This week, the Spokane Valley City Council held a special workshop meeting to discuss the following non-action item.
#1 – Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update, Housing, Utilities, and Climate Elements
The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that the City update the Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations by December 2026. The purpose of the update, which is required every 10 years, is to bring cities up to date with changes to the GMA, recent case law, and changes in land use and population growth. To streamline the update development process, the Council will review a portion of the draft elements of the plan over three different Council meetings.
On March 14, the Council received information about the Housing, Utilities and Climate Elements of the Comprehensive Plan. At this meeting, information was presented about:
Housing:
• Support increased housing developments to meet population and housing growth projections
• Ensure housing policy aligns with recent state mandates, including middle housing and accessory dwelling unit requirements
• Locate multifamily and mixed-use housing near employment centers and transportation corridors
• Provide for a variety of housing types
• Support the preservation of existing house stock and maintain a balanced housing inventory
Public and Private Utilities:
• Utilities are foundational to quality of life, community resiliency and economic vitality
• Coordinated planning is essential due to multiple providers and regulations
• Planning ensures sufficient capacity to accommodate projected growth
Utilities in the city include:
• Energy facilities such as transmission lines and substations
• Natural gas pipelines
• Telecommunications, such as broadband, satellite, cable and fiber optics
Climate and Resiliency
This is a new mandatory element (RCW36.70A.070) of comprehensive plans and consists of two parts: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Sub-Element and a Resiliency Sub-Element.
Staff discussed compliance pathways, extreme weather and climate hazards in Spokane Valley, a vulnerability assessment, and compliance pathways to greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to review in May and City Council in June the last three elements: Parks, Transportation and Capital Facilities. The entire updated draft Comprehensive Plan will go before the Planning Commission and Council later this year with adoption planned for late in 2026. More information on the Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan can be found at www.SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Valley2046.
About Spokane Valley City Council
City Council meetings occur most Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, and online via Zoom. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas. Community members are invited to attend Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in-person or online. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. Email the Council at CityCouncil@SpokaneValleyWA.gov or learn more at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/CityCouncil. Visit the city’s website at SpokaneValleyWA.gov.