I am writing to submit comments on the Plan Spokane 2046 Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
I live and work in Spokane and have seen the deterioration of the Ponderosa pines within and outside the city limits that we once were known for and collectively loved. I have seen the ambivalent destruction of valuable forested land in favor of suburbia, with not a single replacement pine planted. This needs to stop.
I support completing a comprehensive inventory of trees, natural lands, wildlife habitat, and other critical areas. Spokane has a tree canopy goal of 30 percent and strong public support for protecting natural lands. An accurate inventory is necessary to inform and strengthen the critical areas code. The Growth Management Act requires protection of critical areas, forests, habitat, and natural lands.
I support adoption of a strong and enforceable critical areas ordinance to protect wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat, water quality, and other essential resources. As shown in Exhibit 3.3- 3, there are natural lands throughout the City that currently lack adequate protection and are in imminent danger.
I oppose the proposed blanket exemption from environmental review. Exhibit 7 shows that all neighborhoods would be exempted in two phases. Environmental review remains an important safeguard for wetlands, forests, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat within neighborhoods.
I support limiting any environmental review exemption only to sites that are 100 percent disturbed and impervious, as identified in Exhibit 3.1-3 of the Draft EIS. Development on already hardened surfaces should be distinguished from development on remaining natural lands. I also support the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board’s recommended Policy Land Use and Zoning 2-4, which calls for protecting, restoring, acquiring, and maintaining urban agricultural lands, urban forests, critical areas, shorelines, habitats, and open spaces as interconnected natural systems that provide flood protection, heat reduction, and carbon sequestration benefits through codes, capital investments, and regional partnerships.
Thank you for considering these comments.
Sincerely,
Nathan Marcusen
Nathan Marcusen | Landscape Designer
[PDF page 2 of 2 contains only contact or email-footer information, omitted from the reading text.]
Nathan Marcusen
Feb 18, 2026
Local Resident
[PDF page 1 of 2]
Dear Plan Spokane Team,
I am writing to submit comments on the Plan Spokane 2046 Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
I live and work in Spokane and have seen the deterioration of the Ponderosa pines within and outside the city limits that we once were known for and collectively loved. I have seen the ambivalent destruction of valuable forested land in favor of suburbia, with not a single replacement pine planted. This needs to stop.
I support completing a comprehensive inventory of trees, natural lands, wildlife habitat, and other critical areas. Spokane has a tree canopy goal of 30 percent and strong public support for protecting natural lands. An accurate inventory is necessary to inform and strengthen the critical areas code. The Growth Management Act requires protection of critical areas, forests, habitat, and natural lands.
I support adoption of a strong and enforceable critical areas ordinance to protect wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat, water quality, and other essential resources. As shown in Exhibit 3.3- 3, there are natural lands throughout the City that currently lack adequate protection and are in imminent danger.
I oppose the proposed blanket exemption from environmental review. Exhibit 7 shows that all neighborhoods would be exempted in two phases. Environmental review remains an important safeguard for wetlands, forests, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat within neighborhoods.
I support limiting any environmental review exemption only to sites that are 100 percent disturbed and impervious, as identified in Exhibit 3.1-3 of the Draft EIS. Development on already hardened surfaces should be distinguished from development on remaining natural lands. I also support the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board’s recommended Policy Land Use and Zoning 2-4, which calls for protecting, restoring, acquiring, and maintaining urban agricultural lands, urban forests, critical areas, shorelines, habitats, and open spaces as interconnected natural systems that provide flood protection, heat reduction, and carbon sequestration benefits through codes, capital investments, and regional partnerships.
Thank you for considering these comments.
Sincerely,
Nathan Marcusen
Nathan Marcusen | Landscape Designer
[PDF page 2 of 2 contains only contact or email-footer information, omitted from the reading text.]