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Downtown Spokane developers push for building height policy change

SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane city planners received two letters last week asking the city to loosen its restriction on building heights across from Riverfront Park.

The letters were sent from the CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership and the Vice President of Goodale and Barbieri, a commercial real estate company. Both companies said the restrictions are discouraging developers from building in that area. They also noted the current policy is “unrealistic."

Now, city officials said they are tasked with trying to find a balance between promoting downtown business while also trying to preserve the ambience of Riverfront Park.

Spokane residents often go to Riverfront Park to soak up the sun during the spring and summer months. The City’s current restrictions on building heights near the park aim to keep it that way. Spokane has a policy limiting how tall building can be downtown to help preserve light, air and privacy in areas where people live.

When it comes to the properties across from Riverfront Park along Spokane Falls Boulevard, City code states buildings cannot be taller than 100-feet or ten stories to avoid blocking out the sun at the park. There are some exceptions outlined in the municipal code.

City planners said they are looking into this policy in response to the letters.

“We all agree that we want a vibrant and dense downtown and so one of the questions is how do we balance that with the interest of the park,” said City Planning Director Lisa Key.

Key said they have put together a group of city staff, architects, developers and community members to tackle that question. Key said they have scheduled four meetings to come up with recommendations to give to the city planning commission. She added if the commission plans to move forward with any changes to the current policy the process would include public hearings.

“If we’re doing any changes to policy, it would really have to go through a much more engaged public process,” explained Key.

Key said the whole meeting and planning process will take them until the end of the summer to complete.

Key also mentioned the City wants to hear from Spokane residents about this issue. You can find the contact information for Spokane’s planning and development office here.

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