(The Center Square) – Spokane residents have until Nov. 15 to weigh in on proposed changes to the city’s development regulations as officials work to modernize rules governing housing, construction and land use.
The city is seeking public feedback through the BUILDSpokane Community Survey, part of a broader effort to update Title 17 of the Spokane Municipal Code, which governs zoning, land use and development review processes.
The overhaul is intended to align development regulations with the city’s comprehensive plan, reduce barriers to development and redevelopment, and improve transparency and efficiency in the permitting process, according to the city.
“There are a lot of redundant codes, codes that aren’t clear that have had to be kind of interpreted in different ways over the years,” said Spokane City Councilmember Michael Cathcart. “And so cleaning all of that up is going to be one of the big priorities.”
Cathcart said public participation is particularly important while the rules are still being drafted because changes become more difficult once proposed ordinances reach the City Council.
“Once it’s at the council level, yes, we can change it, but it just becomes a little bit of a bigger hurdle to get that done,” Cathcart said in an interview with The Center Square.
Cathcart said Spokane has been working on updating its comprehensive plan over the past several years, and the development code will serve as a key mechanism for implementing that plan.
The regulations can affect the cost and feasibility of residential and commercial development, including housing affordability, housing choice and access, he said.
The city is reviewing its development code to identify outdated or unclear provisions, redundant regulations and opportunities to make the development process more efficient.
Cathcart said the modernization could address regulations affecting “missing middle” housing, a term commonly used for smaller multifamily housing types, as well as rules related to housing affordability and energy requirements.
He said he is concerned that certain climate-related requirements could increase construction costs or make it more difficult to build housing in Spokane.
“My deep fear … is I want to make sure that we are not making decisions that are going to increase the cost of housing or make it less likely that we are going to get the housing that we need in the city of Spokane,” Cathcart said.
He added that he has not yet been briefed on the specific changes included in the draft code.
The city is working with a consultant and planning staff on the modernization project. Cathcart said public feedback could help shape proposed changes before they advance to public hearings and City Council consideration.
The Spokane Development Code covers rules for allowed uses, building standards, land subdivisions, setbacks, height limits, lot coverage and landscaping requirements. Once regulations are adopted, projects that meet those standards can be approved for construction, according to the city.