[{"_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",6156505,"mediaKeyId","5469591-c83e73dc69554fab20eed16272769978","parentId",5469591,"title","City staff says Liberty Lake has land capacity to meet projected 20-year employment growth","audioSeconds",272,"startMs",1724000,"endMs",1996000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469591-c83e73dc69554fab20eed16272769978&start=1724&end=1996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469591-c83e73dc69554fab20eed16272769978/thumbnail_1724000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6156505/Liberty-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/City-staff-says-Liberty-Lake-has-land-capacity-to-meet-projected-20-year-employment-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156505-aed6ba4168c611ae7cbd83d074da2570/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833165&Signature=D7V~~8jQprp7hfHCZ6ciRtN8ERcMz0cM5j~OEoAQlEbdQOEDYTXnhhiFegiq565EEWf~jS3u2QWKh5VdG~tDvQHywO1tDWGrIqhiyVcTq0gHjVjo-Ktsad9ausNs6StzHlaqQ6RLhY3jns0IC5Jie7ReL4Sf8Z8LeUo~39GzmEheL18kke1vxVzLB5xQjhWBWt9x4p8oAShTu12~NZG9ZzIovHpAhTFKpF7MXWJg-GHo7liocSBuoUhtovd4p9Mw3zaCm-zNzzpBz~m9Eip1DuveM1ICbvl0UL1D32vOncJiY2E-zJqaDr8JetjrTmYwYkFZgF2CecHJ1GnUdumWfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Liberty Lake City, WA","date","2025-07-25T03:41:13.547Z","article","City planning staff told the Liberty Lake Planning Commission on July 23 that the employment forecast and land-capacity analysis prepared for the comprehensive plan update project a range of roughly 12,000 to 15,000 jobs over the planning period and that the city has sufficient land capacity to accommodate those projections under current and reasonably expected future development patterns.

Why it matters: The employment and land-capacity outlook is a key input for the transportation network analysis, capital facilities planning and other elements of the comprehensive plan. The forecast affects expected demands for roads, utilities and public services through the planning horizon.

Staff described three projection methods: a 10-year linear trend line, compounded trend lines by industry group, and a jobs-to-housing-ratio projection that uses the city's current ratio as a baseline. Those methods produced a range of potential job outcomes the presentation summarized as roughly 12,000 to 15,000 jobs. To test land capacity, staff used two bookends: achieved floor-area ratios (what has been built to date) and maximum build-out under current zoning assumptions; both measures indicated sufficient capacity for the forecasted job range.

Staff said recent River District development is producing substantially greater floor-area ratios than earlier development patterns and that future projects could increase per‑acre employment density. Commissioners pressed staff on technical details: whether a statewide or county policy allows landowners to maintain agricultural land in a tax-advantaged \"bank\" and whether the city has areas of prime agricultural soil; staff replied that the state program exists for appropriate soils but Liberty Lake does not have class-A soils and that vacant parcels in the city historically grew bluegrass but were effectively tenant-farmed until development.

The commission also discussed parking and development patterns. Staff noted that past code approaches included minimum and maximum parking standards but that fixed maximums prompted repeated variance requests and that market forces tend to lead developers to provide the parking their uses require. Commissioners and staff discussed tradeoffs between denser, walkable districts and the continuing need for parking for users arriving from outside walkable areas.

