Spokane staff outline major updates to comprehensive plan’s natural environment chapter

City planning staff on June 5 presented first-pass changes to the natural environment chapter of Spokane’s 10‑year comprehensive-plan update, describing how new language will fold in state requirements, link to technical studies and aim to make the plan more usable.

The presentation, led by a city planning staff member identified in the meeting as Kevin (staff member), said the update is part of the larger Plan Spokane 2046 effort and will incorporate state Growth Management Act requirements, recent housing work and other technical studies. Kevin said the city’s current plan is “Shaping Spokane” (2001) and described the update as the first substantial rewrite since then.

Why it matters: the natural environment chapter guides decisions about wetlands, floodplains, geologic hazards, wildlife habitat and features unique to Spokane — including basalt outcrops. Changes to the chapter will influence mapping and zoning choices, the municipal code’s critical-areas rules and future development review.

Most important changes and discussion

- Rock outcrop protection: Staff proposed a new or clarified policy to identify and protect basalt and other rock outcrops that have geological, visual or cultural value. Kevin and other staff emphasized the policy is intended to “find the ones that have value” and protect those, not to prohibit ordinary property owners from removing small or non‑significant rock features. Commissioners pressed staff on how a…