Spokane County staff unveil draft EIS and proposed "neighborhood" zoning to guide growth

Spokane County agency staff on Thursday laid out a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) framework and a package of proposed zoning changes designed to steer where and how the county accommodates projected population growth.

An agency official said the draft EIS would be published on Friday and open for a 30-day public comment period, with results to be discussed by the Board of County Commissioners on July 6. The official described three alternatives the EIS will analyze: a no-action alternative, an alternative that relies on increased density within existing urban growth areas (UGAs), and a hybrid scenario combining infill and limited expansion.

Why it matters: County staff said the region may face roughly 104,000 new residents over 20 years and that decisions about where to allow new urban growth will affect transportation needs, sewer and water infrastructure, and neighborhood character. Staff told attendees the combined UG study areas include about 3,000 acres—"far more than we need by our growth projections"—but that without policy changes the county might require another roughly 12,000–13,000 acres; with targeted infill and density increases staff estimated only about 20 parcels (approximately 600 acres) could be needed to accommodate growth.

What staff showed: Using the county's metro-core study-area map, presenters singled out high-priority areas (for example, Airway Heights and Five Mile Prairie), medium- and low-priority UGAs (including parts of the Alcott UGA and Deer Park), and several areas where recent retail and residential change has increased development pressure (North Metro near Division Street and the West Plains). The presentation also referenced a proposed project near Hatch Road in the Alcott/Moran Prairie area as an example of how parcels score differently in the study.

Zoning changes proposed: Staff outlined a "neighborhood zoning" approach with three categories: NR1 (a transition zone intended to protect existing neighborhood investment while allowing modest density), NR2 (a master-planned approach with greater flexibility and potentially no minimum lot sizes to encourage affordable housing), and a "neighborhood business" category that would allow higher-density residential uses in traditionally commercial corridors (near universities or shopping centers). Staff said these zones would permit a broader mix of housing—townhouses, stacked flats and limited multifamily—under a single zone to reduce the need for multiple plan amendments.

Infrastructure and trade-offs: The presentation emphasized that transportation improvements and utility extensions are expensive and often determine whether a potential UGA expansion ranks highly. Staff noted that in some northern/southern splits of UGAs sewer service currently falls under city systems in part of an area and county systems in others, which affects feasibility. Presenters also acknowledged local property-owner preferences to preserve large-lot rural living in some areas.

Public engagement and next steps: Staff encouraged written comments via the Spokane County comprehensive plan webpage during the 30-day comment period and offered to provide more detail offline for concerned neighborhoods. There were no votes or formal actions recorded at the meeting; staff said the BOCC would be briefed on July 6 and further public hearings and draft-plan discussions will follow.

Direct quotes from the presentation included: "This draft EIS will be published on Friday," and "how does it handle 104,000 new residents in 20 years?" The meeting closed after a brief Q&A with attendees about specific map graphics and next steps for outreach.