East Central Neighborhood Plan
Draft: Land Use Element
9.0 Land Use
9.1 Current land use designation
Currently the land use and zoning for the East Central neighborhood is Euclidean
in nature. This means that zoning laws are based on a hierarchy of use
categories from single family homes to heavy industry. The separation of use
categories was developed to avoid nuisances or negative use impacts among
uses. The land use of East Central is separated between heavy and light
industry to the north, commercial and office around Sprague Avenue, and single-
family homes south of I-90. Higher density residential is located between
Sprague Avenue and I-90 as well as the area north of the South Perry District
and the area around Thor and Freya. Throughout the neighborhood there are a
few commercial areas such as Fred Meyers and other areas around the Thor/
Freya area (see land use map).
9.2 Centers and Corridors
As mandated by the City of Spokane, no land use or zone changes can be made
outside the designated Center and Corridors. In the East Central neighborhood
there are three centers; Thor/ Freya, Sprague/ Napa, and 9th and Perry. Thor/
Freya and 9th and Perry are currently designated neighborhood centers, while
Sprague and Napa is an employment center. The zoning around 9 th and Perry is
CC1, which is a pedestrian emphasis/ auto-accommodating district. The zoning
around the Thor/ Freya and Sprague/ Napa districts is CC1 and CC2, which is
pedestrian enhanced/ auto-accommodating. CC2 promotes new development
and redevelopment that is pedestrian-oriented while accommodating the
automobile (City of Spokane Zoning Code 11.19.1931). The current zoning and
land use was presented to the Stakeholders and discussed as to what the
appropriate designations should be for each of the three centers.
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East Central Neighborhood Plan
Draft: Land Use Element
9.2.1 Thor/ Freya District
The Thor/ Freya District encompasses the area around Fred Meyers. The
current zoning for this area includes B1, CC1, CC2, and R4. The residents of
East Central would like to see the boundary extended to include Sprague Avenue
to the north, Hartson Avenue to the south, a half block past Freya Street on the
east, and Ray Street to the west. The residents want to designate Thor/ Freya
as a District Center instead of a Neighborhood Center. This logic is based on the
addition of Fred Meyers, which attracts many customers from outside the
neighborhood.
A couplet is currently being built using Thor and Freya. The land use between
the couplets needs to accommodate a higher and better use in order to take
advantage of the couplet. The residents of East Central would like to see the
zoning changed in the boundaries described above to CC2-DC. It is
recommended that this change be made to make the area flexible to many
different types of development. CC2 allows residential, commercial, restaurants,
limited industrial, hotels, and medical offices. This would create a vibrant District
Center that would serve the needs of residents on the South Hill as well as the
City of Spokane Valley (See Proposed Land Use Changes Map).
9.2.2 Sprague/ Napa District
The vision of the Sprague and Napa district is a high intensity mixed use center
where entrepreneurs thrive and the eclectic atmosphere is preserved. Currently
the Sprague and Napa Center planning team is undergoing a specific plan for the
area. That plan will be included in the overall neighborhood plan. The
Stakeholders of the Sprague and Napa district would like to see a Main Street
model be applied to Sprague Avenue with a zone change to CC2. Currently
there is CC1 and CC2 zoning on Sprague Avenue. Since this area is mainly an
automobile centered area, it is not felt that a CC1 designation is appropriate for
the area. The boundary for the district should extend to the railroads to the north,
I-90 to the south, Haven Street to the east, and Hamilton Street to the west. The
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East Central Neighborhood Plan
Draft: Land Use Element
CC2 designation needs to be extended north of Sprague to include the proposed
Napa Light Rail stop and transit center as well as south to the freeway to give
owners an opportunity to raise the value of their homes. With the proposed
North-Corridor freeway expansion this section of the neighborhood will have the
most negative impact and consideration should be given to their property values.
The residents would also like to see the area of land between Hamilton Street
and the River change in zoning from light industrial to CC2 or B1 to encourage
residential, and office development in the area. With the asset of the Spokane
River and the proximity of the downtown core this area is not seeing the best and
highest use of its land. This land could be turned into higher density housing for
students and a connection with the Ben Burr trail and Riverpointe campus would
improve the desirability of this area as well.
9.2.3 South Perry District
The 9th and Perry District is designated a Neighborhood Center and is zoned
CC1. The residents would like this designation to remain with the possibility of
expanding the boundary and increasing density to support the center’s
commercial businesses. This could entail moving the boundary to a half block on
either side of Perry, or extending the boundary down Newark Street. It is the
request of the East Central residents that further planning be resumed in this
district.
9.3 East Central Community Center
Currently the East Central Community Center owns the piece of property directly
north of 5th Avenue across from the center. It is the intent of the center to build
senior housing on this block. There is a great need to put senior housing close to
activities at the community center. A need has been identify but to be feasible an
increase in density is needed. It is the request of the East Central residents to
increase the land use designation to R15-30 in this area.
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