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Record of Proceedings

Spokane Valley Planning Commission Regular Meeting – October 23, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Thursday, October 23, 2025
BodySpokane Valley, Washington
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateThursday, October 23, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the U.S.

0:20

for which it stands.

0:22

One nation under God in the indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:36

Chairman McKinley?

0:38

Here.

0:38

Commissioner Robertson.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Commissioner Weatherman.

0:42

Here.

0:43

Commissioner Meyer.

0:45

Commissioner Kelly.

0:46

Present.

0:47

Commissioner Winkler here.

0:49

Commissioner Wilson.

0:53

Commissioner Wilson and Commissioner.

0:59

Meyer both did come in and call in earlier arranged absence.

1:07

So I would take a motion for that for them to have the excused absence.

1:12

So move.

1:14

Second.

1:14

All those in favor say aye.

1:16

Aye.

1:17

Aye.

1:18

Any opposed.

1:20

Okay.

1:21

And so five.

1:24

Cool.

1:25

So the excused absence.

1:27

Um approval of the minutes.

1:30

Or the agenda, excuse me.

1:33

I move to approve the agenda as presented.

1:36

Second.

1:38

All those in favor say aye.

1:40

Aye.

1:40

Aye.

1:42

Any opposed approval of the minutes of October 9th, 2025.

1:52

Move to approve the minutes from October 9th to 2025 as presented.

1:58

Second.

1:59

It's been moved and seconded.

2:01

Any changes, comments, or if not, all those in favor say aye.

2:07

Aye.

2:08

Aye.

2:10

Any opposed?

2:11

It passes.

2:12

Commission reports.

2:15

I guess I can't start down with Commissioner Wilson.

2:19

Commissioner Winkler.

2:21

Nothing to report.

2:22

Commissioner Kelly.

2:25

Nothing to report.

2:26

Commissioner Weatherman.

2:27

Nothing to report.

2:29

Vice Chair Robertson.

2:31

Nothing to report.

2:32

And I'm sad to say I didn't report have anything either.

2:37

Boy, it would be real, it's real quick.

2:39

Administrative report.

2:41

We kind of set the bar for you.

2:44

So it's a lot of pressure.

2:46

That's good.

2:47

So I'm hoping that you've all gotten signed up for our comp plan emails.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning███████████████████████████████████35%
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Technology and Innovation████████████████████20%
Public Safety████████8%
Utilities And Infrastructure██████6%
Emergency Management████4%
Intergovernmental Relations██2%
Water And Wastewater Management█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Spokane Valley Planning Commission Regular Meeting – October 23, 2025

The Spokane Valley Planning Commission met on October 23, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall. The primary agenda item was a public hearing on a city-initiated code text amendment (CTA-2025-0002) to permanently increase the height limit for wireless communication towers used by regional emergency providers. After deliberation, the commission voted to deny the amendment and retain the current regulations.

Consent Calendar

  • Excused Absence: A motion to excuse Commissioners Meyer and Wilson from the meeting was approved unanimously.
  • Approval of Agenda: The October 23, 2025, agenda was approved as presented.
  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the October 9, 2025, meeting were approved as presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public provided testimony during the public hearing or general public comment period.

Discussion Items

  • Administrative Report: Staff announced that the next meeting on November 13, 2025, will include an open house from 5:00–6:00 p.m. highlighting three draft land-use scenarios for the comprehensive plan update. Commissioner Robertson raised concerns about infrastructure strain (water, sewer, roads) as density increases; staff confirmed capital facilities analysis is part of the process.
  • Public Hearing – CTA-2025-0002 (Wireless Communication Tower Height):
    • Senior Planner Lori Barlow and Associate Planner Adam Knight presented the background. The Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) needs to relocate to Spokane Valley and requires a tower at least 100 feet tall. The city council adopted an emergency interim ordinance (25-13) on July 29, 2025, allowing up to 100-foot towers (plus 20 feet for antennas) for regional emergency communications. The proposed CTA would make this permanent.
    • Staff presented three options for the commission:
      • Option 1: Increase height to 100 feet in all zones, but require a conditional use permit (CUP) in residential zones if a network need is demonstrated.
      • Option 2: Increase height only in non-residential zones (industrial, regional commercial, industrial mixed-use).
      • Option 3: Retain current code (no height increase; would require a variance for exceeding limits).
    • Adam Knight compared height limits in adjacent jurisdictions: Spokane Valley’s current limits (60 ft residential, 80 ft industrial) are similar or more restrictive than most neighbors.
    • Discussion highlighted that SREC’s building permit application was deemed complete, vesting them under the interim ordinance. Commissioners expressed that the need is unique and unlikely to recur, and that the interim ordinance already addresses SREC’s situation.
    • Commissioner Kelly noted that the emergency interim ordinance met the immediate need and that retaining current code would still allow a variance process if needed in the future.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion and Vote: A motion to retain the current regulations (deny the code text amendment) was made, seconded, and passed unanimously (5-0). The commission will forward this recommendation to the city council.
  • Next Steps: Staff will draft findings of fact for the commission’s review at the November 13, 2025, meeting. The council will then consider the recommendation, with potential adoption of an ordinance as early as December 16, 2025.
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the U.S. for which it stands. One nation under God in the indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Chairman McKinley? Here. Commissioner Robertson. Here. Commissioner Weatherman. Here. Commissioner Meyer. Commissioner Kelly. Present. Commissioner Winkler here. Commissioner Wilson. Commissioner Wilson and Commissioner. Meyer both did come in and call in earlier arranged absence. So I would take a motion for that for them to have the excused absence. So move. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed. Okay. And so five. Cool. So the excused absence. Um approval of the minutes. Or the agenda, excuse me. I move to approve the agenda as presented. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed approval of the minutes of October 9th, 2025. Move to approve the minutes from October 9th to 2025 as presented. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any changes, comments, or if not, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? It passes. Commission reports. I guess I can't start down with Commissioner Wilson. Commissioner Winkler. Nothing to report. Commissioner Kelly. Nothing to report. Commissioner Weatherman.

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