No formal action was taken on the forecast or land-capacity analysis during the meeting. Staff said the employment memo will be appended to the comprehensive plan as supporting material and distributed to transportation and service partners (SRTC, STA, Spokane County, Spokane Valley) to support network analysis and capacity planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission - July 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City planning staff presented an employment forecast July 23 that projects roughly 12,000 to 15,000 jobs in the planning period and told the Planning Commission the city has land capacity to support that range under current zoning and likely future densities.","taxTitle","Liberty Lake, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",52172,"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},6156510,"Planning commission adds policy to explore reclaimed water use in utilities chapter",1555,144000,1699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469591-c83e73dc69554fab20eed16272769978&start=144&end=1699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469591-c83e73dc69554fab20eed16272769978/thumbnail_144000.jpg","/articles/6156510/Liberty-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/Planning-commission-adds-policy-to-explore-reclaimed-water-use-in-utilities-chapter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156510-dcd5b24e3bc7c21eac233318bf35c153/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833165&Signature=Pc4lTrSnskJo2rxdeLI3T8LQMKeuNVoeGaAxbnwUzGKjnAYq~yw8hN~fXj-mm3XAtazTRhffhCoHM-5-X2jP5IiUnm1eJbID2midm5HlWLt3zOJd-CQ1~veFmGSA3TfLkXK83KyOHr0vWQ6Yrq9Zd-MK0rKSkrp5Vi6Hw1ahXCfYl0vz-V7DPrKB7LlSWO8WGuRaLFvMvQZtr2SBShX3evtwq0ntyT5xKxud19yDxGo5-CczrKOIQgy4LHpPhRc6L7cmlIIaxfuBpFVdD42hk7OgiuH55Aiuot2zOD1x675cznaqyL7LSG4~O14vBmMmwFm4Y8xvrcDMqQyQD4y4Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Lake Planning Commission voted July 23 to add a new policy to the utilities and essential public facilities chapter of the city's comprehensive plan that directs the city to \"explore and encourage opportunities for the use of reclaimed water.\" Staff presented the revised chapter, which combines utilities, essential public facilities and capital facilities goals and policies and adds a capacity-review approach for utilities, schools, emergency services and city facilities.

Why it matters: The change directs future planning and conversations with utility providers about alternative water sources and appears designed to inform the city's 20-year capital facilities planning and the transportation and parks elements that feed into it.

Staff described the chapter as an update and consolidation of previously separate elements and said planners met with local providers, including Avista (electric and gas), Reed Lake Sewer and Water District (water and sewer), consolidated irrigation providers and Spokane County Environmental Services on sewer capacity. Staff also said they consulted Spokane Valley Fire District and Liberty Lake Police Department to assess service needs and that the city is preparing a separate master facilities plan to feed into the capital facilities analysis. The staff presentation included a placeholder for the master facilities plan and a proposed capacity-review methodology based on projected population growth.

The chapter, as presented, also explains how the state defines essential public facilities (examples cited in the staff presentation included airports and inpatient behavioral health or substance-abuse facilities) and describes three scales of essential facilities: statewide, county/regional and local. Staff noted that Liberty Lake is unlikely to host many facilities that require the county's formal siting process because the city's sewage treatment facility has capacity and was designed for expansion. Staff recommended including the county's 2001 regional siting process as an appendix to the comprehensive plan for transparency.

Commissioners asked whether reclaimed-water policies appear in neighboring jurisdictions. Staff replied that some Eastern Washington jurisdictions have considered reclaimed-water use but that Liberty Lake does not control regional reclaimed-water systems; the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and Spokane County are the primary decisionmakers. Staff recommended adding an encouragement policy so the city can signal support without assuming authority the city does not have.

Motion and outcome: A commissioner moved to add the policy language, \"Explore and encourage opportunities for the use of reclaimed water.\" The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote; the transcript records the motion as adopted (\"All in favor? Aye.\"). The commission did not record a roll-call vote with individual member positions in the public transcript.

Discussion vs. decision: The record shows extensive discussion and technical briefing by staff about utilities, essential public facilities, and capacity; the single formal action recorded was the addition of the reclaimed-water policy. No code amendments or binding commitments of city resources were adopted at the meeting; staff said the city will circulate the revised chapter to utility and service providers for review.

