Plan Commission reviews 'growth strategy' chapter, narrows land-use categories and sets May-July release timeline

At a May 13 Spokane Plan Commission workshop, staff presented the first complete text of the Growth Strategy chapter of the city's comprehensive plan, describing a shift from the previous 'land use' terminology to a broader 'growth strategy' approach and a tentative schedule for public release.

Staff said the May release will publish policies (but not maps or graphics) and that a larger July release will include the future land-use map and interactive tools. "We have been integrating those public comments," Megan Capon, planning staff, told the commission. "We've had more than 280 written comments, and we've had over 4,700 touchpoints." Capon said the May package will show how public feedback was incorporated and that the July release will be the fuller package for formal public comment.

Why it matters: the chapter would recast how Spokane frames future development. Staff described two linked changes: consolidating the city's existing 19 land-use designations into nine broader designations, and replacing the "centers and corridors" model with "urban hubs and corridors" to emphasize mixed-use, people-centered places along transit routes.

Staff emphasized that the plan-level designations are descriptive rather than prescriptive zoning. "This is intended to be general future-looking," a planning presenter said. The Growth Strategy text introduces a non-numeric "intensity" gauge to convey how built form and activity might feel across designations, while detailed standards and implementing zones will be determined later through Build Spokane, the city's code modernization project.

On mixed use and mapping, staff said mixed-use land-use designations will continue to implement urban hubs but will not be limited to hub locations. That is, mixed-use could be applied in places that do not warrant a hub designation but where the city wants to allow or encourage mixed-use development.

Commissioners pressed staff on how the plan will relate to zoning and rezoning practice. Staff replied that the comp plan will list appropriate implementing zones but that the specific zoning standards and rezoning procedures will be developed within Build Spokane. Staff said rezoning remains available and Build Spokane could include processes to consider wider areas in rezoning reviews.

The commission also heard staff's timeline for public engagement: the May release (policies only) is planned for the week of Memorial Day; the July release will include maps and prompt the formal public comment period. Staff said they are building an online interactive map that will allow residents to enter an address, view the proposed designation, and pin comments for specific parcels.

What comes next: staff said the preferred alternative will go to City Council (staff flagged an anticipated Council action on the preferred alternative set for May 18), and the plan text and mapping work will continue through summer with more public outreach in July. The commission will receive the May release and is expected to review materials ahead of Council hearings.

Votes and procedural items: the commission approved the April 22 minutes and the meeting agenda by voice vote at the start of the workshop.

Staff contact and materials: staff said drafts, subcommittee recordings and a comment-tracking spreadsheet will be available on the plan project web page for review; staff encouraged commenters to reference chapter goals or policy numbers when submitting feedback.

The Plan Commission adjourned after discussion; staff said they hope to present updated chapters and web materials at the next meeting.