Cheney Planning Commission briefed on new developments

Cheney Planning Commission members got a light start to the new year at their January meeting Monday night.

Other than a workshop on how the proposed zoning changes to the city’s single-family residential codes would work, the commission received a staff report on a conditional use permit application by Cheney Faith Center. The center wants to build a 900 square foot church addition and a 3,378 square foot new sanctuary building on its .82-acre property on the corner of Oakland and North Second streets.

The proposal also includes extending and installing all utilities, stormwater disposal areas and landscaping. A SEPA review is required as is a public hearing by a hearing examiner, set for Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.

“This is our first go at it,” Community Development Director Brian Jennings told the commission of an outside examiner. “Historically this would have gone before you.”

Jennings added that the process is similar to what the commission used to preside over, with planner Brett Lucas presenting the city’s case regarding the proposal.

Jennings told the commission he and other city officials had conducted a phone meeting with a National Park Service representative on implementing a technology assistance grant the city has received to explore recreational opportunities outside city limits in the south Spokane County area. The grant has no financial value, providing federal technical assistance only, and will be used to facilitate participation by as many area stakeholders in recreation as possible, Jennings said.

During the workshop the commission reviewed results from a visual preference survey conducted last summer with residents and developers. The survey can be viewed at http://www.cityofcheney.org/code update.

The commission also reviewed how aspects of proposed single-family zoning requirements for duplexes would be applied if approved by the City Council, and how those new codes compared with existing structures in the city.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.