Spokane County outlines EIS growth alternatives for UGA update; public landowners press to add parcels

Spokane County planning staff presented a status update and the first parcel‑level evaluation under the environmental‑impact‑statement (EIS) work for the 2026 comprehensive‑plan update at the Oct. 2 Planning Commission meeting. The presentation described two growth “bookend” alternatives, explained the mapping and eligibility criteria used for potential urban growth area (UGA) expansions, and opened the floor for extended public comment from landowners and neighborhood representatives.

Planning staff described the EIS approach as testing two bookend alternatives — a “no action/infill” end and a second alternative that emphasizes place‑making and blended neighborhood development — to provide a defensible range of outcomes for the Board of County Commissioners. Scott Chesney, who led the county presentation, told commissioners: “This is another beginning step, but it's the middle of a long journey.” He summarized required housing allocations the county must plan for and emphasized that the Growth Management…