Spokane Valley to challenge state parking mandates with $100K study

(The Center Square) – Spokane Valley officials are hoping to avoid new state parking mandates aimed at reducing housing development costs by lowering the amount of parking required for these projects.

The city council will consider a comprehensive plan update this year that estimates more than 16,000 new housing units in the Valley by 2046. The officials are worried the new parking mandates will lead to spillover in other neighborhoods, creating safety concerns, unless the Valley receives an exemption.​

The only way for the Valley to subvert the requirements in Senate Bill 5184 is to commission a study demonstrating that the limitations would be less safe than the current standards. The city council gave consensus Tuesday to proceed with the $100,000 st...