City Planning Commission

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025 4 P.M. CITY HALL HELD REMOTELY& IN-PERSON AT CITY HALL To participate remotely, you can: • Sign up to provide Public Comment at the meeting via calling in • Submit Written Public Comment Prior to 2 pm on February 26, 2025 • Join the Zoom Meeting Questions ? Assistance? Please contact Kathy Cummings at kcummings@libertylakewa.gov . 1. Call to Order – 4:00 pm 2. Roll Call 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. GENERAL BUSINESS • Review of Agenda • Approval of Minutes from February 12, 2025 5. WORKSHOPS: • Sign Code Workshop • Housing Policy Workshop 6. CITIZEN COMMENTS 7. REPORTS • Secretary’s Report o Network Analysis Scope & Timeline o Updated Comp Meeting Calendar • Planning Commissioner Reports 8. Adjournment Next Meeting: March 4, 2025  PUBLIC COMMENT If you wish to provide oral public comments or testimony during the Planning Commission meeting, please register through this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86818958997 WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS If you wish to provide written public comments for the upcoming council meeting, please email your comments to kcummings@libertylakewa.gov by 2:00 p.m. the day of the Planning Commission meeting and include all of the following information with your comments: 1. The Meeting Date 2. Your First and Last Name 3. If you are a Liberty Lake resident 4. The Agenda Item(s) which you are speaking about JOIN ZOOM MEETING To view the meeting live via Zoom Meeting, join the Zoom web meeting: Meeting Instructions: To join the Zoom web meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86818958997 Dial In Phone Numbers: • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 253 205 0468 US Meeting ID: 868 1895 8997  PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025 HELD VIA ZOOM & IN PERSON AT CITY HALL Planning Commission Members Present: Joe Mann, Tom Sahlberg, Jim Baumker, DG Garcia, and Charlie Jencks were in person. Adjunct Member(s) Present: Gene Heuschel and Troy Mullenix Staff Present: Lisa Key, Amy Mullerleile and Kathy Cummings Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. Commissioner Mann asked that we stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: A quorum of members was present. Absences: A motion to excuse Commissioner Robbins and Commissioner Folyer was made by Commissioner Baumker and seconded by Commissioner Garcia. The motion carried unanimously. Review of Agenda & Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Baumker motioned to approve the meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Jencks. The motion was approved unanimously. Commissioner Sahlberg motioned to approve the January 22nd meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Jencks. The motion was approved unanimously. Workshops: Housing Policy Workshop: Consultants obtained by the city presented this workshop. Representatives from SCJ Alliance, a Washington-based consulting firm, and from Leland Consulting Group, an advisory firm, provided an overview of the state-mandated housing policy updates (HB 1220 & HB 1337). The presentation highlighted key barriers that exist within the city’s current development code that pertain to land use density, off-street parking, design standards and review, and permanent supportive and emergency housing. The presentation included ideas of possible updates and changes to assist with overall regulatory compliance. Questions were asked and discussed throughout the presentation. Future planning commission discussions will refine mandatory versus optional policy changes. These discussions will be necessary prior to commencing public engagement. Update on Other Elements: Director Key provided a brief overview of the other comprehensive plan element updates. • The City Facilities Master Plan will be addressing office space limitations at City Hall, the Library and the Police Department. Funding strategies to be discussed at a City Council retreat. • Parks & Open Space Plan has been proposed into 2 phases due to financial constraints of the City’s Facilities Master Plan. The contract has been awarded to SCJ Alliance for public engagement and policy updates. Plan completion targeted for the end of the year. