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The Draft Environmental Impact Statement, a technical document that compares and contrasts the different potential futures for the City of Spokane, is now open for public comment. To help community members in understanding the document and how best to provide feedback, City Planners will be out in the community to discuss and answer questions about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. These listening hours are drop-in with no formal presentations. More details can be found at the PlanSpokane webpage.
Not able to attend one of the listening hours? A recording of the January 13 PlanSpokane 2046 Lunch and Learn is now available.
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Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board Votes on Climate Package February 12
The City of Spokane Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board (CRSB) is scheduled to hold a hearing on the proposed climate policy package as part of the PlanSpokane 2046 Climate Planning effort on Thursday, February 12, during its regularly scheduled meeting time. The CRSB will make a recommendation on policies to be considered by the Spokane Plan Commission to update the Comprehensive Plan and meet the requirements of recent state legislation. An agenda, including directions on how to provide public testimony, will be available on the CRSB webpage under the Agendas dropdown prior to the scheduled hearing.
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City of Spokane Environmental Justice Workshop
Join us to learn more and share your perspective on how the City of Spokane can plan our neighborhoods and build transportation to better support environmental justice.
This virtual workshop invites community members to share priorities, concerns, and ideas for equitable land use and transportation policy. Spokane community members who are interested in environmental justice and proposed land use and transportation policies are encouraged to attend. We especially encourage participation from residents of vulnerable and overburdened communities, including renters, manufactured housing residents, transit-dependent community members, and those connected to community-based or environmental justice organizations.
Registration is required and will be capped at 60 participants. Register for the virtual Environmental Justice Workshop with at the Zoom meeting registration page. At registration, you may request interpretation for the workshop in Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese, or Marshallese.
| | Phase 2 Focus Groups Summary Now Available | | |
To build upon prior community engagement, the City of Spokane conducted a second round of focus groups to support the development of climate and resiliency policies, addressing common themes heard during the PlanSpokane Climate Planning Effort.
Participants had in-depth conversations focused on the themes of Youth, Climate Justice, Food Security, and Barriers to Access, providing insightful feedback based on lived experiences and community involvement.
Read the Phase 2 Focus Groups Engagement Summary
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement Open for Public Comment
A public comment period is now open for the PlanSpokane 2046 Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement, often referred to as an EIS, identifies and analyzes a range of alternatives that describe different ways the City could grow and develop, known as growth alternatives. This technical document provides analysis on potential impacts of the growth alternatives and allows the community to compare and contrast the different potential futures for the City of Spokane.
Comments on the Draft EIS are due by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18. You can find the Draft EIS and ways to submit comments at PlanSpokane.org.
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Explore the Interactive StoryMap
The public is encouraged to review the PlanSpokane 2046 Draft EIS StoryMap to learn more about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and compare the potential growth alternatives for the City of Spokane’s next 20 years.
The PlanSpokane Draft EIS StoryMap breaks down the technical Draft EIS into what the proposals could actually mean for the City of Spokane’s future. Learn more about the Draft EIS, the different growth alternatives, and compare the maps of potential future growth. Explore the PlanSpokane StoryMap.
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BUILDSpokane Development Code Modernization
The City of Spokane is moving forward with its Development Code Modernization effort, a multi-year initiative focused on improving clarity, consistency, and usability of the City’s development regulations.
Our consultant, Clarion Associates, is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the existing development code, including permitting and review processes, zoning districts, and development standards. This work examines how the code functions today and where improvements may be needed to better align with state law, community priorities, and best practices.
The next major project milestone is completion of the Code Assessment, which will identify challenges, barriers, inconsistencies, and gaps within the current regulations, as well as opportunities for improvement. The assessment will provide a clear blueprint and path forward for the modernization phase of the project.
This work is informed by technical analysis and stakeholder interviews conducted in early December with development professionals, housing advocates, and City staff. As the project advances, additional opportunities for engagement and review will be shared with the community.
Visit the Development Code Modernization Engage Spokane project page at engage.spokane.gov/build-spokane for updates, resources, and future engagement opportunities.
| | Ordinance on Co-Living and SROs Expands Housing Options Citywide | | |
Last December, the City of Spokane City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance C36810, expanding allowances for co-living and single room occupancy throughout the city. Co-living and single room occupancy were both historically common housing choices in Spokane that offered flexibility and affordability. Instead of a traditional dwelling unit that requires sleeping space along with a kitchen and bathroom, these housing types have individual sleeping spaces but allow for shared cooking and bathroom facilities. This type of construction is much cheaper to build per unit and could provide the lower-priced market rate units the City can benefit from to meet the diverse needs of Spokane’s residents over the next 20 years.
These updates were intended to implement the requirements of ESHB 1998:Co-living Housing, adopted by the state legislature in 2024. Changes to city regulations include allowing co-living and single room occupancy in most zones, ensuring development regulations are not stricter for these developments than other multi-unit development, and removing additional barriers to development. For more information, visit the co-living webpage.
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Parking 2 People Expansion Moves to Senate Ways & Means Committee
In 2022, the Washington Legislature passed a sales and use tax defferal program to assist property owners in redeveloping public parking and support workforce housing. This program was dubbed Parking 2 People by the City of Spokane.
Being the first city in Washington to adopt code enabling the use of the program, City staff and area developers have been able to help identify improvements, working closely with Senator Riccelli on a proposed bill to amend the program.
On January 14th, Council Member Kitty Klitzke testified at the Senate Committee on Housing in support of SB 5884, Senator Riccelli’s update and expansion of the sales and use tax deferral incentive. Making adjustments following public testimony, the Senate Committee on Housing took executive action on the bill and recommended it to the Ways and Means Committee. City staff will continue to support the bill as it hopefully moves on to the House for approval.
Learn more about the City of Spokane’s Parking 2 People Program
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What Happened?
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December 10 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission heard presentations on a variety of PlanSpokane 2046 topics, including an introduction to the Development Code Modernization Project, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, public engagement report, and review of the draft Transportation Chapter. [watch 12.10.25 recording]
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December 24 Workshop: The December 24 Spokane Plan Commission workshop was cancelled for holiday observance.
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January 14 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission heard presentations on off-premises sign regulations and a review of the Attorney General memo on avoiding unconstitutional takings, before discussing the PlanSpokane 2056 Preferred Alternative selection and Transportation Chapter. [watch 1.14.26 recording]
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January 28 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission held a joint meeting with the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board to discuss policy recommendations as part of the PlanSpokane 2046 Climate Planning effort. [watch 1.28.26 recording]
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What's Next?
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Wednesday, Feb. 11 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission is tentatively scheduled to hear a presentation on and discuss the proposed land use strategy for the PlanSpokane 2046 periodic update.
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Wednesday, Feb. 25 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission is tentatively scheduled to discuss and workshop the PlanSpokane 2046 Preferred Alternative, following the public comment period, which ends February 18.
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Development Services Center is Open to Serve You!
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday | 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- In person - 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd - 3rd Floor of City Hall (Office is closed Wednesday mornings from 8-11 a.m. through the near future to allow staff to focus on permit load and reduce wait times. Calls will be forwarded to voicemail during this time.)
- Online - Skip a trip to City Hall with online permitting, an email to permitteam@spokanecity.org or Electronic Document Review
- Phone - A representative can assist you at 509.625.6300
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Provide written comment in email to PlanSpokane@spokanecity.org
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Interested in requesting an outreach event? Email us!
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