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Spokane County Planning Commission reviews Natural Environment chapter; CAO draft expected imminently
Summary
At a Feb. 26 workshop the Spokane County Planning Commission reviewed proposed Natural Environment goals and policies, heard public calls to reuse vacant commercial space and to update an outdated aquifer map, and learned Ecology's draft Critical Areas Ordinance is expected the next day with adoption targeted for December.
The Spokane County Planning Commission held a workshop on the Natural Environment element of the county's comprehensive plan on Feb. 26, during which staff said the state Ecology team had finished reviewing the county's Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) update and the county expects to receive the draft the following day.
Why it matters: The CAO and the comprehensive plan guide how the county balances growth with protections for wetlands, aquifers, shorelines and wildlife corridors—issues commissioners said will shape development, conservation and future permitting for many years.
Planning staff told commissioners the Natural Environment chapter has been revised to align with best available science and to add new sections on aquifers, wildlife corridors, noise and light pollution and tree canopy. "Ecology ... expect to deliver their draft CAO to us tomorrow," staff said, and a special Planning Commission meeting to focus on the CAO was proposed for April 2 or April 9. Staff also outlined a project schedule that targets a working draft of chapters this summer (July) and a full recommendation and public hearings in Q4, with adoption by the Board of County Commissioners aimed for December.
Public commenters urged several priorities. Brian Megie, a Spokane resident and farm program manager for Salmon Safe, asked that Salmon Safe be recognized in the plan as a voluntary, incentive-based conservation tool. "Salmon Safe does not replace, modify or supersede any federal or state or local environmental regulations," Megie said, stressing the program's role as a third-party certification for watershed and farm stewardship.
Julia McHugh, who lives on the West Plains, urged the commission to pursue reuse of vacant office, commercial and industrial properties to reduce sprawl and to use Spokane County's Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) to encourage conservation of open lands. She also told the commission the county's aquifer susceptibility map for the West Plains is outdated and ‘‘mischaracterized," asking staff and consultants to carefully review new contamination data.
Commission and staff discussion covered several technical and policy points. Tate, who led the technical advisory committee (TAC) work on the chapter, described Cascadia and other consultants' additions and cautioned that some Cascadia policies had not yet been fully vetted by the TAC. Tate said independent certifications such as Salmon Safe and LEED are being treated as voluntary incentives that could be encouraged through fee reductions, floor-area concessions or expedited permitting.
Water and aquifer protections prompted detailed questions. Staff noted countywide reliance on groundwater, discussed voluntary stewardship and xeriscaping as conservation strategies, and flagged a state groundwater permit exemption that covers certain domestic, irrigation, industrial or stockwater uses. Commissioners and staff also discussed water metering ideas—such as rebates for meter installation and public access to consumption data—and pending state legislation that could affect metering requirements for accessory dwelling units (House Bill 1345). Staff and commissioners raised concerns about data centers' high water and energy demands and described proposals to explore reclaimed-water solutions for potential West Plains projects.
On habitat issues, commissioners and speakers said the county is updating wildlife corridor mapping and exploring corridor protection measures. Several participants noted wildlife bridge projects elsewhere as an expensive but effective mitigation in high-priority locations and suggested lower-cost opportunities (for example, adding wildlife-friendly underpass features during routine bridge repairs).
Commissioners also discussed tree canopy goals, the Spokanopy urban-forest program, and a new chapter section addressing noise and light pollution with potential mitigation measures such as decibel limits, shielding and dark-sky fixtures.
Next steps: staff will post the CAO draft when received and seek commissioner availability for an April special meeting; a working draft of plan chapters is expected this summer; and the formal adoption process is scheduled to proceed through public hearings in October/November with Board adoption targeted in December.
The workshop did not include formal policy votes; the commission did approve routine minutes later in the meeting.