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1|2 February 12, 2025  • Transportation Network Analysis, to be completed by Parametrix, will evaluate roadway, pedestrian, and bike infrastructure improvements needed to support future growth. There will be agency coordination with Spokane Valley, Spokane County, WSDOT and SRTC. The target completion date is sometime in October. This transportation analysis will be integrated into the transportation chapter and the 20-year capital facilities plan. • Previous and upcoming public engagement dates. Citizens Comments: None Secretary’s Report: Director Key shared the updated Tentative Comprehensive Plan Meeting schedule. She stated that this schedule will continue to change as each of the elements are examined. She provided an update from the WA State Department of Commerce regarding the review time for the Greenhouse Gas sub-element of the Climate Resiliency chapter. The review timeframe is longer than originally anticipated but we will submit in August to avoid any challenges. Legislation has been proposed to extend the Comprehensive Plan deadline to December of 2026. Even if approved, we will remain on task with our current schedule to ensure that we have enough time to address any unforeseen obstacles and complete the required code revisions. The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for February 26th, 2025 Commissioner Reports: None Adjournment: Commissioner Jencks motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Heuschel. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 5:53 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2|2 February 12, 2025 MEMORANDUM DATE: February 26, 2025 TO: Planning Commission, City of Liberty Lake FROM: BERK Consulting Inc. RE: Sign Code Updates Introduction Based on our initial review of the sign code, we will discuss broad areas where the sign code can be updated. In this presentation, BERK will highlight objectives, contexts and preliminary concerns identified by staff and stakeholders. Key Discussion Topics The purpose of the City’s sign code is to maintain a balance between visual environment, public health, safety and welfare, visual communication and signage display. Creating such balance relies on the contexts of each signage type. Commercial and non-commercial signages convey different messages with different rules. Noncommercial signages are subject to the legal requirements of content neutrality. Under this, non-commercial signages should be regulated through structures (stake, banner etc.) and standards (height, placement, size etc.), instead of content of the sign (e.g. political or religious messages). Regulations for commercial signages should consider their contexts. For example, signs in a pedestrian environment should be scaled and set back for the benefit of pedestrian visibility (A-frame, blade sign etc.). Signs near highways of major roads should be scaled and placed to consider visibility with respect to auto-speed. Some signages cater to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, such as wall sign and monument sign which need careful balance of size and placement standards. Some uses also pose special considerations, such as mixed use area signs, wayfinding and placemaking signs etc. Mixed use area signs are generally designed with artistic creativity to enhance the vibrant nature of the community. Wayfinding signs are generally integrated with placemaking characters. In addition to content neutrality, general concerns to address in the sign code include clarification of certain signages, definitions, orientation, lack of way-finding and right-of-way signage regulations, permit requirements etc. Additional concerns also include appropriate signage area, off-premise sign, lack of visibility for businesses, I-90 corridor signs and orientation, special area (e.g. mixed use) signs, multi-tenant signs and art installations. All input will be evaluated in the light of legal requirements and best practices for signage standards. February 20, 2025 City of Liberty Lake | Sign Code Update 1  Technical Memo To Lisa D. Key, Director of Planning & Engineering, City of Liberty Lake Shareefa Abdulsalam, AICP, Deputy Project Manager From: Liam Taylor, Planner Date: February 12th, 2025 Liberty Lake On-Call Planning (24-000540) Project: Task Order 5: Housing Policy Subject Analysis of Development Code Opportunities & Housing Action Plan Strategies Introduction: Following the team’s review of Liberty Lake’s development regulations, several opportunities to overcome barriers to housing affordability were identified. The Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) issued resources, including the Guidance for Updating Your Housing Element (August 2023) and the Housing Action Plan (HAP) Guidance, that provide a range of strategies to address these barriers through regulatory updates and policy changes. This memo compares the opportunities identified in Liberty Lake’s development regulations with the strategies in the Commerce resources mentioned above. Implementing these regulatory changes can significantly improve housing affordability and availability