Spokane Valley Planning Commission Regular Meeting – May 28, 2026

The Spokane Valley Planning Commission met on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall to conduct routine business and hold a study session on the adoption schedule for the Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations. The meeting included approval of the agenda and minutes, a public comment period, and a detailed presentation from Planning Manager Steve on the remaining timeline and public participation efforts.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda: Motion made and seconded; approved unanimously (6-0).
• Approval of Minutes (May 14, 2026): An amendment was introduced to add the title of a book recommended during public comment (How to Kill a City) and the list of boards recommended (parks, transportation, capital facilities). The amendment was approved (6-0), followed by approval of the minutes as amended (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Luki (via Zoom): Thanked the commission for their dedication, invited them to the launch of a new community group called "Valley Visionaries" on Saturday, May 30, at the library/Balfour Park. He cited a national blogger who described Spokane Valley as a "gigantic six-lane strood" with minimal pedestrian crossings and one of the worst examples of suburbia in the Pacific Northwest. He expressed a desire to change that perception and work collaboratively with the commission.

Discussion Items

• Study Session: Comprehensive Plan & Development Regulations Adoption Schedule
  • Planning Manager Steve presented an overview of the remaining schedule:
    • Draft comp plan expected by June 18, 2026; review with the commission on June 25.
    • Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be issued in early-to-mid July.
    • Public hearing on July 23 for both the draft comp plan and the draft EIS.
    • Development regulations (zoning code) will be presented later (likely July/August).
    • Final EIS and final public hearing in October/November, with city council adoption targeted for November/December.
  • Steve noted that the council packet for the June 2 meeting includes completed elements with gaps filled from the parks master plan and active transportation plan.
  • A summary of public participation numbers will be provided to the commission after June 12.
  • Commissioners raised questions on:
    • The scope of the EIS (addresses environmental impacts like traffic and density).
    • Possibility of receiving the draft comp plan before June 18 (goal is June 12, but June 18 is a buffer).
    • Whether additional surveys are planned (not at this time, but more outreach will occur).
    • The need for elasticity in the comp plan to address potential population decline, given business relocations to Idaho and state tax impacts. Steve noted a five-year check-in and annual amendments allow adjustments.
    • Tracking homeownership rates, rental ratios, and demographic data (data from American Community Survey; more detailed tracking may be discussed by the steering committee of elected officials).

Key Outcomes

• The agenda and minutes were approved unanimously.
• The June 11 scheduled meeting will likely be cancelled due to lack of pressing business.
• Two commissioners (Dingus and Weatherman) will be absent from the June 25 meeting; Weatherman will attend via Zoom, but Zoom attendance does not count toward a quorum for voting purposes.
• The commission discussed revisiting rules regarding virtual attendance and quorum; this will be addressed when rules are updated (likely January).
• Commissioner Pockell emphasized the need to carefully address ADU regulations in the upcoming zoning code updates.
• Chairman Robertson offered a closing reflection comparing municipal practices to the metaphor in Little Shop of Horrors about predatory capitalism, encouraging a different approach to governance.
• Motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed.