Ensure that infill and redevelopment projects are designed to be compatible with and complement surrounding uses and building types.
10807 E Empire in Millwood is a four building, three story, 24 unit multi-family complex built on a quite residential street with smaller homes. This is an example of violation, if you will, of LU 5.5 above. The residence in this community fought to prevent this complex from going into their neighbor, for obvious reasons.
These large multi family housing units need to stay out of neighborhoods and be restricted to Centers and Corridors. People live in neighborhoods because they are quiet, have less traffic, have more trees, and aren't flooded with obnoxious lighting.
Please do not allow large multi-family units to be built in quite neighborhoods (keep residential low and residential high construction separate).
Regarding
Raise height limits from 40/55/150 ft to 55/75/150 ft, depending on zone classification]
Please do not raise height limits! I love Spokane because it doesn't feel like I'm living in a box like it does in other cities I've lived in (Denver, Nashville). Infilling with tall buildings block views for existing buildings. No one wants an apartment that looks into the window of someone else's apartment.
Regarding
Urban Canopy
Maintaining and growing our urban canopy is critical. I think there should be a minimum tree planting requirement for every new home and multi-family unit built. I recommend working with the Urban Forestry Program Director at the Lands Council, Justyce Brant.
Regarding
SEPA
No plan should violate, waive, or ignore SEPA. We need to critically evaluate the impact on the land, air, water quality, animals, and our trees. We cannot give large construction companies or corporations a free pass to build without an evaluation of how growth will impact our environment. SEPA is in place to help ensure sustainable growth and the health of the land and people of Spokane. What's the point of a sustainability plan if we don't have some environmental standards in place. PLEASE do not remove/waive/ignore SEPA in any plan.
SEPA should also include the environmental and health risks of cell towers. Please let me know if you need scientific resources and/or case studies supporting this.
General Concerns
[PDF page 2 of 4 begins within the following paragraph.]
What I witnessed in Boulder Colorado was a fast increase in the number of mixed commercial and residential buildings being built. Today, a large percent of the commercial spaces are vacant. Residential rent is extremely high to make up for some of the losses in revenue from having vacant commercial spaces, putting a strain on tenants. This also leaves what could be a vibrant bustling center feeling cold, empty, and sterol.
I'm afraid that building too many multi-family homes reduces the ability for citizens to own their own homes. Increasing the percentage of apartments reduces the opportunity for homeownership and puts a strain on roadways. The benefits of population density reaches a point of diminishing returns. Please consider that tipping point.
Please do not allow large construction companies or other corporations (eg Amazon) tax breaks in exchange for growth (more jobs, more houses, etc). It's simply not fair. Lost tax income could benefit the people of this great city and corporations should not receive a tax break.
Land Use Type
What uses should or should not be allowed?
Where should the land use be or not be located?
Urban Agriculture
What should be allowed: Growing food, farming, ranching
What should not be allowed: Multifamily housing; sub divisions.
North Spokane/Mead; South Spokane around 195/hangman creek; West Spokane between Spokane and Cheney (area between 195 and HW 904); Preserve Moran Prairie
Residential Low
Allowed: Construction allowed with the replanting of trees. Trees add value to properties.
Not Allowed: No residential low units around industrial areas, please.
Please minimize the number of corporate-owned properties so that residence can fulfill on homeownership.
Residential High
Not Allowed: Please do not mix these buildings in with Residential Low. An example of this is the multi-family complex constructed at 10807 E Empire in Millwood.
*Please preserve the look and feel of Spokane’s existing
[PDF page 3 of 4 begins within the preceding table entry.]
residential low neighborhoods.
Commercial
Centers & Corridors
Allowed: Multi-family
Not allowed: Mixed-use commercial/residential.
Institutional
Downtown
Allowed: Mixed use commercial/residential
*Please preserve the existing height limits.
Industrial
Not allowed: No construction within in 3 miles of parks, schools, or subdivisions.
Geiger area.
Open Space
Keep open space open!
Not allowed: Construction of industrial within 3-5 miles or open space.
Scattered throughout the city. Once example of this is near Upriver Dam. Please do not add a dog park. Leaving the space open around Indian Head Rock provides connection to nature. There are plenty of places to walk a dog.
Additionally, the new large housing development in this area feels out of place and is very dense. The roads are not designed to accommodate that much traffic. The Centennial Trail by the river should remain a “nature path,” not an urban park.
Thank you for reviewing community comments!
Lesley Herrmann
Westview Neighborhood
[PDF page 4 of 4]
Music the great communicator
Use two sticks to make it in the nature. -AK
Lesley Herrmann
Feb 18, 2026
Local Resident
[PDF page 1 of 4]
Regarding
LU 5.5, Compatible Development
Ensure that infill and redevelopment projects are designed to be compatible with and complement surrounding uses and building types.
10807 E Empire in Millwood is a four building, three story, 24 unit multi-family complex built on a quite residential street with smaller homes. This is an example of violation, if you will, of LU 5.5 above. The residence in this community fought to prevent this complex from going into their neighbor, for obvious reasons.
These large multi family housing units need to stay out of neighborhoods and be restricted to Centers and Corridors. People live in neighborhoods because they are quiet, have less traffic, have more trees, and aren't flooded with obnoxious lighting.
Please do not allow large multi-family units to be built in quite neighborhoods (keep residential low and residential high construction separate).
Regarding
Raise height limits from 40/55/150 ft to 55/75/150 ft, depending on zone classification]
Please do not raise height limits! I love Spokane because it doesn't feel like I'm living in a box like it does in other cities I've lived in (Denver, Nashville). Infilling with tall buildings block views for existing buildings. No one wants an apartment that looks into the window of someone else's apartment.
Regarding
Urban Canopy
Maintaining and growing our urban canopy is critical. I think there should be a minimum tree planting requirement for every new home and multi-family unit built. I recommend working with the Urban Forestry Program Director at the Lands Council, Justyce Brant.
Regarding
SEPA
No plan should violate, waive, or ignore SEPA. We need to critically evaluate the impact on the land, air, water quality, animals, and our trees. We cannot give large construction companies or corporations a free pass to build without an evaluation of how growth will impact our environment. SEPA is in place to help ensure sustainable growth and the health of the land and people of Spokane. What's the point of a sustainability plan if we don't have some environmental standards in place. PLEASE do not remove/waive/ignore SEPA in any plan.
SEPA should also include the environmental and health risks of cell towers. Please let me know if you need scientific resources and/or case studies supporting this.
General Concerns
[PDF page 2 of 4 begins within the following paragraph.]
What I witnessed in Boulder Colorado was a fast increase in the number of mixed commercial and residential buildings being built. Today, a large percent of the commercial spaces are vacant. Residential rent is extremely high to make up for some of the losses in revenue from having vacant commercial spaces, putting a strain on tenants. This also leaves what could be a vibrant bustling center feeling cold, empty, and sterol.
I'm afraid that building too many multi-family homes reduces the ability for citizens to own their own homes. Increasing the percentage of apartments reduces the opportunity for homeownership and puts a strain on roadways. The benefits of population density reaches a point of diminishing returns. Please consider that tipping point.
Please do not allow large construction companies or other corporations (eg Amazon) tax breaks in exchange for growth (more jobs, more houses, etc). It's simply not fair. Lost tax income could benefit the people of this great city and corporations should not receive a tax break.
Land Use Type
What uses should or should not be allowed?
Where should the land use be or not be located?
Urban Agriculture
What should be allowed: Growing food, farming, ranching
What should not be allowed: Multifamily housing; sub divisions.
North Spokane/Mead; South Spokane around 195/hangman creek; West Spokane between Spokane and Cheney (area between 195 and HW 904); Preserve Moran Prairie
Residential Low
Allowed: Construction allowed with the replanting of trees. Trees add value to properties.
Not Allowed: No residential low units around industrial areas, please.
Please minimize the number of corporate-owned properties so that residence can fulfill on homeownership.
Residential High
Not Allowed: Please do not mix these buildings in with Residential Low. An example of this is the multi-family complex constructed at 10807 E Empire in Millwood.
*Please preserve the look and feel of Spokane’s existing
[PDF page 3 of 4 begins within the preceding table entry.]
residential low neighborhoods.
Commercial
Centers & Corridors
Allowed: Multi-family
Not allowed: Mixed-use commercial/residential.
Institutional
Downtown
Allowed: Mixed use commercial/residential
*Please preserve the existing height limits.
Industrial
Not allowed: No construction within in 3 miles of parks, schools, or subdivisions.
Geiger area.
Open Space
Keep open space open!
Not allowed: Construction of industrial within 3-5 miles or open space.
Scattered throughout the city. Once example of this is near Upriver Dam. Please do not add a dog park. Leaving the space open around Indian Head Rock provides connection to nature. There are plenty of places to walk a dog.
Additionally, the new large housing development in this area feels out of place and is very dense. The roads are not designed to accommodate that much traffic. The Centennial Trail by the river should remain a “nature path,” not an urban park.
Thank you for reviewing community comments!
Lesley Herrmann
Westview Neighborhood
[PDF page 4 of 4]
Music the great communicator
Use two sticks to make it in the nature. -AK