Dear Plan Commission, Please accept these comments to the Plan Spokane. The Plan Commission will make a recommendation to City Council on the areas of growth prioritization for the next 20 years. As the population increases in Spokane it becomes more critical to protect and expand the natural areas that provide habitat for wildlife, provide cooling and noise reduction for residents, and help protect water resources.
The preferred alternative doesn’t protect the dwindling natural areas as higher density development is encouraged even in critical natural places. The focus groups and public comments show Spokane wants to preserve, restore, and expand nature for wildlife habitat, mental health, nature education and recreation.
There should be a full environmental review of any projects that are in or adjacent to natural areas. One example is the Thorpe property that is currently owned by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, which was nearly sold to a private developer with little oversight. Other examples on the west and north sides of Spokane show development that is impacting forested lands. Increased use of the Transfer of Development Rights should also be considered as a tool to protect natural areas.
The priority for additional houses, apartments and other development should be properties that already have paved or impervious surfaces. A regular survey of downtown, Division St, and Sprague Ave. sites should be made and incentivized for development. As another example, there are dozens of empty houses and buildings in West Central that could house hundreds of people if they were improved or rebuilt into multistory apartments.
Tree canopy is a critical issue as our climate warms. Planting trees in swales would cool streets, reduce the need for watering and mowing. To see an example that works, look at the Ponderosa pine in Playfair Business Park. This will also help with stormwater management, as will protection of natural areas. The Plan Spokane should be more specific about how the goals of increasing tree canopy to 30 and eventually 40 percent will proceed.
Finally, protecting small natural areas, expanding wildlife corridors and helping reduce water usage by having more natural yards and native plants should be expanded. Working beyond what state and federal agencies do to protect Critical Areas is also something that the Plan Spokane could address.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Mike Petersen
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[Personal contact details omitted from the reading text.]
Mike Petersen
Apr 14, 2026
Local Resident
[PDF page 1 of 2]
Dear Plan Commission, Please accept these comments to the Plan Spokane. The Plan Commission will make a recommendation to City Council on the areas of growth prioritization for the next 20 years. As the population increases in Spokane it becomes more critical to protect and expand the natural areas that provide habitat for wildlife, provide cooling and noise reduction for residents, and help protect water resources.
The preferred alternative doesn’t protect the dwindling natural areas as higher density development is encouraged even in critical natural places. The focus groups and public comments show Spokane wants to preserve, restore, and expand nature for wildlife habitat, mental health, nature education and recreation.
There should be a full environmental review of any projects that are in or adjacent to natural areas. One example is the Thorpe property that is currently owned by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, which was nearly sold to a private developer with little oversight. Other examples on the west and north sides of Spokane show development that is impacting forested lands. Increased use of the Transfer of Development Rights should also be considered as a tool to protect natural areas.
The priority for additional houses, apartments and other development should be properties that already have paved or impervious surfaces. A regular survey of downtown, Division St, and Sprague Ave. sites should be made and incentivized for development. As another example, there are dozens of empty houses and buildings in West Central that could house hundreds of people if they were improved or rebuilt into multistory apartments.
Tree canopy is a critical issue as our climate warms. Planting trees in swales would cool streets, reduce the need for watering and mowing. To see an example that works, look at the Ponderosa pine in Playfair Business Park. This will also help with stormwater management, as will protection of natural areas. The Plan Spokane should be more specific about how the goals of increasing tree canopy to 30 and eventually 40 percent will proceed.
Finally, protecting small natural areas, expanding wildlife corridors and helping reduce water usage by having more natural yards and native plants should be expanded. Working beyond what state and federal agencies do to protect Critical Areas is also something that the Plan Spokane could address.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Mike Petersen
[PDF page 2 of 2 contains only contact or email-footer information, omitted from the reading text.]
[Personal contact details omitted from the reading text.]