Resident urges county to consider 'Cougar Cliffs' mixed-use neighborhood center in upcoming comprehensive plan review

During the meeting’s open public forum, Eric Stranahan described a proposed 166-acre mixed-use neighborhood center called Cougar Cliffs, located across US-195 from Patchgrove. Stranahan said the proposal aims for a people-first neighborhood center with shopping, dining, outdoor recreation, a potential county library branch and EMS/fire station dedication on site, and a layout intended to reduce vehicle miles traveled by anchoring future transit services.

Stranahan told the board that 17 acres of the property lie within city limits while the rest is in Spokane County zoned urban reserve. He said Cougar Cliffs was listed as a potential UGA (urban growth area) alteration study area on county planning maps published Oct. 30 and asked the board to "keep Cougar Cliffs top of mind" during the county’s next comprehensive-plan progress review scheduled Dec. 1. He also noted that if a tax-increment financing (TIF) district were later established, the development could be critical to funding needed infrastructure improvements.

The board did not take action on the request during the meeting but staff and commissioners acknowledged receipt of the written materials Mr. Stranahan provided and recorded his request in the public record.