Spokane Valley Planning Commission Meeting - August 13, 2026

The Spokane Valley Planning Commission held a regular meeting on August 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The primary business was a study session on the goals and policies of the draft Comprehensive Plan, presented by staff. Commissioners also heard public comments, discussed state-imposed housing regulations, and reviewed upcoming meeting schedules.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved with a change: the approval of minutes from July 23, 2026, was removed from the agenda because the minutes were not included in the meeting packet. The agenda was approved 6-0.
• Commissioner Dingus was excused from the meeting (approved 6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sue DeLuckey (Spokane Valley resident, former chair of Washington State Boundary Review Board for Spokane County): Shared a story about the Board's past decisions to deny development in North Spokane County due to inadequate water and road infrastructure, which she argued were validated by recent catastrophic evacuations. She urged the Commission to be mindful of long-term consequences and expressed concern that the Planning Commission's authority has been diminished.
• Linda Klesh (2215 Conklin Court, Spokane Valley): Criticized the current draft Comprehensive Plan as being an economic plan rather than a true growth management plan. She compared it to other cities' plans (Walla Walla, Millwood, Seattle, Pasco, Richland) and argued that the plan does not adequately address affordability for residents. She also noted opposition to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in her area due to property title issues and called for better planning and restored power for the Planning Commission.

Discussion Items

• Administrative Report (Steve Roberge): Outlined upcoming meeting topics:
  • August 27, 2026: Virtual presentation by consultants on upcoming code updates (review of new state legislation).
  • September 10, 2026: Review of the updated draft Comprehensive Plan, expected to be released within the next week.
  • September 24, 2026: Detailed discussion of draft code changes.
  • A schedule for the remainder of the year will be provided at the August 27 meeting.
• Study Session – Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies (Steve Roberge):
  • Presented background on the Growth Management Act (GMA) goals (RCW 36.70A.020) and the city's planning process.
  • Noted that the new draft contains 42 goals and 162 policies, up from 33 goals and 123 policies in the current plan, largely due to the new Climate and Resiliency chapter.
  • Highlighted select new policies: Economic Development Policy 18 (sports tourism), Policy 19 (industrial land use), Land Use Policy 17 (battery storage and data centers), Transportation Goal 5 (optimizing roadway network), Transportation Policy 22 (pursuing federal/state funding), Housing Goal 1 (removing barriers), and Climate Resiliency Policy 8 (strengthening wildfire resilience).
• Commissioner Discussion:
  • Commissioner asked for clarification on wildfire risk areas; Mr. Roberge replied that the state is working on mapping but it is not yet defined in the comp plan.
  • Commissioner requested a breakdown of how many goals reflect state mandates versus local priorities; Mr. Roberge noted it would require analysis but that the climate chapter was entirely state-driven.
  • Commissioner Winkler expressed concerns:
    • Land Use Goal 3 and Policy 7 focus on commercial/industrial/mixed-use transformation but omit residential innovation, which she felt was better addressed under the housing element.
    • Transportation goals lacked a clear objective to serve residents and businesses.
    • Housing Policies 13 and 14 reference a five-year strategic plan to end homelessness; she questioned its effectiveness given a high average homeless duration (over 8 years in Spokane vs. under 6 months in Houston) and suggested adding flexibility to allow updated methods.
  • Commissioner raised wildfire egress concerns, noting that while there is a regulation for a second access point at 50 houses, there is no standard for a third access point, potentially leading to dangerous congestion. Mr. Roberge acknowledged that street standards might be revisited after the comp plan.
  • Commissioner questioned the need for proactive city action on wildfire evacuation access.
  • Commissioner sought clarification on ADU numbers: the new bill requires allowance for up to two ADUs and removes owner-occupancy requirements; the higher number (six) referenced earlier pertains to middle housing affordability bonuses.
  • Commissioner asked about affordability definitions: Mr. Roberge stated that affordable units must be at 60% or 80% of area median income (AMI), which for a family of four in Spokane Valley is approximately $100,000 (100% AMI).
  • Commissioner raised concern about rising property taxes for fixed-income homeowners due to increased density and higher property values; Mr. Roberge noted the city’s limited tools but agreed to explore options. Commissioner McKinley noted the existing exemption (around $50,000 assessed value threshold) is an all-or-nothing system that needs indexing.
  • Commissioner Jorgensen thanked staff for providing printed materials.

Key Outcomes

• The Commission will receive the updated draft Comprehensive Plan electronically and a paper copy available at City Hall within the next week. It will also be posted on the city’s website.
• Staff will bring back the full draft plan and address commissioners' concerns (e.g., flexibility in housing policies, wildfire risk, street standards) in upcoming meetings over September and October.
• No formal motions or votes were taken on the Comprehensive Plan goals and policies; the study session was informational.
• The meeting adjourned without further business.