in Liberty Lake. By aligning with Commerce strategies, the city can address key barriers to housing development while leveraging best practices from across Washington State. While many of the opportunities correspond directly with Commerce recommendations, Liberty Lake is not limited to only those strategies. Liberty Lake should consider other locally tailored opportunities that may not be explicitly covered in the Commerce framework but could still contribute to housing affordability within the city. The table in this memo outlines the identified opportunities for Liberty Lake, the corresponding Commerce strategies, an explanation of how or why each opportunity is essential for facilitating housing affordability, and which barriers and specific housing needs they address. Moving forward, SCJ recommends prioritizing the changes required by state legislation and the opportunities with the most significant potential impact, while considering resource availability and community priorities. Further stakeholder engagement and analysis will help refine these strategies into actionable policy changes that support Liberty Lake’s housing goals and objectives. 108 N Washington, Suite 300  Spokane, WA 99201  Office 509.835.3770  Fax 360.352.1509  scjalliance.com  Relevant HAP/ Previously Identified Types of Barriers Housing Needs Why? How? Commerce Strategy Opportunities for Liberty Lake Addressed Addressed Increase allowed housing • Expand allowable housing • Development • Housing supply Diversifying housing types helps types in existing zones. options, such as tiny homes regulations • Housing diversity meet the needs of different income (HAP Z-6) and co-living developments in • Limited land • Affordable levels and household sizes. certain residential and mixed- availability homeownership Allowing tiny homes and co-living use zoning districts. • Middle-income rental arrangements can provide • Expand housing options for R- housing affordable, space-efficient options, 1 zones to allow duplexes. • Senior housing particularly for single-person households and seniors. Increase or remove • Expand housing options for R-1 • Development • Housing supply Increasing density in low-density density limits. zones to allow duplexes. regulations • Housing diversity residential zones allows for a (HAP Z-7) • Increase the maximum density • Limited land • Affordable greater variety of housing types for attached housing in R-2 availability homeownership and increases the supply of zones to 16 units per acre. • Middle-income rental attainable housing. Expanding R-1 housing to allow duplexes provides more flexibility in housing choices while maintaining neighborhood character. Revise ADU standards. • Allow up to two ADUs per lot. • Development • Housing supply ADUs offer a lower-cost housing (HAP Z-8) • Allow ADUs to be built with regulations • Housing diversity alternative while increasing overall duplexes in R-1 zones. • Affordable housing stock. Permitting multiple homeownership ADUs per lot and allowing them • Middle-income rental with duplexes promotes infill housing development and maximizes • Senior housing existing infrastructure. 108 N Washington, Suite 300  Spokane, WA 99201  Office 509.835.3770  Fax 360.352.1509  scjalliance.com Reduce off-street parking • Reduce parking requirements • Development • Housing supply Lowering parking minimums requirements. for moderate-density housing regulations • Housing diversity reduces development costs and (HAP R-1) based on unit size or number • Limited land • Middle-income rental makes housing projects more of bedrooms. availability housing feasible, particularly for smaller • Limit the required spaces to • Senior housing units and transit-accessible areas. one off-street parking space Excessive parking requirements per unit for two-unit middle can increase housing costs and housing units on smaller lots. reduce available land for • Revise parking requirements development. for ADUs and middle housing based on proximity to transit. • Adjust parking mandates for permanent supportive housing (PSH). Relax ground floor retail • Allow more flexibility in • Development • Housing supply Allowing flexibility in commercial requirements. commercial space regulations • Middle-income rental space requirements can facilitate (HAP R-2) requirements for housing • Limited land housing mixed-use developments that developments in availability integrate housing in neighborhood- neighborhood-oriented mixed- oriented areas. This can lead to a use zones. better balance of residential and retail space, reducing vacancies and improving housing availability in key locations. City of Liberty Lake | Strategies for Housing Affordability 2025-0212 | 3 of 5 Manufactured