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