CENTERS & CORRIDORS

DESIGN GUIDELINES
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED REVISIONS
January 2015
City of Spokane
Planning & Development

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To view draft documents referenced here
Go to: spokanecity.org/projects/centerscorridors

THIS DOCUMENT
This document is a review guide to changes
proposed in the Centers & Corridors Design
Standards in SMC 17C.122.060
Spokane Municipal Code 17C.122 is the primary
land use code section for Centers & Corridors
zoning review of that section is important to
understanding the guidelines
Spokane City Code is on line at
spokanecity.org/smc

SPOKANE MUNICIPAL CODE

17C.122 CENTERS & CORRIDORS CODE
Design Guidelines apply to CC1, CC2, and CC3
overlay and CC4 (described in SMC 17C.122.060)
CC1 promotes the greatest pedestrian orientation of the
center and corridor zones.
CC2 promotes pedestrian oriented while accommodating
the automobile.
CC3 is an overlay which allows voluntary use of CC1 or CC2
CC4 is a multiuse transition zone. It is designed to be
predominately residential in character.

Pedestrian Streets special designation on zoning

map
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DESIGN GUIDELINES ARE

ATTACHMENT OF SMC 17C.122.060
The balance of SMC 17C.122 Centers and Corridors
governs development in these zones.
There are additional development standards
throughout the development code that would
apply to development
Additional code sections amended:
Landscaping and Screening Chapter,
17C.200.040
Design Departures, Purpose, SMC 17G.30.010
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WHY AMEND GUIDELINES?

Guidelines adopted 2005 not amended
since then.
Walkable commercial and high density
residential centers desired.
City Council and Community led process
Some projects have been built that did not
meet communitys expectations

STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED
Council Member Amber Waldref
Council Member Candace Mumm
Architects: Dana Harbaugh, Gary Bernardo, Chris Olsen,
Ann Martin, Craig Conrad, Craig Woodard, Evan Verduin
Community Members: Paul Kropp, Teresa Kafensis, Ted
Teske, Kerry Brooks, Karen Byrd, Jennifer Day, Whitney
Welch, E.J. Iannelli, Kitty Klitzke
Developers/Builders: Jim Frank, Jason Wheaton, Ron Wells
Real Estate: Cory Barbieri, Ron Wright, Guy Byrd
Planner/Landscape Architect: Len Zickler
Community Assembly members
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MAJOR CHANGES PROPOSED

Should to Shall changes
Required built to street percentage established
Prominent Entry on corner lots required
Clarification of Drive-through Lane language
Increasing the width of perimeter landscape buffer between
CC & Residential Zoned lots amending SMC 17C.200.040
Landscape Chapter
Adding and limiting the instances in which design
deviations may be requested shifts this to Design Review
Board recommendation to the Director

See Change Matrix for complete review

SHOULD vs. SHALL

Changes proposed in Guidelines Application section
Should Guidelines with should are meant to be applied, but
with some flexibility.should indicated that the City is open
to design features that are equal to, or better than, that stated so
long as the intent is satisfied. Director decision.
Shall statements - mandatory and offer little flexibility unless
choices are provided within the statement itself. Design
Deviations are permitted by the Planning Director only after
review and recommendation by the Design Review Board.

DESIGN DEVIATION
This concept exists in the City Code 17G.030. Its
added to the Design Guidelines in the draft.
When an applicant may ask for Design Deviation:
Transition between Commercial and Residential
Development
Massing
Roof Form

No design deviation language in:

Buildings along Street
Historic Context Considerations

BUILDINGS ALONG STREET (page 4)

No Design Deviation permitted
Should to Shall with no provision for Design Deviation

Buildings Along Street

Currently code says no parking lot between building and street
Only place where a percentage build to street is currently
required is in Shopping Centers. (15%)
Draft strikes in shopping centers

Change proposed:
Require 50% of the frontage of the site consists of building facades

Change proposed:
Buildings shall be placed to the corner

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LANDSCAPE BUFFER
(CHANGE IN SMC 17C.200.040B)

Proposal is to amend the perimeter landscape

requirements in 17C.200.040(B)
This would change the size of the landscape buffer which is
already required between CC and RA, RSF, RTF, RMF, and
RHD zoned adjacent properties to be 8 rather than 5 feet
Proposal to change CC to RHD from L2 landscaping to L1
landscaping (this is already required in other residential
zones)
L1 is defined as (see SMC 17C.200.030):

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SIDEWALK ENCROACHMENTS
Change from 4 to 6 feet matches existing city
standards
Clear walking path for pedestrians and ADA

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LIGHTING (PAGE 6)
Adds requirement to provide lighting along public
sidewalks

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SCREENING SERVICE AREAS (PAGE 7)

Adds language that loading areas should not...be
adjacent to any residential
Leaves this as a should statement since may be
difficult to achieve

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PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS IN
PARKING LOTS (PAGE 10)
Minor addition adds primary:

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DRIVE THROUGH LANES (PAGE 11)

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TRANSITION BETWEEN COMMERCIAL

AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 12)
Adding 3 instead of 2 architectural treatments be
used.
Possibly adding more architectural treatments:
Adding Design Deviation -- requires a
recommendation of approval by the Design Review
Board

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PROMINENT ENTRANCES (PAGE 13)

Restates build to corner from Section Buildings
along street

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MASSING (PAGE 16)

Change should to shall for both guidelines
Adds language that there should be articulation
Design Deviation from Guidelines #1 & #2 go to DRB

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ROOF FORM (PAGE 17)

No substantive changes to guidelines
Adds the Design Deviation must be sought from DRB
language

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HISTORIC CONTEXT CONSIDERATIONS

(PAGE 18)

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PEDESTRIAN STREETS:
DESIGN STANDARDS (PAGE 20-25)
No amendments proposed

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SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR CC1

(PAGE 26 TO PAGE 30)

No amendments proposed

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HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO

RECENT LOGAN CODE REVISIONS?
Build to street requirements are in this new code.
80% building frontage to the street on a Type 1 Street
(Hamilton)
60% building frontage on Type 2 Street (Mission)

Build to corner requirements are also in this code

Logan Form Based Code was approved by City
Council on Jan 12, 2015.
To view the Logan Code go to:
https://beta.spokanecity.org/projects/logan/
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FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.spokanecity.org, Business & Development,
Projects, Citywide Initiatives
Tirrell Black, Assistant Planner,
tblack@spokanecity.org 509-625-6185
Please contact Tirrell Black if youd like to be on a
mailing list for further action on this item.

Council Member Amber Waldref, 509-625-6255

awaldref@spokanecity.org
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