What was referenced: Staff noted existing city development code language (cited in the presentation as \"city development code 10 3 6 a\") on undergrounding utilities and described an existing county-wide siting process adopted in February 2001 by the Board of County Commissioners and memorialized through interlocal agreements with incorporated jurisdictions. Staff also referenced the Washington Department of Ecology and WSDOT stormwater manuals in the context of allowing alternative stormwater design methodologies with city approval.

Next steps: Staff will update the chapter text to reflect the commission's edits, send the chapter and supporting notes to utility and service providers for verification, and fold the material into the city's capital facilities plan and other plan elements as those documents are developed and finalized.","The Liberty Lake Planning Commission voted July 23 to add a policy to its comprehensive plan's utilities chapter directing the city to \"explore and encourage opportunities for the use of reclaimed water.\"",{"_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},6156500,"Commissioners discuss solid-waste pickup, recycling and limits of local authority; no policy change",175,1084000,1259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469591-c83e73dc69554fab20eed16272769978&start=1084&end=1259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469591-c83e73dc69554fab20eed16272769978/thumbnail_1084000.jpg","/articles/6156500/Liberty-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/Commissioners-discuss-solid-waste-pickup-recycling-and-limits-of-local-authority-no-policy-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156500-fd2be14e2793d5fef5d5de327942c3cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833165&Signature=axeiV~DQHR0zV-k909H9fnsIIoQrqz1VGx9wigH87AKNVy9zJojcuKm~-mavhqJZ5uRo-n6LU8mlfppexuOEsqgHZYj515Oi~lgO1MZyD9OSVMlzso5oJN5rZ6nmADI55WoKrcNTaOcNxMDx9MOiizpHG1dpYap6MR4c1n9RWiMFEJdzmRaW8rb1gsU48qqCVSGAmUn5t3WihdQdtF6JqO6iKc189ga6rVoemLClZnnQI0-0AHPdkYQ7z0lj4OcYEq8sfLz8ArEOdsJ3x0fRSDCb8wcMG5mYaGmsHpCB3gE3dVjj086QATx~TpG6L7BHfMuMl2m47KS1KVjYmTjABA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liberty Lake Planning Commissioners on July 23 discussed solid-waste pickup, curbside recycling and the constraints the city faces when a private hauler provides service directly to property owners. Staff told the commission that a small number of residents choose to self-haul to transfer facilities rather than contract with the hauler and said a comprehensive solid-waste plan update is planned, but likely next year due to budget and staffing constraints.

Why it matters: Solid-waste programs affect household costs, recycling outcomes and future contract negotiations for the city and residents. Commissioners explored how mandatory curbside programs work and the city's ability to implement them.

Points made in the meeting: Staff said proposals for a solid-waste plan update came in significantly over budget and that Ben Turner, the new public-works director, will lead the effort when funding allows. Commissioners argued mandatory curbside recycling can be effective only when everyone is signed up and billed together (examples discussed included billing on utility bills or property tax rolls in other jurisdictions). Staff noted Liberty Lake currently contracts with a hauler and most customers pay that hauler directly; the city is not presently a billing intermediary and council had shown little appetite to require mandatory pickup during recent contract talks.

Commissioners also raised the practical problem that recycling markets have weakened, leaving limited outlets for separated materials. Staff observed that other jurisdictions place fees on utility or tax bills to secure universal participation, or the city can act as intermediary, but those approaches require governance and billing capacity that the city does not now exercise for refuse service. No formal motion or policy change was recorded at the meeting on this topic; the discussion will inform the forthcoming solid-waste plan update.","Planning commissioners discussed solid-waste service participation levels, the potential for mandatory curbside recycling and the practicality of local enforcement. Staff said the city will update its solid-waste plan but that mandatory, citywide pickup lacks appetite at council and that markets for recyclables have declined.","actionData","errors"]

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City staff says Liberty Lake has land capacity to meet projected 20-year employment growth

Planning commission adds policy to explore reclaimed water use in utilities chapter

Commissioners discuss solid-waste pickup, recycling and limits of local authority; no policy change