[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6149809,"mediaKeyId","5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b","parentId",5510475,"title","Mayor’s office and Plan Commission discuss phasing out billboards, consider amortization approach","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6013000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b&start=6013&end=6013","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b/thumbnail_6013000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6149809/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Mayors-office-and-Plan-Commission-discuss-phasing-out-billboards-consider-amortization-approach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149809-4f2a67bda737dd0456c5d8ee020f8358/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511367&Signature=E~Lg7kDRccyavRePUYZV9C82aNAF5z7af3slPXgfNByDAZRWFKlLJfi~2coupdZemALCxDoxU403jnQNVRWpEguYEH4jRRXoVH9k80e3Jcre8tMtBlJYj8kWEv8t0GYr7noOe4Iw74PDhhYB088p~G094RIm-HRKx3hR1WrHDGTf44kvWzjVvx26VeCvnV7aDT50tDB2DPrJ4DhKQsji-ynuDY0Qt4jqTwNDYDAihisU47qrXN3DV7LgtKv5Lm7hKEhOTTFmZbRVvy7T~N~j6crrdwFsoAYBiryRZSA~us6QngSCiNxXwINjODXUSSKjnwfZVLQMzdKF3Fgy71KyDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-07-29T19:29:33Z","article","Adam McDaniel, a policy adviser in the mayor’s office, briefed the Spokane Plan Commission on July 23 about off‑premise signs and possible regulatory responses, including a phased amortization approach similar to one used in Wenatchee.

McDaniel said the comprehensive plan has long called for elimination of billboards over time and that a 25‑year gap has left the policy unimplemented. He said the mayor’s office has been asked by council to explore regulations after a moratorium on new billboards was adopted earlier in the year. “The comp plan is called for provision on new billboards and also to eliminate billboards over time,” McDaniel said.

Why it matters: Off‑premise signs (billboards) and abandoned signage are concentrated in parts of the city and are linked to maintenance, graffiti and litter concerns. Staff said the policy discussion touches on private‑property rights, sign code enforcement, streetscape aesthetics and public safety.

Options discussed and responses from commissioners
- Amortization: McDaniel described an amortization schedule — a timebound requirement for sign owners to remove nonconforming billboards — and cited Wenatchee as an example that used a roughly 10‑year phasing plan with a target date around 2030. Commissioners broadly supported further study while noting enforcement and legal risks.
- Scope: Commissioners asked whether the work should address both abandoned signs and active off‑premise billboards. McDaniel and staff said the topic would include abandoned and nonconforming signs; respondents suggested including on‑premise sign standards in the broader project.
- Equity and geography: Commissioners noted a high concentration of billboards in certain districts; one staff slide and a commissioner comment cited that about 63% of billboards fall in a single district, underscoring geographic concentration of impacts.

Next steps: Plan Commission staff confirmed off‑premise signs is on the commission’s work plan; commissioners asked staff and the mayor’s office to return with a proposal describing legal implications, amortization timing, enforcement mechanisms, and outreach to sign owners and affected neighborhoods.

Ending: McDaniel said he would pursue initial research and bring back options; commissioners signaled support to pursue the topic but asked staff to scope workload and legal considerations before drafting code language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 23rd, 2025 Plan Commission Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","The Plan Commission heard a workshop from the mayor’s policy adviser on off‑premise signs and billboards, including discussion of municipal options such as amortization schedules to phase out nonconforming billboards and address abandoned signage and graffiti.","taxTitle","Spokane, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2644,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6149814,"Plan Commission advances Cannon Hill Park Addition historic‑district nomination to public hearing after ballots show majority support",3511,2552000,6063000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b&start=2552&end=6063","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b/thumbnail_2552000.jpg","/articles/6149814/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Plan-Commission-advances-Cannon-Hill-Park-Addition-historicdistrict-nomination-to-public-hearing-after-ballots-show-majority-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149814-3ab3e3b9d8888f0c405c6a5c8c699b8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511367&Signature=FABH~66kAEJ9UOolrrT5o2oVtRYxf5RgRnyMsmeMmLD8HZIXYAx~lNOypwZkWRlyf7q3n3cnaJQZI0undyEcWOiI7lNhwP5tEnzW65OpU8WblQ2m6qIbhgQL8pTlTB16neOsnI25qCdkeQAUd4-VkZbVV-HBcqSNBIwGg~P-R5lluTOpN5dvOJcgkzsUQ21ffj0w12jBo-Afp2bytMSwBByd0gCP4sxI2brBcOcPhk28dMT9LlVH5wGtMK7Z7BEsHw3bWRpr7RTOcEB47d~~WL0N80rvGwTON3SAvo9PyXEN4uaXxNJlVB~jn~m1TjIAY-vELikP0pC2IklWlnJhzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Plan Commission voted 5–2 on July 23 to advance the Cannon Hill Park Addition historic‑district nomination to public hearings after city historic‑preservation staff and neighborhood proponents described the nomination process and reported strong neighborhood participation in a consent ballot.

