[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6395587,"mediaKeyId","2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d","parentId",2099087,"title","Spokane previewed Division Street transit-oriented development study ahead of bus rapid transit","audioSeconds",1054,"startMs",1511000,"endMs",2565000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d&start=1511&end=2565","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d/thumbnail_1511000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6395587/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-previewed-Division-Street-transit-oriented-development-study-ahead-of-bus-rapid-transit","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395587-4028e4cae168ef2479660d1ca77cbbe7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213420&Signature=BZKpifJaTYTK8zVDX7ffYP-xQR65DAMt-nnV8jAvAqt~8frdMsLdrMmXIjmHmPY-GIrp~ca5Haqx8SXpIY~3fXIm2ti8KBQnV2GRSAQNVZimx1QeQD~jCpnRjAAmQ11v85Db1bVU~jmsDd1Ua1Xm7yPz4MrAU9qY9jqACrWc1tAriWbN5uKHLDD53PN7qWUQH59B5ci2MLwLfpN8fj2IjYrSzONdw0XOsklwtcYsIBLXRkfcbcje5zU0VtGS~wYpaU6xW4l7jzODGoN2mp3RYvNRUj-W30Kk4FqoH3-vGEr7EFDFKYZ6vuy2e~38~G1WQ1igd8iggx74UwqvpuqbJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-01-09T23:53:05Z","article","The Spokane Planning Commission on Jan. 8 heard a preview of the Division Street transit‑oriented development (TOD) study, a multi‑agency effort to align land‑use policy with planned bus rapid transit (BRT) on Division Street.

The project, led by city staff with consultant support, aims to study land use within roughly a half‑mile of the Division corridor, analyze eleven priority nodes identified in the earlier DivisionConnects work, select four to five nodes for in‑depth study and produce recommendations for changes to development policy and the development code. Colin Quinhurst, a city planning staff member who presented the overview, said the consultant team (MIG is the prime) will return in March with an existing conditions report and the results of public involvement planned for February.

Why it matters: Spokane Transit Authority is planning a high‑capacity, high‑frequency bus rapid transit investment within the Division right of way; the North Spokane Corridor’s completion is expected to shift traffic volumes and create an opportunity to reconfigure Division’s curb‑to‑curb elements. The TOD study is intended to create a land‑use “road map” so zoning and other policies support transit‑oriented, walkable, mixed‑use development rather than reacting after BRT opens.

Key details presented to the commission:
- Project area and approach: the study looks at land uses and zoning within a half‑mile of Division and will focus detailed analysis on 4–5 station nodes (quarter‑mile/5‑minute walk radii) while producing guidance that can apply across the corridor. Quinhurst said the work follows earlier regional and corridor studies including the DivisionConnects effort and the STA locally preferred alternative for BRT.
- Safety and access: consultants flagged that much of Division is part of the regional high‑injury network and that pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to stations is a primary focus. Wendy Wilbur of Kittleson Associates, a Spokane‑based consultant on the project, told commissioners the team will evaluate parallel and crossing routes to make stations accessible without driving.
- Transit design and lane use: project materials explained that the planned BRT will use business‑access‑and‑transit (BAT) lanes that can allow right turns into businesses while keeping a dedicated bus lane for most through travel.
- Coordination and schedule: the county and STA are formal partners; county staff and STA staff are on the project management calls. Quinhurst said the project kicked off in September, consultants toured the corridor and met with developers in late 2024. Public outreach (a workshop and pop‑ups plus an online survey) is scheduled for February, and the consultant team will present existing conditions and outreach findings to the Planning Commission in March.

Commissioners asked about modeling and timing relative to other regional traffic modeling work; Quinhurst said DivisionConnects and Iteris model outputs inform estimates of traffic shifting when the North Spokane Corridor opens.

