[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6374052,"mediaKeyId","2145131-e4895e9b78914d4a70a78bfa6514f903","parentId",2145131,"title","Plan Commission approves minutes and adopts agenda; no ordinances enacted","audioSeconds",1252,"startMs",176000,"endMs",1428000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145131-e4895e9b78914d4a70a78bfa6514f903&start=176&end=1428","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145131-e4895e9b78914d4a70a78bfa6514f903/thumbnail_176000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6374052/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Plan-Commission-approves-minutes-and-adopts-agenda-no-ordinances-enacted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374052-240f1a86a843c1136b325eb278e26841/orig.mp4?Expires=1773600777&Signature=BxyLwmP7hQ~mIexlrcbdDtxasFeL3~qZlIYe40U1VrAM~TTt1bTdDpSY8wiUSm4IdKr07jNiSDuPsE3-xEaAbCbArj7ZtQHxH-ah2ua7Vqqk6JPKT4wfI9sGrcow4KJAKOSGZ8MOwmAdhAGz6yJAoVCc3cikktTIAfsNVPC0cCkgQO-hmaBzV~bJtpr1-ikr3phEa5SMK~oth9~gjSbUL3J9KJMtogD6SR4rRN943fFpkIHwTefL3MdjCTjLJ8bLzNN1V1oUcMPLm0kpt4CBftZRU12EjY7XYLWfvyyrvkBCIYOsUjsu76sogB6TrOLMttMBn0PfXgeSGx2fE-B-Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-01-24T01:41:33.733Z","article","At the Jan. 22 workshop the Spokane Plan Commission recorded two formal actions by voice vote: approval of the Jan. 8 minutes and adoption of the meeting agenda. Both motions were seconded and carried by voice vote; no roll-call tallies tied to individual members were recorded in the transcript and no ordinances, resolutions or final land-use decisions were made at the workshop.

Votes at a glance:

Approve minutes (Jan. 8)
Motion: Approve minutes from the Jan. 8 Plan Commission meeting
Mover: not specified (voice motion)
Second: not specified (voice second)
Outcome: Approved (voice vote)
Notes: Multiple \"Aye\" responses recorded; no roll-call breakdown provided in transcript.

Adopt current agenda
Motion: Adopt the current meeting agenda
Mover: not specified (voice motion)
Second: not specified (voice second)
Outcome: Approved (voice vote)
Notes: Adopted by voice vote; no further action recorded.

The meeting then moved into substantive presentations on climate planning and a legal review of takings; the commission confirmed it had a quorum before proceeding with the workshop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4th Wednesday Plan Commission Workshop-January 22nd, 2025 Meeting Recording","oneSentenceSummary","The Spokane Plan Commission voted to approve minutes from Jan. 8 and adopted the meeting agenda on Jan. 22 by voice vote; no ordinances or formal code amendments were considered or passed at the workshop.","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},6374054,"Attorney-general guidance on regulatory takings reviewed; moratoria and rezonings flagged for caution",200,1662000,1862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145131-e4895e9b78914d4a70a78bfa6514f903&start=1662&end=1862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145131-e4895e9b78914d4a70a78bfa6514f903/thumbnail_1662000.jpg","/articles/6374054/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Attorney-general-guidance-on-regulatory-takings-reviewed-moratoria-and-rezonings-flagged-for-caution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374054-1799e3af5379b25b307f19af972d9780/orig.mp4?Expires=1773600777&Signature=bWW4WRD~Do9~LuP2or-Xrtv39N9MH31P-cf44Fd-MIG4gLSKCs6rGp6dlXmmJhUISLp39Ju8h5W238hatajKC47wCDb2~Uw9LATdgFItY3P2muNIoQzsbzqXFasyYLEM8ZWrkAsl~PHaCJcP73L7tLnNDi6bbO9KPIAVcoD8Kq~2fEYD72cLyknl34S5jW93Z-I5fyE603jqERdSGP0xm~YYEGi450e2gBUqBm3PjYgsPC6D7LAqz-T3lse9mgBpF5an9XQ7dGENp8AbK0dJoee9O7Kth~xLpdrMSdwX~ZiFR7RXihUgimambINhwOI-D5QemQSVTRskPV7GBcecxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Plan Commission on Jan. 22 received an overview of Attorney General guidance and case law on regulatory takings, a legal topic planners must consider when adopting code changes, rezoning properties or imposing land-use conditions.

Tim (presenter) outlined the key legal tests planners should use to screen proposed regulatory changes and summarized the AG's recommended internal review process for local governments.

