Spokane County planning director outlines how 2026 urban growth-area boundaries will be decided, urges residents to review maps

Spokane County Planning Director Scott Chesney outlined the process for deciding urban growth-area boundaries for the county’s 2026 comprehensive plan update on the county’s “On the Plan” podcast.

Chesney said the process starts with each city or town assessing how much developable land remains inside its existing boundaries and estimating how much growth that land can accommodate. "Our growth areas are sought after by communities and developers and builders alike because those are the areas where the newest growth is happening in our communities and in our county," Chesney said.

The plan-making process then compares projected buildable acreage to 20-year growth projections. When existing lands cannot accommodate anticipated growth, planners and local officials consider expanding the urban growth-area boundary. Chesney said that comparison relies on statutory and policy principles, including capital…