We're on record.

All right, I'll go ahead and call this meeting to order.

It's 9 a.m.

And this is the June 4, 2026 hearing of the City of Spokane Valley Hearing Examiner.

I have been my name's Jay Eystone.

I've been appointed by the Spokane Valley City Council to render decisions in certain land use issues as authorized by the Spokane Valley Municipal Code.

The hearing examiner holds public hearings to receive evidence on the merits of various proposals.

And those do include subdivisions, which are the couple of items that we have on our agenda at 9 a.m.

this morning.

The public hearing process is governed by certain rules, and there is an order of procedure laid out in the city code.

So we have to follow that, but I will strive to conduct this hearing in a relaxed and as informal manner as we can so that everybody feels as comfortable as possible presenting evidence and making their case as best they can.

The procedure that we're gonna follow will begin with for each item uh city staff uh presenting a report on their um introducing the application and summarizing their analysis and findings.

That'll be followed by an opportunity for the applicant to make a presentation, um, provide testimony and evidence.

The applicant does carry the burden of proof to show that their proposal complies with applicable laws and regulations.

Following the applicant's presentation, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to speak, whether those are folks appearing in favor of or against the proposal.

And if there's any evidence in opposition to the proposal, then I may give an opportunity for some rebuttal testimony or rebuttal evidence from the applicant.

Uh the city code does say that there is an opportunity after that for closing arguments, but nobody needs to feel like they have to take that and present an elaborate closing argument.

Matter of fact, I've never seen somebody make a closing argument in a hearing examiner hearing.

Um if you're gonna be testifying today, please remember to uh come forward to the lectern and uh speak directly into your microphone there so that uh the record picks up everything that is presented today.

Uh state your name and address uh to begin your testimony so that we can again keep a record of where this evidence is coming from, and then present your evidence as clearly and succinctly as possible.

Please keep your testimony relevant to the proposal without straying into issues that are beyond the scope of the project.

Try not to duplicate information that has already been presented, and finally written evidence is always encouraged.

So if you're testifying from notes that you wrote out in advance, feel free to just submit that document as a written exhibit for the hearing record.

Um there is a possibility that if the need arises from the evidence presented today, I could keep the evidentiary record open for uh I would specify a period of time after today's hearing, but that's somewhat unlikely.

Most likely the evidentiary record will close at the end of today's hearing.

And when the evidentiary record does close, uh the city, the municipal code states that I must render a decision within 20 calendar days, and I will do so.

As a courtesy to other participants, please turn off all audible communications equipment at this time so that it doesn't interrupt our proceedings.

Um except as well, let's see.

The municipal code appendix B chapter 2 section G discusses requests for reconsideration.

Absent or request for reconsideration.

I've reviewed the items on today's agenda.

I don't have any interest in the properties or proposals being heard today outside of the staff reports and their attachments.

I have not received any communication about the matters being heard today.

So I'll be able to hear and consider all items on our agenda in a fair and objective manner.

Now that said, uh anybody has a right to object to my uh involvement as the hearing examiner.

And so if you wish to state an objection to me hearing these items today, please come forward and state your objection now.

All right.

Seeing no one stepping forward for that, we'll go ahead and get started with the first item on our agenda, which is SUB 2026 0002.

Good morning, sir.

Uh Adam Knight, City of Spokane Valley Associate Planner.

I will be presenting sub-2026 0002, Maxwell Subdivision.

The project project site is outlined in red on this slide and is located uh south of Mission, just east of Flora Road.

The proposal would subdivide 2.59 acres, which is currently one existing lot into 13 residential lots.

The public road to Shirley Street will be extended to a cul-de-sac, which will terminate uh inside of the subdivision.

Improvements would be required, such as curb and sidewalk as part of the decision.

The application was submitted February 2nd, 2025.

A complete determination was made February 9th, 2026.

Notice of application was mailed February 18, 2026.

Environmental determination was issued uh April 17, 2026.

That was a determination of non-significant significance.

The notice of public hearing was posted, mailed, and published on May 20th, 2026.

Properties were mailed within uh 400 feet of the subject's site, and no public comments were received.

You can see the uh notification buffer there is in a blue crosshatch, and the subject site is red in this slide.

The subdivision review criteria is RCW 58.17, flats, subdivisions, and dedications, the Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan, the Spokane Valley Municipal Code, titles 19, 20, 21, and 22.

Those are zoning regulations, subdivision regulations, environmental controls, and design and development standards, as well as the Spokane Valley Street Standards.

The comp plan designation is consistent with the proposed development.

All immediately surrounding properties have land use designation of single family residential.

Zoning designation is also uh single family residential R3 zoning uh surrounds the project site as you can see there.

The public road improvements that are going to be done in the subdivision are outlined in red in this slide.

There are existing front end improvements to the south of the site that which are within the subdivision, but those have already been completed.