Planning commission hears update on Snoqualmie climate element; commissioners press on smoke, wildfire and transportation

Chris Green, a consultant with OTAC, told the Snoqualmie Planning Commission on March 17, 2025, that the city—s new comprehensive plan climate element now contains two subelements—climate resilience and greenhouse-gas emissions reduction—and that work on resilience is further along than the emissions side while the city awaits finalized 2022 inventory data for Snoqualmie.

The climate planning advisory team (CPAT) has prioritized drought and reduced snowpack, extreme heat and smoke impacts, and extreme precipitation as the highest near-term hazards for the city, Green said. Flooding remains important but CPAT and staff find there is already an active set of programs addressing flood risk; wildfire and smoke were debated because smoke has become a recurring health issue in recent years.

Green described the resilience process as having assessed community assets, hazards and sectors that could be affected; CPAT has begun drafting goals, policies and actions to protect and mobilize assets such as the hospital, library and recreation facilities. He said the resilience work would move next to goals and measurable…