To the City of Spokane, Environmental review of all developments is essential to maintaining a vibrant city... where people want to live, so businesses want to locate. Spokane's tree canopy is a key component of what people find attractive here. It is important to all kinds of wildlife. And it supports cooler urban temperatures and incredibly accessible healthy outdoor activities that promote community health and decrease carbon emissions. The following points need to be included in the PlanSpokane 2026 vision. Developers are not the only constituency.
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, 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 an enforceable critical areas ordinance is required to protect critical areas,
trees, habitat, water quality, etc. There are unprotected natural lands throughout the
City as shown in Exhibit 3.3-3 (See photo).
3. Oppose the blanket Environmental Review exemption in order to protect critical
areas such as wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat and riparian areas in neighborhoods.
Exhibit 7 (See photo) shows all neighborhoods will be exempted from environmental
review in two phases.
4. Support environmental review exemption only if 100% disturbed and impervious as
identified in the Draft EIS Exhibit 3.1-3 (See photo). Existing Hard (Impervious)
Surfaces included below.
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
Jennifer Hall
Feb 18, 2026
Local Resident
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To the City of Spokane, Environmental review of all developments is essential to maintaining a vibrant city... where people want to live, so businesses want to locate. Spokane's tree canopy is a key component of what people find attractive here. It is important to all kinds of wildlife. And it supports cooler urban temperatures and incredibly accessible healthy outdoor activities that promote community health and decrease carbon emissions. The following points need to be included in the PlanSpokane 2026 vision. Developers are not the only constituency.
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, 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 an enforceable critical areas ordinance is required to protect critical areas,
trees, habitat, water quality, etc. There are unprotected natural lands throughout the
City as shown in Exhibit 3.3-3 (See photo).
3. Oppose the blanket Environmental Review exemption in order to protect critical
areas such as wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat and riparian areas in neighborhoods.
Exhibit 7 (See photo) shows all neighborhoods will be exempted from environmental
review in two phases.
4. Support environmental review exemption only if 100% disturbed and impervious as
identified in the Draft EIS Exhibit 3.1-3 (See photo). Existing Hard (Impervious)
Surfaces included below.
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,
Jennifer Hall
Spokane, WA