Hello, My name is Jordan Soderquist, a born and raised Spokanite, who returned to our beautiful city and purchased a home in the Audubon/Downriver neighborhood after moving away for 11 years. One of the biggest reasons Spokane is such a desirable place to live is our abundant access to the outdoors. It is critically important that all future city planning protects this access and considers the environmental impacts of all city development. In a time of accelerating climate change, I am deeply concerned with the dismissal of this climate consideration. Please see my comments and demands below:
1. SUPPORT TREE AND NATURAL LAND INVENTORY
Spokane has a tree canopy goal of 30% and strong support for natural land protection without adequate codes. An inventory of trees, natural areas, and wildlife habitat is necessary to inform the critical areas code. The Growth Management Act requires protection of critical areas, forests, habitat and natural lands.
2. Support for an enforceable critical areas ordinance is required to protect critical areas, trees, habitat, water quality, etc. There are unprotected natural lands throughout the City.
3. Oppose the blanket Environmental Review exemption in order to protect critical areas such as wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat and riparian areas in neighborhoods.
4. Support environmental review exemption only if 100% disturbed and impervious as identified in the Draft EIS Exhibit 3.1-3.
5. Support the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board’s recommended Policy Land Use & Zoning 2-4 [“Protect, restore, acquire, and maintain 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, including through codes, capital investments, and regional partnerships.”]
Jordan Soderquist
Feb 18, 2026
Local Resident
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Hello, My name is Jordan Soderquist, a born and raised Spokanite, who returned to our beautiful city and purchased a home in the Audubon/Downriver neighborhood after moving away for 11 years. One of the biggest reasons Spokane is such a desirable place to live is our abundant access to the outdoors. It is critically important that all future city planning protects this access and considers the environmental impacts of all city development. In a time of accelerating climate change, I am deeply concerned with the dismissal of this climate consideration. Please see my comments and demands below:
1. SUPPORT TREE AND NATURAL LAND INVENTORY
Spokane has a tree canopy goal of 30% and strong support for natural land protection without adequate codes. An inventory of trees, natural areas, and wildlife habitat is necessary to inform the critical areas code. The Growth Management Act requires protection of critical areas, forests, habitat and natural lands.
2. Support for an enforceable critical areas ordinance is required to protect critical areas, trees, habitat, water quality, etc. There are unprotected natural lands throughout the City.
3. Oppose the blanket Environmental Review exemption in order to protect critical areas such as wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat and riparian areas in neighborhoods.
4. Support environmental review exemption only if 100% disturbed and impervious as identified in the Draft EIS Exhibit 3.1-3.
5. Support the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board’s recommended Policy Land Use & Zoning 2-4 [“Protect, restore, acquire, and maintain 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, including through codes, capital investments, and regional partnerships.”]
Thank you, Jordan