit, under subsection (B) above, if appropriate, the director shall select an appraiser or the feepayer may select an independent appraiser acceptable to the director. The appraiser must be a Washington State certified appraiser or must possess other equivalent certification and shall not have a fiduciary or personal interest in the property being appraised. A description of the appraiser's certification shall be included with the appraisal, and the appraiser shall certify that he/she does not have a fiduciary or personal interest in the property being appraised.

4. The appraiser shall be directed to determine the total value of the dedicated land and/or public facilities provided by the feepayer on a case-by-case basis.

5. The feepayer shall pay for the cost of the appraisal. The feepayer may request that the cost of the appraisal be deducted from the credit which the director may be providing to the feepayer, in the event that a credit is awarded. In lieu of an appraisal the feepayer may also choose to use the county assessor’s current square foot valuation of the dedicated land.  

6. After receiving the appraisal, and where consistent with the requirements of this section, the director shall provide the applicant with a letter or certificate setting forth the dollar amount of the credit, the reason for the credit, the legal description of the site donated where applicable, and the legal description or other adequate description of the project or development to which the credit may be applied. The applicant must sign and date a duplicate copy of such letter or certificate indicating his/her agreement to the terms of the letter or certificate, and return such signed document to the director before the impact fee credit will be awarded. The failure of the applicant to sign, date, and return such document within sixty calendar days shall nullify the credit. The credit must be used within seventy-two months of the award of the credit.

7. Any claim for credit must be made prior to issuance of a building permit, provided any claim for credit submitted later than twenty calendar days after the submission of an application for a building permit shall constitute a waiver and suspension of timelines established by state and/or local law for processing of permit applications.

8. In no event shall the credit exceed the amount of the impact fees that would have been due for the proposed development activity.

1. No credit shall be given for project improvements.

10. Determinations made by the director pursuant to this section shall be subject to the appeals procedures set forth in SMC 17D.075.090.

Date Passed: Monday, March 13, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, March 13, 2023

ORD C36368 Section 2