APZ rezoning proposal in early stages

As part of the Airway Heights comprehensive plan update, the Planning Department is proposing a rezone of residential properties in the Accidental Potential Zone 2 (APZ) located south of U.S. Highway 2.

The proposal requests those properties would be rezoned from manufactured residential, to a mix of general commercial - approximately 12.5 acres - and light industrial - about 29 acres.

"The area was changed to RM in 2006, before that it was primarily commercial," Development Services Director Derrick Braaten said.

The proposed rezone is the latest effort in the Fairchild Air Force Base Preservation and Community Empowerment project. One of the project's goals is to reduce the residential density to two units per acre in the APZ, which is the only designated encroachment in Airway Heights on Fairchild Air Force Base. The residential density in the area is approximately seven structures per acre.

Past efforts to reduce the density in the APZ include Spokane County's Proposition 1 proposal, which was rejected by voters in 2013.

In 2014, the state Legislature provided the city $2.7 million to purchase and remove about 100 residential units from the area, which removed roughly one-third of the structures from the zone.

The project's other goal is to provide affordable housing for residents living in mobile homes located in the APZ. In March 2016, the city purchased approximately 20 acres of land to be used for the housing site for those residents.

"The hope is, as we acquire more properties, the units are vacated through attrition and the alternative housing will be developed," Braaten said. "We don't have an interest in moving folks, we mainly want to get the density (in the APZ) down to two units per acre."

If the proposal is approved, residential uses become allowed non-conforming uses on those properties. This would allow landowners to continue residential use on those properties after changes to the zoning code.

According to the proposal, property owners will have a right to replace or repair mobile home units if a fire or a natural disaster occurs, however they must submit for the repairs within sixth months of the incident, and complete the repairs within 12 months. The footprint of the replacement unit cannot be larger than the original.

If the landowner vacates the property and residential use on the land is discontinued for a year, it can no longer be used for that purpose and must conform to the commercial or light industrial uses.

Braaten added the proposal won't be finalized until later in the year.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].