Spokane Valley Planning Commission Special Meeting – April 30, 2026

The Spokane Valley Planning Commission held a special meeting on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to review the final three elements of the comprehensive plan update: Transportation, Capital Facilities, and Parks, Recreation, and Open Space. Consultants from SCJ and Dowell presented draft updates. The meeting also included public comments regarding Edgecliffe Park and partnerships with Dishman Hills Conservancy. The next meeting will be a study session on May 13, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda for the evening (4-0).
• Approved the minutes from the April 2, 2026 meeting (4-0).
• Granted permission for Commissioners Winkler and McKinley to be absent (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joseph Godse, Spokane Valley resident, described the deteriorated condition of Edgecliffe Park's playground (decades out of date, defunct parts manufacturer, missing slide for two years). He requested guidance on how to get a new park built in that location. Staff committed to connecting with him after the meeting.
• Valerie Godse, also from Spokane Valley, spoke about the proximity of Edgecliffe Park to the Dishman Hills Conservatory entrance and suggested that city investment in the park could attract tourism, noting she is an elected water commissioner for East BoCan Water District and attends conservatory meetings.

Discussion Items

Presentation: RPCA Comprehensive Plan Draft Element Review

• Transportation Element (Cole Grisham, Dowell):
  • Approach: high-level revision focused on GMA alignment, updating data (Census, mode share, aviation, average daily traffic), and adopting multimodal level of service standards (level of traffic stress for bikes/pedestrians).
  • New content: employment/housing data, mode share breakdown, traffic stress analysis.
  • Remaining work: finalizing maps, transit data, and level of service analysis; coordinating with the active transportation plan to avoid duplication.
  • In response to Commissioner Dingus's question about data on traffic impacts from bike lane conversions, Grisham stated that a before/after time-series analysis is possible but not in the current scope. Commissioner Weatherman noted that one-lane roadways with bike lanes and center turn lanes often move cars faster due to reduced left-turn conflicts.
• Capital Facilities Element (Jen Dial, SCJ):
  • Approach: high-level review using GMA checklist; updated tables for facilities, water, fire, stormwater; added references to transportation element instead of duplicating content.
  • New content: tables for city-owned vs. contracted facilities, capital projects, interlocal agreements; placeholder for parks level of service (from parks master plan) and multimodal level of service (from active transportation plan).
  • Four proposed new policies to align with GMA requirements.
• Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element (Jen Dial, SCJ):
  • Approach: coordinated with the concurrently-updated Parks Master Plan; added maps, visual aids, icons, and inventory tables for park and trail acreage, amenities, and condition assessments.
  • New policies: adding shade/tree canopy, maintenance assessments, community feedback integration, aquatics feasibility study, and creating a Friends of Spokane Valley Parks organization.
  • Commissioner Weatherman raised concerns about restroom availability (not all park restrooms are open) and the absence of Dishman Hills (county-owned) from the city's inventory, suggesting stronger partnerships. Commissioner Robertson noted overlap between economic development and parks goals, which will be clarified in the full plan.
  • In response to Commissioner Dingus's question about state requirements for parkland, Dial explained that the GMA requires the city to develop a level of service standard based on population growth, but the city has flexibility. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) provides benchmarking.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken on the draft elements; they will be discussed further at the May 13 study session.
• Staff will consider commissioner feedback (e.g., restroom status, Dishman Hills partnerships) for incorporation.
• The full comprehensive plan draft is expected in July 2026, followed by a broader public participation program culminating in a planning commission recommendation to council around October 2026.
• Development regulations to implement the plan will also be drafted and recommended within the same timeframe.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.