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Neighbors, realtors urge Spokane council to revisit infill rules after single-lot redevelopment yields 11 new units
Summary
Residents and a local realtor told the council the Building Opportunity for Housing code changes are enabling lot splits and high-priced developments that do not create affordable housing, citing a specific project at 1111 E. 20th Ave that replaced a single home with 11 units and removed mature trees.
Multiple residents and a longtime realtor told the Spokane City Council the city’s recent infill code changes are producing unintended results: lot splits and higher-priced construction rather than lower-cost housing.
Speakers described a single-family property on East 20th Avenue that was demolished and redeveloped into 11 units, raised concerns about parking exemptions and mature-tree removal, and urged the city to re-examine the Building Opportunity for Housing changes and the related accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations.
Why it matters: The city’s infill and ADU rules are intended to increase housing supply. Neighbors said developers are using the new code to maximize profit and create market-rate units priced well above the area median, while removing canopy trees and increasing on-street parking pressure.
Public comments and evidence Dawn Schuster (spelled in the record as Dawn Schuster), a Rockwood neighborhood resident, said code changes that reduced minimum lot sizes and removed parking requirements are being used by developers to create higher-priced dwellings. She said a single home was replaced by a development that will contain 11 homes including duplexes and an ADU; she told the council, "The last thing on his mind is making these houses affordable." She cited the Building Opportunity for Housing ordinance and an asserted local shortage of 32,000 housing units noted in the ordinance text.
Craig Hemmens, a neighbor to the project, said developers "have found the ability to take advantage of" the infill changes. He said the developer removed a large rock and about 31 of 40 trees on the lot without a permit and asked the city for better accountability.
Mary Storer, another Rockwood resident, raised parking and canopy concerns: "The parking exemptions ... lead to overcrowded streets, blocked driveways, and safety concerns," and she recommended returning minimum lot widths to something closer to 50 feet.
Mary Anne Bornhoft, a realtor with 30 years' experience, said she supports smart infill but that the 11-unit redevelopment at East 20th is excessive given no off-street parking and the loss of a 75-year-old maple; she urged checkpoints and preservation questions for older homes.
City process and code context At the meeting the council had first readings of ordinances amending Title 17 to update ADU regulations in accordance with House Bill 1337; those were first readings and were not adopted at final reading that night. Speakers repeatedly linked the project at 1111 E. 20th Avenue to the new infill rules enacted under the Building Opportunity for Housing initiative and asked the city to consider changes to lot-width minimums, parking requirements and tree-protection enforcement.
Discussion vs. decision: The meeting recorded public comments and first readings of code amendments related to ADUs and infill (ordinance C.36696 among others), but the council did not adopt new substantive code changes on the spot for the issues raised. Residents asked council and staff to revisit code language and enforcement practices; no formal direction or amendment to the underlying infill ordinance was recorded at the meeting.
What to watch next: whether staff or council refer adjustments to parking, minimum lot widths, tree protections, or post-construction enforcement to a planning commission review or a subsequent ordinance.
