Spokane council adopts emergency interim control on off‑premises alcohol outlets near parks, schools and libraries

The Spokane City Council on Monday adopted an emergency ordinance creating an interim control that restricts new off‑premises alcohol outlets near public assets such as parks, schools, libraries and transit centers.

Council members said the ordinance is intended to prevent new outlets from vesting while staff and the public complete a fuller review. Council member Dillon said the measure is interim and will be followed by a public hearing on June 16 and additional feedback. “This is an interim ordinance,” Dillon said, “so we will have a public hearing on June 16. There’ll also be more feedback taken during that time, as we look right now at 500 feet of parks, schools, library centers, transit centers.”

Supporters on the council framed the ordinance as a narrowly focused land‑use tool. Council member Bridal said she would vote for it and described one prior situation in which a liquor store proposed to open next to a new shelter; Bridal called that “predatory” and said the measure prevents similar developments from vesting while the city completes a review. “It felt as if it was predatory,” Bridal said. “I think this is a good step for the city of Spokane.”

Opponents in public comment argued the city should focus on illegal drugs and homelessness rather than alcohol outlets. Will Hewings, a downtown resident, opposed the ordinance in public testimony and said Spokane’s immediate problems are fentanyl and meth, not off‑premises beer and liquor sales. “Spokane isn’t being destroyed by a bottle of beer or liquor. It’s being destroyed by fentanyl and meth,” Hewings said.

Council members noted legal distinctions between on‑premises sales (bars, restaurants, breweries) and off‑premises sales (liquor and grocery stores) and said the interim control targets the latter. Several council members said the interim step will allow time to review the ordinance’s scope — currently proposed as a 500‑foot buffer — and to consider other related protections such as nonprofit and treatment centers.

The ordinance was adopted as an emergency measure to prevent new outlets from gaining development rights during the review; the council recorded a 7–0 vote in favor. The council also scheduled a public hearing and additional review of the ordinance and any related permanent code changes.

City staff and the council said they will use the interim period to collect public comment, consult departments and refine the geographic scope and exceptions before bringing a permanent proposal back to the council.

The ordinance adds an interim chapter to the Spokane Municipal Code regulating off‑premises alcohol outlets near public assets and declares the need for immediate action to prevent vesting in undesired locations.

The council will take public comment again during the scheduled hearing and staff will return with recommended edits.