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Planner says DEIS shows deficit in lower-income housing; staff to map parcels in weeks
Summary
County planner Scott told commissioners the DEIS comment period closed July 11; staff found a capacity deficit for 0–80% AMI housing and will provide a parcel-level map in about 3–4 weeks as they craft a preferred alternative and produce an FEIS.
Scott, a county planning presenter, told the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners on July 20 that the draft environmental-impact statement (DEIS) comment period has closed and staff are compiling comments into a matrix to inform a preferred alternative for the comprehensive-plan update.
Scott said the DEIS, issued July 7, generated questions about how alternatives were presented and several transportation-related comments from agencies such as DOT. He described eight criteria that will guide the future land‑use map and stressed that market forces must be factored alongside statutory requirements.
“The DEIS really has, kind of the basics,” Scott said, describing the comment-collection process and the planned schedule to convert comments into a final document and recommended map. He told the board staff will produce a parcel-specific map showing where capacity would be assigned in roughly three to four weeks and then narrow those parcels based on levels of service and capital-facilities analysis.
On housing capacity, Scott said staff identified a deficit of capacity in lower-income bands—specifically the 0–80% area median income (AMI) range—and that the preferred alternative will need to add capacity for those bands. Staff explained that simply increasing density has limits and that the preferred approach will combine infill, new land in targeted areas and dispersed affordable units to avoid concentrated low-income neighborhoods.
Scott outlined proposed zoning changes in broad strokes: a Neighborhood Residential 1 (NR1) zone intended to replace parts of existing low- and medium-density residential rules to allow duplexes, triplexes and other modest infill with design standards to protect neighborhood character; NR1 examples included adjusting minimum lot sizes (presenter reported existing LDR at 4,000 and mentioned possibilities down to 1,500 square feet for cottage housing or no minimum for specific cottage-housing configurations). He also described an NR2 concept for a higher-intensity residential mix and a new neighborhood-business zone to allow mixed-use development and workforce housing near transit.
Commissioners asked for more detail on cottage‑housing design, lot coverage and parking. Scott confirmed cottage-housing options could eliminate off‑street parking minimums and that ADU rules would be relaxed to reflect state changes (county detached ADU floor‑plate limits were described as roughly 800 sq ft; state changes discussed would raise limits closer to 1,000 sq ft). Scott committed to a more detailed memo and the draft zoning amendment language as the process advances.
Why it matters: the DEIS-driven changes aim to close a measurable shortfall in lower-income housing capacity while balancing neighborhood protections and levels-of-service requirements. Staff will return with parcel-level maps and an FEIS for further board review.
Next steps: staff will finalize the comment matrix, produce the parcel map in about 3–4 weeks, and bring refined alternatives and an FEIS back to the planning commission and commissioners for decisions.
