Spokane County holds virtual briefing on comprehensive plan update, proposes CAO changes

Spokane County Planning hosted a virtual public webinar to review proposed updates to the county’s comprehensive plan and its Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO). County staff said the planning update is a 10‑year review that will inform a 20‑year growth outlook to 2046 and invited public input via chat and live testimony at upcoming hearings.

Tammy Camper, an environmental scientist with FASET Consulting, summarized the project’s technical work, saying the team completed a Best Available Science (BAS) gap analysis and is finalizing a BAS draft now under technical advisory committee review. "The chapter outlines some general visions such as protecting habitats and water supplies," Camper said, describing the comprehensive‑plan chapter that the CAO implements.

Camper told attendees the CAO revisions will address wetlands, critical aquifer recharge areas (CARAs), fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas and geologic‑hazard areas. She said the team added wildlife‑corridor mapping using recent Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife data and completed a stream‑buffer analysis; those products are in review to inform policy edits and regulatory text changes.

On policy changes, Camper said staff drafted new language intended to better align the CAO with agency guidance and BAS; examples noted included strengthened mitigation measures and a "no net loss" approach to habitat protections. She said portions of the ordinance text will be rewritten where the gap analysis shows inconsistencies with best available science.

County staff emphasized cross‑department coordination. The presenter said mapping updates include areas such as the West Plains where earlier mapping was insufficient, and that public works, stormwater, and other departments are reviewing technical materials to reduce implementation risk once regulations are adopted.

Camper also clarified the role of related plans: shorelines are principally managed through the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) rather than the CAO (the SMP references the CAO in its appendix), and air‑quality and climate‑resilience questions will be analyzed in the environmental impact statement accompanying the plan update. Staff confirmed the BAS gap analysis and supporting documents will be followed by an environmental impact statement with a public comment period expected in December.

On next steps, staff said the Planning Commission will hold an expanded session on Nov. 13 focused on the CAO where in‑person testimony in the hearing room will be available alongside online participation. The webinar is being recorded and slides will be posted to the Spokane County website within about 24 hours.

Mary, who identified herself as staff for Commissioner Waldriff, asked whether a dedicated live public‑comment period would be provided; staff confirmed the Planning Commission session will include opportunities for live testimony. The county encouraged public comments via the webinar chat and said those comments will be recorded and entered into the public record for future documents.

The webinar closed with staff thanking participants and reiterating where materials and recordings will be posted.