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County planners present EIS framework, wind‑energy constraint map and housing shortfalls for 2026 comp‑plan update
Summary
Planning staff briefed commissioners on the comprehensive plan update, presenting environmental, climate and critical‑areas findings, a constraint map for commercial wind energy, a water planning gap assessment, and housing capacity shortfalls that the EIS alternatives will study ahead of the 2026 deadline.
Spokane County planning staff presented a multi‑topic briefing on the 2026 comprehensive plan update and related Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) work, asking the Board of County Commissioners for preliminary direction on the range of alternatives to analyze.
The presentation covered critical areas and shoreline master program amendments, climate and resilience mapping, a coordinated water system plan update, a constraint map for commercial wind energy, and housing and jobs projections; staff asked the board for a “head nod” to advance EIS alternatives and to continue coordinated work with the cities and other jurisdictions.
On climate and public‑health exposure staff presented maps showing broad heat and smoke exposure areas, and an overlay identifying higher concentrations of older adults in more exposed neighborhoods. Staff highlighted drought risk tied to below‑normal snowpack in many agricultural areas and noted the interrelationship of wildfire, lower absorption on burned lands and increased flood susceptibility.
On commercial wind energy, planning staff displayed a composite constraint map that overlays average wind speed, biodiversity areas (Columbia Plateau), channeled scabland protections (Turnbull), and a 15‑mile radius requested by Fairchild Air Force Base. The map identifies roughly six sections in southeast county with the fewest combined constraints but also notes significant agricultural land (designated “egg” prime/important farmland in the presentation) that state law protects; staff said any developer would need detailed mitigation analyses to win approval.
Staff described Shrek (the county’s regional communications entity in the presentation) and Fairchild’s request to the governor to consider a statewide buffer around military airfields for wind turbine siting. Commissioners asked staff to draft a potential letter of support for Fairchild to protect mission requirements; staff offered to prepare language for review.
On housing, staff showed the county’s capacity analysis: under the county’s current zoning patterns the analysis attributes lower effective unit yields (historic build‑out assumptions) to low‑density areas (a cited average of about 4.46 persons per dwelling in the presentation adjustments), and staff said the unincorporated county would have a large shortfall in lower‑income (0–80% AMI) housing under current assumptions. The presentation compared that “do nothing” scenario with an “infill” alternative that models higher densities (e.g., assumptions modeled at 8, 15, 20 and 30 dwelling units per acre in different zones) and a third alternative that contemplates UGA boundary changes or swaps. Staff emphasized the EIS will examine the environmental and infrastructure consequences of those options and will require jurisdictions to substantiate their capacity to serve growth (water, capital facilities, sewer, transportation).
Staff outlined a schedule: steering‑committee follow‑up in September, focused public outreach starting in late September–October, a return to the board with a recommended preferred alternative in November and an overall EIS process timed to comply with the 2026 statutory deadline. Commissioners asked staff to accelerate data requests to cities (especially Spokane Valley) that staff indicated had not yet finalized capacity responses.
Ending: Staff will return with a more detailed recommended preferred alternative and with additional analysis of water capacity, capital facilities, and a proposed wind‑energy mitigation framework for consideration at follow‑up hearings this fall.
