Spokane Valley residents can weigh in on comprehensive plan update

City staff presented Spokane Valley’s draft comprehensive plan and development regulations to the Spokane Valley City Council on Tuesday, and Thursday evening you can get a peek, too.

That’s when parts of the draft comprehensive plan and development regulations will be on display at CenterPlace Regional Event Center from 6 to 8 p.m.

Spokane Valley residents already have participated in several meetings, providing input on how they would like the comprehensive plan to shape the future growth of Spokane Valley. Thursday’s open house is one more step toward finalizing the plan, though it’s not a public hearing.

Economic Development Coordinator Mike Basinger said the open house is a chance for people to talk to city planning staff and representatives from the consulting company that has helped the city develop the draft plan.

“It’s important to think of the draft comprehensive plan and development regulations combined,” Basinger said. “The two go together. First we make the plan, and then we develop the regulations that go with it.”

Basinger pointed out that the proposed land use map has been simplified from 12 land use designations to nine, and from 17 zones to 11.

Other proposed changes include a consolidation of multi family housing zones, a consolidation of industrial zones doing away with light and heavy use, and the creation of neighborhood commercial areas.

Spokane Valley’s first comprehensive plan was adopted in 2006. An update is required by state law every eight years.

Staff expects the updated 162-page draft plan to be available on Sept. 16, followed by the first public hearing at the Planning Commission meeting Sept. 29.

On Oct. 13, the Planning Commission will deliberate and issue a recommendation on the draft plan, which the City council may or may not follow.

On Oct. 25, staff will present to the City Council again, and a public hearing will be held at the Nov. 8 council meeting.

“Obviously, people are welcome at any meeting where we talk about the draft comprehensive plan,” Basinger said, “but the public hearings are key dates.”

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Basinger stressed that staff and the consulting firm the city is working with has put in many extra and late hours to get the draft comprehensive plan ready this quickly.

Councilman Arne Woodard praised the draft plan because it’s written in “plain English” instead of language only planners understand.

The proposed adoption date, which depends on how many changes will be made to the draft plan, is Nov. 22.