\"Property owners do not have a constitutional right to the most profitable use of their property,\" Tim said, describing the constitutional baseline and why many land-use regulations are upheld. He reviewed the three-part takings framework used in Washington: (1) permanent physical occupation, (2) deprivation of all economically beneficial use, and (3) application of the Penn Central factors (economic impact, interference with investment-backed expectations, and character of the governmental action).

Tim said the Department of Commerce's model procedures require local governments to prepare an advisory memorandum under RCW 36.70. Partial citation in the presentation referenced the statute and the AG's advisory template; the memo is intended to produce a written assessment for decision-makers and the legal department that documents whether a proposed ordinance or rezoning raises takings concerns and to recommend next steps.

The guidance includes a list of \"warning signals\" to prompt a deeper constitutional review: whether a proposal creates a permanent or temporary physical occupation; whether it effectively eliminates all economically viable uses of a parcel; whether it requires dedications, easements or other conditions that place a disproportionate financial burden on the owner; and whether a regulatory action has a severe economic impact on property ownership. Tim noted that moratoria can be particularly sensitive: a moratorium of unlimited duration or without a specific, targeted purpose and clear plan to remedy the condition can risk litigation and a takings claim.

He discussed several court examples that illustrate different outcomes: a 30% open-space set-aside in a subdivision was questioned under impact-fee law (Isla Verde International Holdings v. City of Camas), secondary access requirements were upheld for safety reasons, dedications can be justified where a clear nexus exists (Sparks v. Douglas County), floodplain rules have been sustained where they are tailored to public purposes (Chaddock v. Yakima County), and landmark designation rejections have survived takings claims where historic-preservation purposes justified the restriction (Connor v. City of Seattle). Tim also cited Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City as the controlling multi-factor test for many regulatory takings claims.

Commissioners asked how the rules apply to multi-year moratoria and rezonings that affect adjacent property values. Tim said moratoria can be renewed but should be targeted to a known problem and accompanied by a plan and justification; if a moratorium continues without accomplishing its corrective task it could become the basis for a takings claim. He noted there is limited Washington case law that finds a regulation to be a taking, and he emphasized the importance of documenting the statutory process and the advisory memorandum required under state guidance.

Tim described an ordinary administrative pathway the city uses: review the proposed action, prepare and distribute an advisory memorandum to decision-makers and legal staff, use warning signals to evaluate the proposal, incorporate constitutional assessments into the agency review, and prepare internal responses if issues arise. He also described a concrete example of a utility project where the city is using condemnation (a friendly condemnation) to remove a restrictive covenant on a plat so a water booster station can be constructed on a constrained parcel.

Why it matters: zoning, overlays, development conditions, historic-designation decisions and moratoria can trigger expensive litigation or require financial compensation if they amount to a regulatory taking. The AG guidance and the cases Tim reviewed give planners a structured way to screen proposals and document legal analysis before decisions are finalized.

The commission asked staff to continue using the AG/advisory process and to circulate memos when projects raise potential constitutional issues.","Legal counsel reviewed statewide Attorney General guidance on unconstitutional regulatory takings and discussed warning signals—temporary or permanent occupation, depriving all economically viable use, and Penn Central factors—plus case law and how moratoria, dedications and overlays can trigger challenges.",{"_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},6374062,"Spokane Plan Commission hears climate planning update, survey tops 1,300 responses",3994,1353000,5347000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145131-e4895e9b78914d4a70a78bfa6514f903&start=1353&end=5347","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145131-e4895e9b78914d4a70a78bfa6514f903/thumbnail_1353000.jpg","/articles/6374062/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Plan-Commission-hears-climate-planning-update-survey-tops-1300-responses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374062-36f6c2d2b5da519557b3dafcb9cce89d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773600777&Signature=OxrDS3r3zZ0yrA6-zyhBRQ9KX1cJJUWtPlSdw9pHf4xWYkKtFI6FrvmiVYMlRkVsoyzvEqmXcGJT4WLPoha5~2Z11hgK9JQazn2MpYOUcn8e6TCajifSoy597m~mPy9CbbMCf3zgiafTG5Qx1x0ZJ45qBEwMxHX-Aps9ZKb-E9Ne2rP9i5iR79h-6Zh29P3lXX1MIHv9zyGjphtyT5PwyyStl-guRF7MMZqY5M6ZYb96ADoTfhU8tqFkI6ffYVQM0h8q8SROCckLYgFCm3gwZ65O4KF1g14kzv3NhMIVi0vEXBuWA1tMVS2iuojZBpAnb6ZDCcnjHCxEvbIfPnFCWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff and outside consultants on Jan. 22 updated the Spokane Plan Commission on the city's climate-planning work, which will be folded into the periodic update of the comprehensive plan.

