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Spokane County opens SEPA EIS scoping for 2026 comprehensive plan update; public comments due May 30
Summary
Spokane County held a public webinar to begin scoping an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) tied to the county's periodic comprehensive plan update. County staff and consultants described the EIS schedule, topics to be studied, and how residents can submit comments through May 30 at 5 p.m.
Spokane County held a virtual scoping meeting to launch the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for its 2026 comprehensive plan update, and officials urged public comment by May 30 at 5 p.m.
The meeting, run as a Zoom webinar, explained that the EIS is part of a broader two-year comprehensive plan update required by the Growth Management Act and that the scoping notice was issued April 29. Comment methods cited during the webinar were email to 2026compplan@spokanecounty.org and written submissions to Spokane County Building and Planning, 1026 West Broadway Ave., Spokane. Organizers said the scoping comment period closes May 30 and that comments submitted now will help shape which environmental topics and alternatives are analyzed in the draft EIS.
Why it matters: the EIS will analyze environmental effects of alternative ways to accommodate projected growth over the next 20 years and will feed analysis and options that the Board of County Commissioners will use later in the process. The county expects a draft EIS and draft comprehensive plan elements to be released together in December; the draft EIS will have a formal comment period (county staff said the DEIS comment window will be roughly 30'to 45 days). The board is scheduled to select a preferred alternative after the draft EIS analysis this fall.
County and consultant presenters described the scope and timeline for the update. They noted statutory drivers including the Growth Management Act and SEPA, the recently added climate/resiliency element and the inclusion of the Shoreline Master Program as part of the comprehensive plan. County staff reiterated that the comprehensive plan is a policy document that must be implemented through development regulations, capital facilities investments and other actions.
Officials listed the environmental topics that scoping will cover: earth and soils (including topography), water quality and groundwater, flooding and frequently flooded areas, air quality including greenhouse gas emissions, plants and animals and habitat connectivity, transportation and circulation (including transit and multimodal goals), land and shoreline uses including critical areas, population/housing/employment forecasts, environmental health (hazards and noise), and public services and utilities (water, sewer, fire, parks and police).
Only two action alternatives plus a no-action alternative will be analyzed as the process narrows, presenters said, with alternatives developed this summer and refined based on public and agency comments. Presenters emphasized that alternatives are intended to provide a range of options ("bookends") that align with Growth Management Act requirements for housing, jobs and capital facilities while allowing the Board to choose among policy approaches.
Scott (planning staff) summarized the integration of transportation work into the EIS: "Transportation is obviously one of the major issues. It's studied by our own internal staff ... We also coordinate with the cities, with SRTT, and with DOT." Attendees were told there will be continued chances to review and comment on drafts of plan elements and on proposed development regulation changes after the draft EIS is released.
How to take part: submit scoping comments by May 30 at 5 p.m. via email to 2026compplan@spokanecounty.org or by mail to Spokane County Building and Planning, 1026 West Broadway Ave., Spokane. The project website contains the scoping notice, links to materials and a schedule of upcoming in-person rural open houses and other engagement opportunities. The webinar recording and the Q&A transcript will be posted on the county website.
Less urgent detail: presenters noted that Department of Commerce grant funding supporting the update runs on a two-year cycle ending June 30 and that the county's statutory adoption deadline for the periodic update is December 31, 2026. Organizers said the development regulations update will continue into 2026 so regulations align with whatever plan the board adopts.
