Planning staff outlines updates to Spokane County comprehensive plan; data-center code gap noted

Scott Chesley, the county planning director, told the commission that the draft comprehensive plan integrates new chapters on climate resilience, rural lands, housing and transportation and reiterated the staff's public-participation program. He said the department is working on development-code language to address gaps, including definitions and zoning for large data centers.

"The current Spokane County code is what we call silent on data centers," Chesley said, explaining there is no explicit permitting path for the unique use described by several commenters. He said if an application arrives staff will evaluate whether it fits an existing zoning use and that longer-term planning work will propose a specific approach and recommended code language by the end of the year.

Chesley outlined the plan schedule and said formal public hearings on the full comprehensive plan are scheduled for late October and the second Thursday in November, with the county's development-code amendments to follow. He encouraged residents to review the draft plan materials posted on the county web site and noted staff will coordinate workshops, including a planned data-center workshop that commissioners requested.