Plan commission hears competing public views on CAO, DEIS; staff favors hybrid of infill and limited expansion

Spokane County planning staff on July 16 told the Plan Commission that the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and proposed Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) updates will inform a preferred growth alternative that combines infill development with targeted urban growth-area (UGA) expansions to meet a 20‑year housing allocation.

Scott Chesney, the county planner presenting the DEIS, said the study looked at three bookend options: a no‑action scenario, Alternative 1 (infill within existing UGAs) and Alternative 2 (expansion under current development rules). Chesney said the county likely lacks capacity under an infill‑only approach to meet allocations for low‑income bands, and that a hybrid approach would “allow some amount of infill development that fits those criteria and some parcels in Alternative 2 because we don't have enough capacity in Alternative 1.”

Why it matters: The DEIS maps new critical‑area features, including West Plains aquifer recharge zones and paleo channels that can rapidly transmit contamination, and allocates housing by income bands—requirements that shape where the county can expand and what kinds of housing must be feasible in any preferred alternative.

Public commenters offered starkly different readings of the tradeoffs. Daniel Leroy of Habitat for Humanity Spokane submitted a coalition letter asking the commission to align the county’s NR1 zoning with state middle‑housing standards and to preserve flexibility for affordable infill projects. "We are an affordable, homeownership developer," Leroy said, urging rules that permit smaller lots or different site‑planning tools to lower costs.

By contrast, several landowners and developers argued for targeted UGA additions. Sean Olsen and property owners near 5 Mile and Glen Rose described parcels they said meet county criteria and would provide connectivity and road access for hundreds of lots if included in a UGA swap or expansion.

Environmental and public‑interest groups pushed the commission toward Alternative 1 or a hybrid that protects sensitive waterways. Amanda Parrish, executive director of The Lands Council, pointed to DEIS figures showing proposed expansion parcels next to the Little Spokane River and Dedmon Creek and urged rejection of any expansion into channel migration zones and high‑quality stream reaches. "Alternative 1 consistently results in fewer environmental impacts while accommodating projected population growth through more efficient land use," she said.

On water and contamination risks, Julia McHugh and other residents raised gaps they see in the record—PFAS findings near Fairchild Air Force Base, wastewater discharges on the West Plains, and outdated mapping for West Plains aquifer recharge. Chesney acknowledged those mapping gaps and said follow‑up geotechnical work and mapping will be needed beyond the current amendment and could lead to additional CAO amendments in 2027 or later.

A student commenter also raised concerns about large data centers that some residents fear would consume large amounts of water and electricity and create little long‑term local employment; Chesney responded that "there are no formal applications" for data‑center permits in Spokane County at this time.

Transportation and infrastructure agencies flagged constraints for expansion areas adjacent to state highways and interchange nodes. Greg Fig of the Washington State Department of Transportation said his agency had submitted comments raising concerns about the ability of state highways to serve certain candidate expansion parcels.

Next steps and record keeping: Chesney told the commission staff will continue to accept comments, incorporate the DEIS findings into the comprehensive‑plan package and recommended keeping the public hearing record open to allow staff and consultants to address the known policy gaps. Commissioners approved the minutes of June 25, 2026 by voice vote and later moved to adjourn; commissioners agreed to keep the hearing record open while follow‑up work continues.

What comes next: Staff intends to analyze comments and refine a preferred alternative—likely a hybrid of infill plus selected UGA changes—and bring a recommendation toward a Board of County Commissioners package later in the year as part of the comprehensive plan update. The county aims to meet the statutory comprehensive plan deadline of December 2026, though staff said the CAO itself carries no separate statutory deadline.