Megan Duvall, historic preservation officer for the City of Spokane, described the nomination and its process, including a homeowner‑led nomination, a property‑owner balloting requirement and adoption of design standards and an overlay ordinance. “What is a historic district? So, it’s basically a nomination that includes a group of properties all in one nomination,” Duvall said, and she emphasized that the purpose is to guide “appropriate” change rather than freeze all alterations.

Why it matters: The nomination would create an overlay historic‑preservation zone for roughly 191 residential parcels around Cannon Hill Park, apply the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for review of street‑facing exteriors, and require design review for most demolitions and for primary‑residence new construction within the district.

Ballot results and scope reported at the workshop
- Ballots mailed: 191 property ballots covering 193 votes (two properties include extra parcels).
- Ballots returned as of July 23: 139 (72% return rate).
- Returned ballots in favor: 121 (63% of total ballots mailed).
- Returned ballots opposed: 16 (8%).
- Not returned (counted as no per ordinance process): 55. Duvall told commissioners that, even counting nonreturned ballots according to the ordinance’s rules, the returned support exceeded the 50% plus‑one threshold required to continue the process.

Duvall described the district’s period of significance as roughly 1908–1958, noted 180 contributing properties and 11 noncontributing properties within the proposed boundary, and said the overlay would exempt certain accessory‑dwelling units and detached garages from preservation review if they meet code standards and are located away from the primary structure.

Motion and vote: A commissioner moved that the commission take the Cannon Hill Park Addition historic‑district nomination to hearing in September; a second was made. The motion carried on a 5–2 vote. Angie (staff) reported the tally and Duvall said the nomination will next appear before the Landmarks Commission on Aug. 20 and the Plan Commission for a hearing in early September, with council consideration to follow.

Why some commissioners hesitated: Several commissioners praised the neighborhood’s research and the nomination’s packet but said they want to ensure the city understands precedent, housing impacts and whether the overlay will constrain future housing capacity. Duvall and neighborhood proponents said demolition of contributing properties would trigger full review, while most noncontributing parcels could be demolished through administrative review under the proposed code language.

Ending: With the Plan Commission recommendation to proceed to hearings, staff and neighborhood proponents said they will continue outreach and finalize the ordinance and design standards for the upcoming public hearings and SEPA notice period.","Plan Commission voted 5–2 to send a proposed Cannon Hill Park Addition historic‑district ordinance to public hearings after city staff and neighborhood proponents described the nomination and reported preliminary ballot results showing a majority in favor.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6149819,"City staff brief Plan Commission on racially disparate impacts, presents displacement‑risk map",2933,902000,3835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b&start=902&end=3835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b/thumbnail_902000.jpg","/articles/6149819/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/City-staff-brief-Plan-Commission-on-racially-disparate-impacts-presents-displacementrisk-map","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149819-063d746d544b6312ef3aab1350fc90c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511367&Signature=FiwLkpIwfjbzEdP3hEoPRxqUEKbisVgsBpWZ8r0VlMlM22YnHXbyeOJYR-ZpyeriO6LUvyUZ5Vo7Oyie~1vDKH4eHxZ7OBQ9I1Rd05paEcgHpY81hQ6rB8tDMykVOQgbs83GR7PCiv1kYXHbgOjrblcXTleiM7F9wtND-Ml3C~bBtE8Emder22v7tTKGRYAwu8PPHd7DfbZzzL5LiD2cz2apUDewog-jAFRCQrvHtmdb0FAbb7yl4Cu2q5IYmTqkoXJxBhCTx~lxy8id0pBsbOkt~9LSO7uwv~q5GH6GGFYH0V5ANuew6KQKZieZz5FHMHrMSCteIztdo7XsBejKPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented an interim racially disparate impacts (RDI) analysis and displacement‑risk mapping to the Spokane Plan Commission on July 23, saying a draft report would be circulated for review in early August.

Martin Murphy, city staff, opened the presentation by saying, “We are working on a draft report,” and outlined the project’s scope: identify policies and regulations that cause disparate racial impacts, assess displacement risk, and recommend policy revisions consistent with House Bill 1220 and Washington State Department of Commerce guidance.

Why it matters: Under the state’s guidance, jurisdictions must examine how zoning, land‑use rules and other policies produce disproportionate impacts on Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) households, evaluate displacement risk, and propose anti‑displacement measures. Murphy said the city will integrate the RDI analysis into the comprehensive‑plan EIS and housing‑element revisions.

Key findings and data discussed
- Homeownership gaps: City‑level analysis groups BIPOC homeownership at 42% versus 61% for white non‑Hispanic households, a 19‑percentage‑point gap; Black and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander households show the largest individual gaps.
- Income disparities: Murphy noted the 2023 city median household income is about $65,000 and said median incomes are substantially lower for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native and Pacific Islander households.
- Displacement risk map: Staff presented a 2025 displacement‑risk map that combines social vulnerability, eviction concentrations, demolition and permit activity, and market indicators. Murphy said indicators point to higher displacement risk in Central and Northeast Spokane and in neighborhoods north of I‑90 and east of Division.
- Physical change data: Staff reported 154 residential units were lost to demolition citywide between 2022 and 2024 and noted clusters of new residential permits and demolition activity in East Central, Logan and West Central; staff cautioned new units can still produce displacement if replacement housing rents higher than units removed.
- Evictions: The eviction analysis (2018–2022) showed the highest concentrations in Central and Northeast neighborhoods; staff noted the underlying data came from Eastern Washington University work and local datasets.

