Comprehensive plan emphasizes housing

RITZVILLE – During a City Council meeting March 19, consultant Aren Murcar of SCJ Alliance of Spokane presented an update to the city’s comprehensive plan — including a housing element based on the 2023 housing action plan.

The recently added housing section emphasizes the need for affordable housing, smaller housing and options to age-in-place.

It details existing housing conditions here and notes that nearly 60% of the town’s housing stock was built prior to 1960 and nearly 40% prior to 1939.

Older housing can present safety issues and significantly increase energy and maintenance costs, according to the plan.

In addition, incomes have not kept pace with housing costs.

Zillow, a national provider of real estate data, estimates that home values here have seen an increase of 39% since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If housing prices continue to increase at a faster rate than incomes, owning a house will become unaffordable to many Ritzville households in coming years,” the plan said.

On top of that, Ritzville has a higher median age than Adams County and the State, indicating an older population with increased needs for senior-citizen services, such as assisted living.

Adams County communities, including Ritzville, are not required to plan under the full provisions of the state’s Growth Management Act (Revised Code of Washington 36.70A).

That Act was first adopted by the Legislature in 1990 and the legislation makes certain concessions for counties with lower population density, such as Adams, Lincoln and Whitman counties.

Ritzville’s Comprehensive Plan has a goal of guiding the growth and development for the next 20 years. In keeping with that goal, the plan presents statistics in a variety of areas including land use, housing, capital facilities, transportation and parks.

Murcar said decision-makers can use the plan to guide their decisions in all these areas.

“We also did a public survey at the fair a few years ago to get input for developing the plan,” he said. “So, this plan is informed by the community.”

On March 13, the city Planning Commission passed a resolution recommending the City Council approve comprehensive plan provisions.

A public hearing on the plan is set for April 19. A hearing is required by state law before the plan can be formally approved.

In other business:

• The City Council approved a maximum payment of $6,000 to consultant Ardurra of Nampa, Idaho, to continue developing a state Transportation Improvement Board grant proposal for enhanced pedestrian crossings. Ardurra developed a map showing where flashing beacons could be installed at 12 crossings, including five Division Street crossings and four school crossings. At a previous City Council meeting, Councilwoman Michelle Plumb noted that most identified sites already have new sidewalks, so solar signs are the only additional enhancement needed.

• Mayor Scott Yaeger recommended spending $8,400 from the city’s capital improvement fund for the purchase of a new sandwich cooler and other improvements at the golf course clubhouse.

• Public Works Director Dave Breazeale reported that the Well No. 8 pump house has been framed and that the city has purchased a service truck for $60,210, a price below the budgeted amount. The vehicle is a 2015 F-550 with 18,000 miles and a crew cab.

• Police Chief Dave McCormick reported the latest recruit, Brandon Beck-Gmeiner, is now qualified to carry a weapon and will begin his course at the Spokane Police Academy on May 5. He expects to graduate in September.

• McCormick also noted that police have recovered approximately $20,000 in jewelry stolen during a recent rash of burglaries. The jewelry was obtained from a pawnshop in Spokane and an impounded vehicle. Police also located and recovered three stolen shotguns without incident. The guns have been taken to a crime lab in Cheney to check for latent fingerprints and possible DNA evidence.