Spokane Valley hearings examiner to issue decision on Collins Lane six‑lot subdivision

A hearings examiner for the City of Spokane Valley heard testimony July 3 on Subdivision File SUB20250002, a proposal to replat three existing short‑plat lots on Collins Lane into six lots; the examiner said a written decision will be issued within 10 working days after the record closes.

City staff presented the staff report and recommended approval with conditions, including an updated private‑street maintenance agreement to be recorded prior to final plat acceptance. Levi Basinger, presenting the staff report for the City of Spokane Valley, told the examiner the site is east of Pines Road, south of Valleyway Avenue, has direct access to public streets via Collins Lane (a private street), and currently contains three lots with duplexes under construction. "We can see the ... proposed lots in this subdivision range in size from 4,300 square feet to 4,324 square feet," Basinger said, and staff concluded the proposal meets the density and dimensional requirements of the municipal code.

Nut graf: The decision matters because state law requires that any further division of a short plat within five years be processed as a full subdivision under RCW 58.17.060; staff told the examiner the project was therefore processed as a subdivision, an environmental determination of non‑significance (DNS) was issued May 16, and no appeal of that DNS was filed.

In the hearing, applicant representative Clifton Trimble of Storehauge Engineering said he agreed with the staff report's factual assertions and the recommended conditions. Trimble said the replat "will, of course, not increase density. The units already being constructed," and added the change is expected to shift units from a lessee scenario toward owner‑occupied units. He also told the examiner he brought graphics to address neighborhood concerns but that no members of the public were present to testify.

Staff described infrastructure and service providers: sewer service is provided by Spokane County Public Works (wastewater division), water service by Modern Electric Water Company, and nearby public transit access via Spokane Transit Authority Route 96 at Pines and Valley Way. The site is within Central Valley School District boundaries (Opportunity Elementary School, North Pines Middle School and Central Valley High School were noted); the district did not provide comment during the application review. Staff said the total site area is approximately 0.59 acres and that the proposed lots meet the R‑4 minimum lot size requirement (4,300 square feet) and the site's allowable density.

Basinger told the examiner that agency comments were received during the notice of application period, no public comments were submitted to staff, and the notice of public hearing was mailed to properties within 400 feet. The only infrastructure change required as a condition of approval is an updated maintenance agreement covering Collins Lane and the related Lot 4 from the prior short plat; staff said that agreement must be recorded prior to final plat acceptance.

The examiner admitted the staff report and exhibits into the record and closed the evidentiary record for SUB20250002 after confirming no members of the public wished to testify. The examiner repeated that "My decision will be made within 10 working days after the public record hearing closes" and noted that the decision is final and may be appealed to Spokane County Superior Court by means of a land use petition within 21 days of issuance.

The hearing contained only the Collins Lane subdivision (SUB20250002). No formal vote occurred at the hearing; the examiner will sign and issue a written decision based on the record.

Ending: The decision is pending and will appear in the record once signed by the hearings examiner; interested parties may sign the attendance roster or request to be mailed the decision as described in the hearing instructions.