February SNC Materials

Check our Minutes and Agendas page for the agenda for our February meeting and minutes from January and way back in November (yep, got them uploaded this time).

This month we have our regular business and we will also have a presentation about the proposed new South Hill library. We will also  be finalizing our choice for traffic calming applications for the 2018 cycle.

We’ll see you on February 7th at 7pm at ESD 101!

2018 Traffic Calming Program Applications

Every year, the City solicits applications from the neighborhood councils for its Traffic Calming Program. According to the City’s website traffic calming is, “a self-enforcing traffic management approach that forces motorists to alter their speed or direction of travel. The purpose of traffic calming is to improve safety, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists, and to improve the environment or “livability” of streets for residents and visitors.” The funding for this program comes from the City’s red light traffic cameras.

Southgate Neighborhood Council is allowed to submit two applications, one for a proposed arterial street and one for a residential street. Examples of past projects include the cross walk and refuge island on Palouse Highway behind Target and the addition of street tress along 42nd Avenue by Hazel’s Creek.

The 2018 applications are due on March 1st and so we will be discussing this topic at our neighborhood council meeting on Wednesday, February 7th. At our January meeting, attendees suggested a number of possible projects for consideration and we will be voting on these options next week. They are:

  • Clearly marking the pedestrian crossing at 39th & Regal to improve visibility
  •  Make the right lane at 44th and Regal heading southbound right turn only to make the through traffic merge earlier and not back up into the intersection
  • Infill sidewalks on Thurston Street between Cook and Regal (or further if we can)
  • City requested flashing lights at schools zones near Ferris HS on 37th (SNC members suggest that the city use their funds from red lights at schools)

These are all arterial projects. Not every neighborhood application gets approved. Our applications two years ago were rejected.

The City has a website about the program and “toolbox” to provide some ideas for traffic calming solutions. Take a look and see if there are places in our neighborhood that could benefit from some traffic calming. Come to our meeting next week to discuss!

New Historic Preservation and Demolition Ordinance Changes

The City has issued a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for their new update to the City’s historic preservation and demolition ordinances. The changes would strengthen the historic preservation rules in Spokane to assure demolished historic structures would be replaced with ones that reflect the character of the remaining neighborhood. You can read more on the City of Spokane’s website.

The DNS means that there are likely no major environmental impacts to updating this ordinance. However, once you read it, this determination can be appealed and comments submitted to the City until 5:00pm on Thursday, January 25th. Send comments and questions about appealing to Tirrell Black at the City Planning Department.

Notice of Demolition at 5216 S. Perry Street

This week received notice of the proposed demolition of a single family home at 5216 S. Perry Street. Per the City’s demolition ordinances, the neighborhood council is to be notified of any pending demolition in the neighborhood and the public is given 10 calendar days to provide comments or voice concerns. In this case, comments need to be provided to permitmanager@spokanecity.org by the end of the day Sunday, January 14th.

We were given the demolition permit application from the City. The only other information I have found is from the City permitting system that describes the project as, “Full house demo including attached garage. Structure built in 1965 not in historic district. Not listed as historic property.”

The property is located just inside the City border (the City line is 53rd Ave.) and backs up against the Manito Country Club. It is zoned Single Family Residential and that is what the zoning should stay.

 

Two Comment Periods Closing Next Week

There are two comment periods on proposed developments closing next week. The first is an apartment complex on Palouse Hwy. just out in the County, the second is the memory care facility on Freya Street. I’ve outlined them briefly below:

Hilby Station 2 Apartments
There is a SEPA Comment period open for the proposed Hilby Station Apartments that we heard about last month. This is a 32-unit apartment complex on Palouse Hwy. just south of the intersection of Freya and Palouse Hwy.

I have uploaded the documents for review here:

The comment period is open till Friday, October 6th and you can submit your comments to the County Planing Department by emailing Dawn Dompier at ddompier@spokanecounty.org.

Fieldstone Memory Care Conditional Use Permit
We have written before about the CUP for the proposed memory care facility at 44th and Freya. The City is now seeking agency comments on the CUP and they are due by close of business Thursday, October 5th. Submit your comments to Stephanie Bishop at sbishop@spokanecity.org.

I have uploaded documents for review here:


Have fun considering these two projects. I encourage all of you to submit comments, however brief to let the City and County know what you think of the ongoing development up here in Southgate.

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