home and • Remove manufactured homes • Development • Housing supply Eliminating restrictive design tiny house communities. design standards, such as regulations • Housing diversity standards and minimum size (HAP R-7) multi-sectional designs and • Limited land • Affordable requirements increases the minimum roof slope. availability homeownership viability of manufactured homes • Eliminate the minimum • Middle-income rental and tiny houses as affordable enclosed floor area of 1,000 housing housing options. These changes square feet to allow for tiny • Senior housing enable the development of home developments. • Very low-income smaller, more affordable housing housing units that cater to lower-income households, seniors, and individuals seeking alternative living arrangements. Permitting process • Streamline the approval • Process obstacles • Housing supply Simplifying the approval process streamlining. process for moderate-density • Housing diversity reduces delays and uncertainty, (HAP P-6) and multifamily housing. • Affordable making housing development more homeownership predictable and cost-effective. • Middle-income rental Expedited permitting can housing encourage developers to build • Senior housing more affordable housing. • Very low-income housing Subdivision Process • Allow separate ownership of • Process obstacles • Housing supply Simplifying ownership structures Streamlining. duplex units or ADUs on the • Affordable for duplexes and ADUs enables (HAP P-7) original lot through homeownership more efficient land use and condominiumization or housing development. subdivision. Condominiumization or subdivision of these units allows for increased homeownership opportunities and improves housing attainability by creating smaller, more affordable ownership options. City of Liberty Lake | Strategies for Housing Affordability 2025-0212 | 4 of 5 Accommodation • Remove spacing requirements • Development • Very low-income Reducing spacing and transit emergency/PSH housing between shelters and PSH regulations housing proximity requirements expands facilities. facilities. • Process obstacles siting options for emergency and • Increase or remove transit supportive housing, ensuring that proximity requirements for these critical facilities can be PSH and emergency housing. located where they are most • Ensure that offices are allowed needed. Allowing offices in PSH in conjunction with PSH and developments promotes on-site emergency housing across all services that help residents residential zones. maintain stability. Using objective • Remove arbitrary limitations health and safety-based occupancy on the number of units and standards instead of arbitrary residents at a facility and unit/resident limits prevents instead utilize parameters such unnecessary constraints on as occupant load per square housing capacity. foot or generally applicable health and safety provisions to determine occupancy. Short-term rental • Introduce temporary or short- • Development • Housing supply Short-term rental (STR) regulations. term rental programs as regulations • Very low-income regulations could potentially transitional housing options for housing protect tenants from landlords specific groups. incentivizing evicting tenants in favor of STRs. STRs could also, in some cases, work as transitional housing options for specific groups. City of Liberty Lake | Strategies for Housing Affordability 2025-0212 | 5 of 5 Proposed code update Required/ Relevant HAP/Commerce Strategy Type of Barrier Addressed Housing Needs Addresses Notes Recommended Expand allowable housing options, Recommended Increase allowed housing types in existing Development regulations • Housing supply such as tiny homes, cottage clusters, zones. (HAP Z-6) Limited land availability • Housing diversity and co-living developments in certain • Affordable homeownership residential and mixed-use zoning • Middle-income rental housing districts in order to increase the • Senior housing diversity of housing options citywide. Increase the maximum density for Recommended Increase or remove density limits. (HAP Z- Development regulations • Housing supply attached housing in R-2 zones from 7) Limited land availability • Housing diversity 12 to 16 units per acre. • Affordable homeownership • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Allow ADUs to be built with duplexes. Recommended Increase or remove density limits. (HAP Z- Development regulations • Housing supply 7) • Housing diversity Revise ADU standards. (HAP Z-8) • Affordable homeownership • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Remove ADU design standards such Recommended Revise ADU standards. (HAP Z-8) Development regulations • Housing supply as maximum • Housing diversity number of bedrooms, six-foot fence, • Affordable homeownership and minimum • Middle-income rental housing roof slope. • Senior housing Allow more flexibility in commercial Recommended Relax ground floor retail requirements. (R- Development regulations Housing supply space requirements for housing 2) Limited land availability Middle-income rental housing developments in neighborhood- oriented mixed-use zones. Remove manufactured home design Recommended Manufactured home and tiny house Development regulations • Housing supply standards, such as multi-sectional communities. (R-7) Limited land availability • Housing diversity designs and minimum roof slope. • Affordable homeownership • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Eliminate the minimum enclosed Recommended Manufactured home and tiny house Development regulations • Housing supply floor area of 1,000 square feet to communities. (R-7) Limited land availability • Housing diversity allow for “tiny home” developments. • Affordable homeownership • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing • Very low-income housing Eliminate design reviews in R-1, R-2, Recommended Permitting process streamlining. (P-6) Process Obstacles • Housing supply and R-3 zones for moderate-density • Housing diversity and multifamily housing or follow an • Affordable homeownership Administrative Design Review to • Middle-income rental housing streamline the approval process. • Senior housing • Very low-income housing Revise parking requirements for Recommended Reduce off-street parking requirements. (R- Development regulations • Housing supply multi-unit housing based on unit size 1) Limited land availability • Housing diversity or number of bedrooms. • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Adjusting parking mandates for PSH Recommended Reduce off-street parking requirements. (R- Development regulations • Housing supply and emergency housing. 1) Limited land availability • Senior housing • Very low-income housing Modify or remove the requirement for Recommended N/A Development regulations • Housing supply balconies or patios in multifamily • Housing diversity housing. • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Relax the design and development Recommended N/A Development regulations • Housing supply standards for adaptive reuse to • Housing diversity encourage the conversion of existing • Middle-income rental housing non-residential buildings into • Senior housing housing developments. Remove spacing requirements Recommended Accommodate emergency/PSH housing Development regulations • Housing supply between shelters and PSH facilities. facilities. Limited land availability • Senior housing • Very low-income housing Increase or remove transit proximity Recommended Accommodate emergency/PSH housing Development regulations • Housing supply requirements for PSH and emergency facilities. Limited land availability • Senior housing housing. • Very low-income housing Ensure that offices are allowed in Recommended Accommodate emergency/PSH housing Development regulations • Housing supply conjunction with PSH and emergency facilities. Limited land availability • Senior housing housing across all residential zones. • Very low-income housing Introduce temporary or short-term Recommended Short-term rental regulations. Development regulations • Senior housing rental programs as transitional • Very low-income housing housing options for specific groups. Proposed code update Required/ Relevant State Relevant HAP/Commerce Strategy Type of Barrier Addressed Housing Needs Addresses Notes Recommended Legislation Allow duplexes and other two-unit Required HB 1110, HB 2321 Increase allowed housing types in Development regulations • Housing supply middle housing existing zones. (HAP Z-6) Limited land availability • Housing diversity configurations in R-1 zones. Increase or remove density limits. (HAP • Affordable homeownership Z-7) • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Allow up to two ADUs per lot. Required HB 1337 Increase or remove density limits. (HAP Development regulations • Housing supply Z-7) • Housing diversity Revise ADU standards. (HAP Z-8) • Affordable homeownership • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Increase the maximum allowable Required HB 1337 Revise ADU standards. (HAP Z-8) Development regulations • Housing supply size of ADUs to 1,000 • Housing diversity square feet. • Affordable homeownership • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Allow ADUs on all lots meeting the Required HB 1337 Revise ADU standards. (HAP Z-8) Development regulations • Housing supply minimum lot size • Housing diversity requirements for the underlying • Affordable homeownership zone. • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Allow separate ownership of duplex Required HB 1110, HB 2321 Subdivision process streamlining. (P-7) Process Obstacles • Housing supply units or ADUs on the original lot HB 1337 • Affordable homeownership through condominiumization or subdivision. Limit the required spaces to one off- Required HB 1110, HB 2321 Reduce off-street parking requirements. Development regulations • Housing supply street parking space per unit for two- (R-1) Limited land availability • Housing diversity unit middle housing types on lots • Middle-income rental housing smaller than 6,000 square feet. • Senior housing Eliminate parking requirements from Required HB 1110, HB 2321 Reduce off-street parking requirements. Development regulations • Housing supply middle housing and ADUs within one- HB 1337 (R-1) Limited land availability • Housing diversity half mile of major transit stops. • Middle-income rental housing • Senior housing Remove arbitrary limitations on the Required RCW 35A.21.314 Accommodate emergency/PSH housing Development regulations • Housing supply number of units and residents at a facilities. Limited land availability • Senior housing facility and instead utilize • Very low-income housing parameters such as occupant load per square foot or generally applicable health and safety provisions to determine occupancy.  PLANNING COMMISSION TENTATIVE COMP PLAN MEETING SCHEDULE January 8, 2025 June 25, 2025 • Population & Housing Workshop -LCA • GHG Sub-element /Goals & Policy • Update & Schedule on Climate Element • Review Urban Design Revisions January 22, 2025 July 9, 2025 • LCA Summary • Sign Code Public Hearing • Critical Area Review • Resiliency Sub-Element/Goals & Policies • Update & Schedule on Housing Element July 23, 2025 February 12, 2025 • Utilities & Essential Public Facilities - • Housing Policy Workshop Workshop re Public Safety • Update & Schedule on Other Elements: August 13, 2025 February 26, 2025 • Utilities & Essential Public Facilities – • Sign Code Workshop with PC & CEC Redlines & Policies • Housing Policy Workshop • Network analysis -Scope & Timeline GHG SUB-ELEMENT SUBMITTAL TO March 12, 2025 COMMERCE – AUGUST 15 – JANUARY 15 • Econ Development – Redlines & Policies • Cultural & Historical - Redlines & August 27, 2025 Policies • Review Revisions – Utilities & Essential March 26, 2025 Public Facilities • Economic Development – Redlines & • Development Code Checklist Policies (if needed) September 10, 2025 • Housing & Community Service – • Network Analysis Workshop Redlines & Policies September 24, 2025 April 9, 2025 • Outline of required Development Code • Housing & Community Service – Amendments Redlines & Policies (if needed) • Review Natural Environment Chapter • Land Use – Redlines & Policies, Map October 8, 2025 April 23, 2025 • Capital Facilities Plan Overview • Climate Vulnerability & Risk Assessment • Preliminary Draft of Climate Element Report October 22, 2025 • Review Revisions to Econ Development • Transportation - Redlines & Policies Chapter • Review Introduction & Governance May 14, 2025 Chapters • Sign Code Workshop November 12, 2025 • GHG Priority Actions and Emissions • Final Review- Introduction & Targets Governance Chapters (if needed) May 28, 2025 • Development Code Amendment • Parks, Recreation & Open Space Update Checklist • Review Cultural & Historic Revisions • Implementation Plan Workshop June 11, 2025 December 10, 2025 • Utilities & Essential Public Facilities - • Review Revisions to Transportation Workshop re Utilities Element • Urban Design – Redlines & Policies • Capital Facilities Plan Workshop January 14, 2026  • Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan Presentation • Parks & Recreation Chapter Review January 28, 2026 • Final Climate & Natural Environment Chapter & Policy Review • Finalize Capital Facilities Plan February 11, 2026 • Review Full Draft Document DRAFT TO COMMERCE FOR REVIEW, FEBRUARY 15 – APRIL 15 SEPA, FEBRUARY 15 -APRIL 15 February 25, 2026 • Workshop on Required Development Code Amendments March 11, 2026 • Workshop on Required Development Code Amendment March 25, 2026 • Workshop on Required Development Code Amendments April 8, 2026 • Public Hearing on Required Development Code Amendments April 22, 2026 • Public Hearing on the Periodic Comp Plan Update COMP PLAN & DEVELOPMENT CODE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL MAY 5 1ST & 2ND ORDINANCE READING, MAY 19 & JUNE 2ND RESOLUTION FINDING FINAL COMP PLAN PERIODIC UPDATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RCW 36.70A.130(1), JUNE 2ND ADOPTED COMP PLAN WITH RESOLUTION DUE TO COMMERCE BY JUNE12,2026 (FOR GRANT REIMBURSEMENT PURPOSES)