The presentation described early technical findings, an outreach program that has gathered more than 1,300 survey responses in six languages, and next steps that include a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and draft policy recommendations for later review by the commission and City Council.

The consultants said the project is focusing on community resiliency (rather than greenhouse-gas inventories) in this phase and is using a high-end climate scenario (RCP 8.5) for risk projections. Early findings highlighted a historic rise in average temperature in Spokane of more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit over roughly the last 120 years, a projected decrease in summer streamflow and snowpack (April 1 snowpack likely to fall below 75% of today's levels), and an increase in extreme fire-danger days. The memo also maps groups and places that are likely to be more vulnerable to those hazards, including Native American, Black and Latino residents, low-income and houseless residents, youth and older adults, people with disabilities, outdoor workers, and neighborhoods already exposed to air pollution.

\"We're kind of in the middle of the process now,\" said Lisa Greeter, a consultant with Burke Consulting, summarizing the current phase of work. Greeter and Meg (Cascadia, listed as a consultant) described three parallel tasks: the climate impacts and justice memo, a policy audit of existing plans and codes, and the climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) that will produce a place-based index and an interactive map for public comment.

Consultants said the policy audit reviewed more than 1,300 policies and code sections and performed a deeper review of about 327 items; it found existing strengths in land-use, transportation and ecosystem policies but identified coverage gaps in buildings and energy, food and agriculture, emergency management, waste, and water-resource policies. The audit noted that more recent documents such as the city's sustainability action plan and the parks master plan could provide language to strengthen the comprehensive plan.

Council member Katie Klitsky said public-works staff will present on fire-hydrant pressure and other infrastructure issues at the city's PICE committee in February; consultants said that cross-department coordination will be ongoing as draft policy language is developed.

Consultants described their engagement program as multi-pronged: a December survey (available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic and Marshallese) that closes Jan. 31; neighborhood-district virtual workshops held in December; tabling and events; a planned community workshop in spring (possibly near Earth Day); targeted focus groups in spring for vulnerable populations; and tribal coordination led by Kaufman Associates with a tribal work group launching in February. \"Kaufman Associates is launching a tribal work group this February,\" the team said, and noted that the effort will prioritize sovereignty, traditional ecological knowledge, and careful handling of tribal data and input.

Casey, the engagement lead on staff, said the city's survey had received more than 1,300 responses to date and stressed that the team will follow up with focus groups and partner organizations to reach people who are undercounted in census-based datasets. The consultants said they are testing an interactive CRVA map that will let community members add comments and local knowledge to the spatial analysis.

Commissioners and attendees pressed the team on data sources and outreach tactics. Commissioners asked whether census-block or block-group data would be used to avoid the known distortion that can occur when higher-income pockets within a census tract skew the result. Greeter said the team starts with census data but attempts to \"ground truth\" it with local sources and engagement, and invited commissioners to share local data sources. Several commissioners recommended partnerships with local groups and utilities — including Avista, SNAP partners that help with utility assistance, neighborhood councils, community centers and the Spokane Alliance — and urged compensating community organizations that help recruit participants to focus groups.

The consultants said they will present fuller policy recommendations and specific amendment language in a later phase, pending the city's decision on phase-two Commerce funding and incorporation into the periodic update schedule. \"This is phase 1,\" Greeter said; phase 2 would begin in July if funding and the biennial schedule align.

Why it matters: the climate element must be incorporated into the comprehensive plan and can inform zoning, infrastructure, park and emergency-management choices that affect safety, housing vulnerability and long-term costs. The consultants said their work aims to center equity by identifying communities that face compounded risks and by designing engagement that reaches those communities.

Next steps and public access: the survey closes Jan. 31; the team will post the CRVA mapping tool and the policy-audit memo on the project site and host spring workshops and focus groups. Materials are available through the city's climate-planning page and the citywide engagement platform; staff said they will circulate memos and workshop notices to the commission in coming weeks.

A shorter presentation on a related multimodal level-of-service study was previewed for a future meeting.","City staff and consultants updated the Spokane Plan Commission on the comprehensive-plan climate element work: a climate impacts and justice memo, a policy audit, an interactive vulnerability index, and an ongoing community engagement effort that has collected more than 1,300 survey responses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Plan Commission approves minutes and adopts agenda; no ordinances enacted

Attorney-general guidance on regulatory takings reviewed; moratoria and rezonings flagged for caution

Spokane Plan Commission hears climate planning update, survey tops 1,300 responses