Next steps and public involvement: the study will host public workshops (planned late February), pop‑up outreach at transit nodes and an online survey; the project website has materials on the city’s Engage Spokane hub. The commission will receive the existing conditions report and public input summary in March and can expect subsequent recommendations for zoning and code changes to follow.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 8th, 2025 Plan Commission Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","The Spokane Planning Commission on Jan. 8 heard a preview of the Division Street transit‑oriented development (TOD) study, a multi‑agency effort to align land‑use policy with planned bus rapid transit (BRT) on Division Street.","taxTitle","Spokane, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2644,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6395568,"Planning Commission approves Dec. 11 minutes; Jesse Bank elected president",1211,125000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d&start=125&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d/thumbnail_125000.jpg","/articles/6395568/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Planning-Commission-approves-Dec-11-minutes-Jesse-Bank-elected-president","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395568-de3533b0e727b76df8d22512ed13db2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213420&Signature=XiXiAcmmXnWtbknQIth-1QOhWfVFHiSBAnrcZi~2aeNGh4A~Oem5qOmaa1LmvgJrvx5jqANY9p~~94p3wX8rt1dMhu5kwOIW2Vqk2zA9DKUN8IIYw6NQPZF-xFpU0uyqjk-ydZ9KOW3mVzlzPG8AgUHpoSk~vPPsyJDsFFmsnkZuETYkDq3yqbQE8zDp4wWKXGsPpyvtlPUkDbZJWtc5eWeMU7Sv5R3aklq1pDCa6QnMohP43IRvrLIfbfnRS~-gXFq0FfCB-8iocle69ZIZZt8ucLBZgbh9qqjVkDR3xb6zbBpvwFySVPFUjiYYGnDV8kq99P8f9JIf-3ydIOrDRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Planning Commission conducted routine business at its Jan. 8 meeting, approving the Dec. 11, 2024 meeting minutes and electing new officers.

Minutes: Commissioner Jill moved to approve the Dec. 11 minutes and Commissioner Ryan seconded the motion. The commission voted in favor; one commissioner said they would abstain because they were not present at the December meeting.

Elections: President Francis announced she will not seek re‑election and the commission proceeded to nominate and elect officers for two‑year terms. Nominations for president included Ryan and Jesse (Commissioner Jesse Bank). The commission used a closed ballot; Angie prepared and tallied ballots. Angie announced the result: Jesse Bank was elected Planning Commission president and assumed the role immediately. Commissioners nominated Ryan for vice president; Ryan accepted and the room indicated consensus; no further ballot was required.

Procedural notes: The commission discussed closed versus open ballots, took nominations in the meeting and used slips of paper to vote for president; the immediate transition was noted and the new president conducted the remainder of the election for vice president.","At its Jan. 8 meeting the Spokane Planning Commission approved the Dec. 11, 2024 minutes and elected Commissioner Jesse Bank as president (immediate effect) and Ryan as vice president by consensus; Angie tallied ballots during a closed ballot process.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6395573,"Spokane begins racially disparate impacts analysis for housing to comply with state law",2005,5051000,7056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d&start=5051&end=7056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d/thumbnail_5051000.jpg","/articles/6395573/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-begins-racially-disparate-impacts-analysis-for-housing-to-comply-with-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395573-65732efd4bffb70d38e2965f89a88c10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213420&Signature=V5cOkMxC~ug0rg7FbOW~T33zlrPmtieVYI~VfUp8dNWSHgEqimqmQTrNabBzjvcUNeIi3FXZkLFFEgxdXD0UkpO7vkps3H2dZWIC0ZgBnchf70CZKMSroVkkmoEaQTwau8FoCXh~SoGw4NzevSekLR~7UNX3rB2v65KiJkA5nkyJ1thaSt1HHRPRACkKU5VgkwaXZJW8RLTCEGVS25dcpCMxlt~KbXl1GI1dwg5KMgCA6J-DbLWY-KF9DQn1FWl5pgfHb7v2Z2h61XtmTWpVDUJl1Ux2v9DRYqJbOGFEYoeBY5OaogGgGHrsADLIMb-smzNqXZXS2wACkl3pfFkOXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff on Jan. 8 briefed the Planning Commission on the city’s initial approach to a racially disparate impacts analysis for housing required by Washington’s House Bill 1220. The presentation explained the statutory mandate, the planned data‑analysis approach and next steps for engagement.

Martin Murphy (planning services) said HB 1220 requires cities to identify policies and regulations that cause disparate racial outcomes in housing access, displacement or exclusion and to reflect that analysis in the comprehensive‑plan housing element. Staff said the work will build on earlier local efforts including the 2021 Housing Action Plan, the 2024 Fair Housing Plan and recent middle‑housing code changes.

Why it matters: the mandate is intended to surface policies—intentional or unintentional—that produce unequal housing outcomes by race and to generate policy responses. Staff said the analysis will inform comp‑plan policies and possible regulatory changes to increase fair access to housing and reduce displacement risk.

Method and near‑term tasks described:
- Data categories: staff and consultants will analyze (1) direct measures of housing choice (homeownership, overcrowding), (2) indirect measures of well‑being tied to place (educational attainment, environmental exposures), (3) exclusion indicators (historic racially restrictive covenants and patterns of access) and (4) displacement and displacement risk (evictions, foreclosures, rent burden and updated displacement‑risk mapping). Brandon Marsh and Dela Matunji joined the presentation to discuss methods and data sources.
- Data sources and limits: staff said many measures come from Census and local administrative data; some relevant indicators (for example, mortgage‑denial data) may be available only from third‑party sources or at different geographies, and staff will note those limits in reporting. Commission members asked about how the city will account for external economic drivers that intersect with race, and staff said the analysis will document both local policy effects and broader structural drivers where data permits.
- Alignment and outcomes: the analysis will feed into housing element updates required under HB 1220 and complement the city’s ongoing housing supply and targets work. Staff said the product will likely take the form of a technical report and policy recommendations that will be adopted as part of the comprehensive plan.