Policy work and next steps: Murphy said staff are evaluating existing housing policies using Commerce’s categories (supportive, approaching, challenging, not applicable). He gave examples of potentially supportive edits — adding language on language access and partnerships with community‑based organizations for housing information, and strengthening anti‑displacement language in policies on senior housing and accessible design. Staff aim to release a draft RDI report by the end of July or in early August and hold a community workshop in August or September before integrating recommendations into the preferred alternative for the comprehensive plan.

Questions from commissioners focused on data details and balancing competing goals: several commissioners and staff discussed the tension between accommodating growth (adding housing capacity) and protecting residents from displacement in areas likely to redevelop. Murphy and other staff said the RDI work will inform EIS alternatives and a proposed anti‑displacement package.

Ending: Staff asked the commission to review the forthcoming draft report and suggested returning in August for a fuller discussion; the RDI report will be appended to the comprehensive‑plan documents and inform later code updates.","City staff previewed a draft racially disparate impacts (RDI) report required by state law, showed a displacement‑risk map focused on Central and Northeast Spokane, and outlined next steps to integrate findings into the comprehensive‑plan update and development regulations.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6149824,"Apartment manager warns Spokane housing inventory figures understate shortage, urges action",482,250000,732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b&start=250&end=732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510475-8ce87035f2389d6ca903e12356983a0b/thumbnail_250000.jpg","/articles/6149824/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Apartment-manager-warns-Spokane-housing-inventory-figures-understate-shortage-urges-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149824-bb4b5b2759991836c4640a3c9b9ee799/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511367&Signature=Y5vudJ4Zw9ILltwGQ~-rpUzX6E8lHwjJL1i9Q6wI6had-jDPnI4-Y3UMYy2WVoOGGIJZtofasJYA-MGT6pWA8gB1ZNG5gW73imuabkMb29k9Q7tHgS6BSnhPOv0jttzUBvZUZSaDmRd1Ejrs5Vc~0RLnBf2HF9~FsDa-GyclAOwnmNYNSuiHuRAQaOB9nrpxPFbmI0BBfHjJrogt6z5~SZZg2kRLJPZL2QIrpWY-YgOTMBypoHmCCZ2l1~GRAj2XdggXK-mczIajXEk4ImHQyYd-xf5MriyUvQisOryy1RpVIsQpH-7Dc~dGayj7VjVb4JFTizqL2JlAG~lYSsZAIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An apartment manager told the Spokane Plan Commission on July 23 that Spokane’s official land‑capacity estimates far overstate the amount of land likely to redevelop and that the gap has contributed to rising housing costs and crowded rental units.

The comment came from Jim Frank, who identified himself during the public‑comment period and said he manages apartments in Spokane. “When I bought my first house, the relationship from median income to a median income home was approximately 1 to 1. Today, that ratio is 5 to 1,” Frank said, summarizing how home prices have outpaced wages. He added that “30% of the apartments that we manage are occupied by more than 1 household.”

Frank said Spokane’s land‑capacity analysis — a technical inventory the city uses to project 20 years of housing supply — assumes many single‑family parcels zoned for multifamily development are “redevelopable,” even where high improvement values and established homes make redevelopment unlikely. He said other jurisdictions apply filters to exclude parcels where the building value greatly exceeds land value; that approach reduces counted capacity and, he argued, better reflects market realities.

Why it matters: If the land‑capacity analysis overstates likely developable land, Frank said, the city’s planning and policy decisions may underestimate the scale of interventions needed to expand housing opportunity for low‑ and middle‑income households.

City staff responded briefly during the question period that the land‑capacity analysis follows a prescriptive state process and Commerce guidance, and that the commission will consider capacity and displacement tradeoffs in the comprehensive‑plan update. Frank suggested publicly available, parcel‑level analysis and said small infill and nonprofit builders repeatedly report difficulty finding affordable land.

Ending: The Plan Commission closed public comment and moved on to its agenda. City staff later presented a separate racially disparate impacts and displacement‑risk briefing (covered in a separate article) that will inform the comprehensive‑plan update and related policy work.","A local apartment manager told the Spokane Plan Commission the city's land-capacity analysis overstates developable land and does not reflect market realities, arguing that the result is reduced homeownership opportunity and rising overcrowding in rental units.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor’s office and Plan Commission discuss phasing out billboards, consider amortization approach

Plan Commission advances Cannon Hill Park Addition historic‑district nomination to public hearing after ballots show majority support

City staff brief Plan Commission on racially disparate impacts, presents displacement‑risk map

Apartment manager warns Spokane housing inventory figures understate shortage, urges action