Spokane Standard

City of Spokane Planning Services staff worked with Council President  Beggs, Council Member Bingle and Council Member Zappone to develop and  propose changes to update the

Multifamily Tax Exemption program.  Ordinance C36243 included a public hearing and final reading and was  approved by Council at Monday’s legislative session.

“Moving the needle quickly for  housing solutions takes a combination of creative and tried and true  planning processes,” says Steve MacDonald, Director of Community an

 Economic Development. “This revised Multifamily Tax Exemption program  incentivizes both market rate and affordable housing where it is needed  most.”

The ordinance shores up the policies  needed to increase housing units. Tonight’s action regarding the  Multifamily Tax Exemption aligns Spokane Municipal Code with updated  state

Revised Code of Washington laws:

- Fee updates to cover current costs

- Making the eligible areas for  Multifamily Tax Exemption to include the Spokane Targeted Investment  Area (34 low-income census tracts) with Affordable Housing Emphasis  areas

- Tax exemption duration periods for developers to include 8 year, 12 year and new 20 year programs

Requirements for relocation  assistance for low-income households and new reporting requirements  (local and state compliance audits)

Mayor Nadine Woodward proclaimed a Housing Emergency and Spokane City Council adopted the Spokane Housing Action Plan in July 2021. Strategies outlined in the plan include

the Shaping Spokane Housing code  changes for ADUs, Short Plats, and Lot Size Transition approved by  Spokane City Council. Mayor Woodward and Spokane City Council

members  worked together for the Building Opportunity and Choices for All interim zoning ordinance that encourages missing middle housing development over the next year.

Original source can be found here.