Spokane County and cities brief committee on EIS alternatives and housing-by-income shortfalls

Spokane County staff and planning representatives from multiple cities briefed the Steering Committee of Elected Officials on July 16 about the countywide environmental impact statement process, housing-by-income analysis and land-capacity findings that will inform comprehensive-plan updates.

County staff said the EIS development stage is underway and outlined three draft alternatives the county will study: no action (no boundary changes), an infill-focused approach (increase development rates inside current urban growth areas) and a combination alternative that mixes density changes with selective UGA expansions. The county told the committee it is preparing a briefing for the Board of County Commissioners in August and hopes to identify a preferred alternative later in the fall.

On housing by income band, county staff reported the combined 0–80% area median income (AMI) band shows a deficit of about 8,000 housing units under current land-use designations and development regulations. The 80–120% AMI band is roughly balanced at just under a 1,000-unit shortfall, and the market-rate band above 120% shows a surplus.…