Spokane staff outline EIS schedule, three growth alternatives and climate‑policy integration

City of Spokane planning staff and consultants told a joint meeting of the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board and the Planning Commission on Oct. 25 that the draft environmental impact statement for the city's comprehensive plan periodic update is being completed and will move into public outreach early next year.

Tyrrell Black, City of Spokane Planning, said the team "were hoping to have it at this time, but we have run into some issues with our transportation modeling, which we think we have resolved," and that staff expect to roll out an internal draft to the Planning Commission around Dec. 10 and to resume broad community outreach in January. The periodic update work is on a state schedule that staff noted must conclude by Dec. 31, 2026, under state law.

At the meeting staff and consultants described three growth alternatives under study in the draft EIS: a no‑action/current plan; a corridor‑focused alternative that builds on the city's corridors and frequent transit routes; and a center‑city and job‑hub alternative that concentrates additional growth in downtown, the University District/Medical District…