Engagement and next steps: staff said they will review existing community engagement products, consult stakeholder groups (including Northwest Fair Housing Alliance and neighborhood organizations), form an internal inter‑departmental working group and begin targeted outreach in Q1–Q2 2025. The commission was told the work is in an early data‑collection phase and will return with findings and policy recommendations later in 2025.

The presentation emphasized that the purpose is to reveal disparities and inform policy responses, not to assign individual blame. Staff said the city will evaluate both intentional and unintentional policy effects and pursue policy changes where the analysis indicates they are needed.","City planners outlined an initial approach Jan. 8 to comply with House Bill 1220: analyzing racially disparate impacts, displacement and exclusion in housing and incorporating findings into the comprehensive‑plan housing element; the work will build on the housing action plan and the 2024 Fair Housing Plan.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6395579,"City begins scoping for comprehensive‑plan periodic update and EIS; draft targeted for 2025",1122,3927000,5049000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d&start=3927&end=5049","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d/thumbnail_3927000.jpg","/articles/6395579/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/City-begins-scoping-for-comprehensiveplan-periodic-update-and-EIS-draft-targeted-for-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395579-4255ac40b6c0d3573c67a86680f218f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213420&Signature=ne7q-rkPtTKC1Ig-~npJrMi1AZjFKQXmVqD70LDbAnBqXpzWPUQCERqLAe5oSzE91319MyF7DLHlewATU6Uw8EtmWrRPezoml6rO8W0kut4g1rxXZQIPNLytYXhMLWmCtd2f3H4N5yDlozuNzU7jmZmlHDd1oqKnl8I7661IwEsVYr9iwRKZ7eTC2W5vCcab2relGpASOJQXJGpg47ZA6eSNb648d3w4socQHANC0k3-6OY-MRDVB~~qzT0ptTuunis1oywJH477Deyi74spNXI0toyaP84lt9dJII3EsSzJPHpMYZDL8wD8cQV~cpahD3YcixunVuoV~1hFxbl3cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff briefed the Spokane Planning Commission on Jan. 8 on the city’s periodic comprehensive‑plan update and the associated State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process.

Terrell Black, a city planning staff member, said the update is required by the State of Washington and will incorporate a climate planning element, growth and housing targets and an EIS that evaluates at least three growth alternatives (staff noted the final preferred alternative may be a hybrid drawn from those scenarios). The city aims to complete a draft comprehensive plan and draft EIS in 2025 and to complete adoption in 2026.

Why it matters: the periodic update will set land‑use policy, housing capacity and climate objectives for the next planning horizon; those policy choices affect zoning, infrastructure investments and possible SEPA exemptions that streamline infill development.

Presentation highlights:
- Scope and schedule: staff plan an extended 60‑day scoping and visioning period (staff said the statutory minimum 21‑day scoping period is too short for Spokane); outreach will include district‑level workshops, agency notices, tribal consultation and a mix of in‑person and virtual events. Staff expect to begin scoping outreach in February.
- Required elements: the update requires examination of growth alternatives, housing targets by income band, a racially disparate impacts analysis and climate planning provisions. Black said the work will draw on related initiatives (Division TOD, the housing action plan, the Fair Housing Plan and other ongoing studies).
- Technical work: the EIS will model growth alternatives, transportation projects (including the North Spokane Corridor completion and Division BRT), and employment growth scenarios. Staff noted past EIS work (the 2000 citywide EIS and a South Logan EIS) and said consultants are helping prepare scoping and technical analysis.
- Potential implementation tools: staff flagged the infill SEPA exemption (a statutory tool) as a subject for analysis in the EIS; they also discussed mapping of center city and high‑capacity transit areas to inform policy options.

Commissioners asked for more detail about alternatives and about how neighborhood‑scale commercial centers and “hybrid commercial” concepts would be handled; Black said those policy choices will be central to outreach and the alternative selection.

