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Liberty Lake planning commission recommends code changes to clarify emergency-shelter standards
Summary
The Liberty Lake Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve amendments to the City of Liberty Lake Development Code and River District Development Regulations to clarify limited-use standards for emergency shelters.
The Liberty Lake Planning Commission on Jan. 8 recommended that City Council approve amendments to the City of Liberty Lake Development Code and the River District Development Regulations to clarify limited-use standards for emergency shelters.
The change, presented by planning staffer Lisa, updates the staff report to reflect the commission’s findings and recommendation. "The proposed amendment is consistent with the comprehensive plan and is not detrimental to the public welfare," Lisa told commissioners during the meeting packet review. The commission concluded the amendment "is necessary to clarify meaning or intent" and recommended approval, she said.
The commission discussed whether the emergency-shelter standards had been considered previously as part of the housing element. A commissioner asked if the issue had been covered in the earlier housing-element work; Lisa responded that the 2021 emergency-housing work preceded current WAC guidance and related land-capacity requirements, and that the code clarification was necessary to complete the land-capacity analysis.
After discussion the commission moved and seconded a recommendation that council approve the amendment. Commissioners voted by voice: “All in favor of the motion, say aye,” and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously.
The amendments are recorded in the planning packet as an exhibit and were described by staff as aimed at clarifying limited-use standards for emergency shelters; the staff report notes the amendment is "not warranted by a change in economic, technological, and or land use conditions" but is "deemed necessary as being in the public interest." The planning commission’s recommendation is for council action; the commission’s vote was to forward the amendment with a positive recommendation for approval for council consideration.
The commission did not adopt a separate motion to send additional conditions or implementation direction. Staff indicated the amendment and the commission’s findings will be included in the council packet when the item is scheduled for City Council consideration.
