North Greenacres Neighborhood

Planning Commission - What We Had to Say Testimony June 16, 2005

North Greenacres Lobbies for Neighborhood Planning in Comp Plan

North Greenacres Neighborhood Comments
June 16, 2005


Comments on Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan Draft of May 26, 2005

1. We received an email on May 25th, 2005 announcing that the Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan – Public Hearing Draft was ready for review. (We are please to announce that the Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan – Public Hearing Draft is ready for your review (click on link to access the Draft Plan online).

This is inadequate notice of substantial changes for the public to compare and make comment since hearings began June 1st and will end the third week in June.

We would like to encourage July 14th not be tentative but a fixed hearing date so people can plan their schedules in order to take advantage of these public hearings.

2. There was a symposium on Neighborhood or Sub-area Collaborative Planning that was a national work of papers commissioned through the American Planning Association Research Department.

These findings would be valuable for inclusion in our city’s comprehensive Plan.

Neighborhoods are a building block of overall community development. An integrated framework is needed to enable neighborhood and sub-area plans to be supported and implemented.

Without a dedicated chapter to guide sub-area/neighborhood planning – Sub-Area- Neighborhood Planning must be integrated throughout the city’s comprehensive plan. The City’s Plan by including more specific policies on neighborhoods avoids the appearance of a top-down approach and becomes the cooperative effort that it is intended to reflect.

Here are some general policy recommendations to support stronger language or a dedicated chapter to guide Sub-Area and Neighborhood Planning.

Policy: City should establish the neighborhood as a basic area for needs assessment, provision and improvement.

Policy: Comprehensive plans provide the framework for neighborhood planning and should be done within the context of a community wide plan

Policy: Planning decisions should be directed to the most appropriate level. Planning decisions that have limited impact on the entire community should be made based on the direct input of the neighborhood or sub-area groups who will be primarily affected.

Policy: Neighborhood groups should be encouraged and supported by local government.

Policy: Public Planning should accept as a legitimate role assisting neighborhoods and sub-areas, to advocate in planning, for expressed needs.

Policy: Sub-Area/Neighborhood Planning must examine the issues of social equity, children and families and go beyond strictly addressing physical condition. This is where neighborhoods bring help to the city in identifying solutions as well as problems.

Policy: City plans should incorporate neighborhood level perspectives in the city’s decision-making and planning processes.

Policy: City planners must ensure compatibility between the city’s master plan, zoning ordinances and other regulations and the approved neighborhood plan.

Policy: City should establish criteria for official recognition of neighborhood boundaries and neighborhood/sub-area organizations.

Policy: City government should coordinate the resources of the city to implement sub-area/neighborhood plans. This includes funds for transportation, police, waste, housing and community development, parks, libraries, economic development and tourism to name a few.

Policy: City should enact Impact Fees to ensure necessary infrastructure such as parks, and transportation.

CTED shows at least 16 other Washington cities that have taken this step to include a Neighborhood Chapter. As the second largest city in the State, Spokane Valley’s reputation can be one of using progressive and inclusionary planning strategies. We urge the Planning Commission to make a recommendation to the City Council to strengthen Sub-Area/Neighborhood Planning in our City’s Plan.

We strongly endorse overall support of the Chamber of Commerce’s recommendations on Sub-Area planning.

Their Goal ED.5 to encourage highest and best use development of residential, commercial/industrial properties within the city is a good goal, as long as we ensure that property rights are protected and not discriminated against if there is public or private conflicts over use.