Next steps: the city will open scoping/visioning outreach in February, host workshops and prepare a draft EIS and comprehensive‑plan text for commission review in 2025.","Planning staff told commissioners the periodic comprehensive‑plan update (required by Washington state) will include an environmental impact statement (EIS), climate elements and housing targets; scoping and public outreach are planned to start in February with a draft expected in 2025 and final adoption in 2026.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6395582,"West Central neighborhood readied for pedestrian, bike and safety projects using TIF funds",1146,2594000,3740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d&start=2594&end=3740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2099087-c1bbad7d956b3a1131535e2dad1c2e7d/thumbnail_2594000.jpg","/articles/6395582/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/West-Central-neighborhood-readied-for-pedestrian-bike-and-safety-projects-using-TIF-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395582-0831f45ef6996f8de96e8a3fb9172163/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213420&Signature=hlrtUX-odeSMv3Apyndv2x7jPkCxWKSHbGKsyHlmD4h2MF3hDnnUWmpnrI~ns8Cex9uELOvwCh3RLMXAseQB3jxT5Cby~UXYLfsMsTSR7w1IHwvrkaCdYbqKI-X4OQCl~9nB0tOcNKWgQUJMLel2ht81gT0T-WgaOsxQ2UOUj4TkNy1nUsmLc1PCYZdN~H3upM885y0tL98Unc4AYm3rNBNvZzIcgMGxp-9~-ZwfEqZKFKMCOYqJFmN4~A72Bw3UvezQlV0~EZJHsljviPWRWjc8pYTa7esf7izA37KeVW4NLC-SSy49yuAza5cfSoJ~fvNtbctNoZKcCx8ztPQqng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Planning Commission on Jan. 8 received a presentation on the West Central infrastructure project, a neighborhood‑led program that would use tax‑increment financing to fund pedestrian, bicycle and safety projects and prepare construction‑ready designs for priority items.

Wendy Wilbur of Kittleson Associates, the consultant selected with neighborhood participation, described the work as a mix of connectivity, traffic‑calming and small‑scale streetscape projects intended to support local businesses and encourage appropriate private investment. The tax increment finance district covering West Central was established in 2007; staff said the TIF currently holds about $2,000,000 and has been growing by roughly $200,000 a year.

Why it matters: West Central borders the Kendall Yards redevelopment area, and presenters said that as public investment makes the neighborhood safer and more accessible it may accelerate private development and raise property values. The project team included an explicit anti‑displacement analysis and recommended measures to preserve affordable housing and small, locally owned businesses as improvements proceed.

Key presentation points:
- Project goals and selection: consultants and neighborhood representatives inventoried earlier TIF projects, updated the project list through intensive community outreach (cleanup day, PorchFest and neighborhood meetings) and scored projects for safety, connectivity, economic impact and constructability. Top candidates include the Elm and Chestnut greenways, raised crossings to the Centennial Trail, bike lanes on Broadway and improvements that slow traffic on Boone, Dean and Nettleton.
- Economic evidence: Wilbur summarized academic and local interviews indicating that multimodal infrastructure and high‑quality transit tend not to reduce sales tax or property values, and often increase pedestrian traffic and property values once construction is complete. Local developers were interviewed to ground conclusions in Spokane market conditions.
- Anti‑displacement: consultants presented displacement‑risk data showing pressure from Kendall Yards nearby. Presenters noted a large local shift in household income around Kendall Yards (the team cited a median household income figure moving from about $36,000 in 2012 to about $96,000 in 2022 in proximate areas), and recommended both preservation strategies and increased production of affordable housing as part of a neighborhood strategy.
- Design and constraints: the team emphasized staying within the public right‑of‑way where possible to stretch TIF dollars, and highlighted storm‑sewer constraints as a key technical limit to some projects.

Commissioners asked about including surface parking lots among candidate opportunity sites; consultants agreed to revisit mapping to ensure underutilized lots were captured as potential redevelopment sites. Wilbur said the team will produce cost estimates and take the top projects to 100% design for construction readiness; the neighborhood project committee will consider funding requests for construction in a future phase.

Next steps: the project team will complete cost estimates, prioritize projects for 100% design and bring funding requests to the neighborhood project impact committee. The commission was told that some projects align with other city and federal grants, including Safe Streets funding and STA corridor work.","Consultants presented a prioritized project list and anti‑displacement approach for West Central infrastructure funded by a longstanding Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district; commissioners were told the TIF balance is roughly $2 million with about $200,000 annual growth and that top projects will advance to 100% design.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Spokane previewed Division Street transit-oriented development study ahead of bus rapid transit

Planning Commission approves Dec. 11 minutes; Jesse Bank elected president

Spokane begins racially disparate impacts analysis for housing to comply with state law

City begins scoping for comprehensive‑plan periodic update and EIS; draft targeted for 2025

West Central neighborhood readied for pedestrian, bike and safety projects using TIF funds