Spokane County outlines placemaking priorities, proposes consolidated land‑use categories as EIS scoping opens

At a Spokane County public workshop, county staff and consulting teams presented a placemaking-driven approach to the county s comprehensive plan update and opened the scoping period for an environmental impact statement that the consultants said runs through May 30, with a virtual EIS meeting scheduled for May 7.

A Spokane County staff member said the update is required under the Growth Management Act and reminded attendees that "we have to be done by the end of 2026," noting the state legislature gave counties in this group an extra six months to finish the plan.

The consultants framed the effort around "placemaking" principles intended to guide where and how new development happens in urban growth areas. Riley, a consultant with Cascadia Consultants, summarized the climate and hazard context that the plan should address: "wildfire and wildfire smoke are increasing and affecting communities," and added inland flooding, stream temperature changes, higher temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are on the team—s risk list.

Bob Mayford, partner with Maker's Architecture, read a draft vision for the county's urban lands: "Spokane County's urban or suburban lands are a mix of vibrant and connected communities. They feature integrated parks, trails, natural areas, and civic gathering places, a mix of housing types, and an…