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Public raises Riverfront Park shadow concerns as council introduces interim downtown height ordinance
Summary
First-reading ordinances to adjust interim downtown height limits drew public opposition focused on preserving sunlight to Riverfront Park; speakers asked the council to protect the park from new shadowing even as city considers changes to encourage downtown development.
The Spokane City Council heard public concerns about proposed interim downtown height-limit changes during the March 3 meeting’s first-reading ordinances. The item, described in the meeting as an interim zoning ordinance to encourage construction and fix inconsistencies in downtown height limits, generated specific public requests to protect Riverfront Park from new tall buildings.
Multiple speakers urged the council to exempt Spokane Falls Boulevard and the river gorge from any relaxed height rules. Dennis Flynn told the council that Riverfront Park is a “crown jewel” and asked that any ordinance protecting downtown heights include language to preserve sunlight on park features. Carol Ellis also requested an exclusion for Spokane Falls Boulevard and proposed an interactive shadow-analysis tool so residents can see how proposed buildings would cast shadows at different times of day and year.
Other public commenters opposed higher buildings for more parochial reasons: Will Hewings, who identified himself as a downtown resident, said he opposed taller buildings because of concerns about public safety, emergency response capacity and obstructed views.
City staff characterized the measure as an interim ordinance to encourage downtown revitalization and to fix inconsistencies between zones; the ordinance was set for further action and a public hearing was scheduled for March 24, 2025. The meeting record shows first readings were introduced but does not include final ordinance votes in the provided transcript.
Ending: The council received several public requests to protect Riverfront Park’s sunlight and sightlines while it considers changes to downtown height limits; the ordinance remains at the first-reading stage with public hearings and subsequent action expected.
