Hope the morning is going well. Unfortunately given this PC meeting is taking place at 2pm during my regularly scheduled full time work, I won't be able to attend in person, so I wanted to provide my public comment below. In the future, I would strongly recommend conducting these meetings outside of standard business hours if the goal is to better engage the public. 2pm is not an ideal time for anyone with a full time job with standard hours. Find my full comment below:
To The Planning Commission and City Planning Staff:
I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Preferred Alternatives for PlanSpokane. I strongly urge the City to adopt and strengthen alternatives that prioritize permanent conservation, low-impact land use, and ecological connectivity in the Hangman Creek (Latah Creek), Thorpe, and greater Latah Valley corridor.
This landscape represents one of the more intact and connected habitat corridors remaining in the Spokane region, linking upland shrub-steppe and ponderosa pine systems to the riparian and aquatic habitats of Hangman Creek. State and regional datasets, including the Washington Habitat Connectivity Analysis Project (WAHCAP), identify this corridor as a priority landscape for maintaining regional habitat connectivity.
The importance of this area is further reinforced by demonstrated community support for conservation outcomes, particularly through public engagement around the Thorpe Road Department of Natural Resources (DNR) parcel. Community members, neighborhood councils, and conservation stakeholders have consistently expressed a clear preference for open space preservation, habitat protection, and low-impact use in this particular corridor. These public signals should be meaningfully reflected in the Preferred Alternatives and final plan policies.
In addition, the corridor overlaps with mapped Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) areas and supports habitat suitable for multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need, particularly those associated with shrub-steppe, grassland, and riparian systems. These habitat types are increasingly rare and fragmented across the Inland Northwest.
[PDF page 2 of 3 begins within the following paragraph.]
Tribal governments, including the Spokane Tribe of Indians, have identified the Hangman Creek watershed as a priority for restoration and cultural resource protection, including ongoing and planned efforts to restore watershed function and native fish populations. These efforts depend on maintaining upland habitat integrity, hydrologic function, and landscape connectivity throughout the watershed. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe, that also has ancestral claims to the Hangman Drainage, is working on Hangman Creek restoration efforts with plans to boost Salmon reintroduction efforts via hatchery enhancements. This is planned within the city limits within this Hangman corridor and thus should be rigorously accounted for by the Planning Commission and the City's Planning Department.
Furthermore, under the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.172), the City is required to include the Best Available Science in developing policies for critical areas. The science is clear:
- Habitat fragmentation is a primary driver of biodiversity loss
- Upland land use directly influences downstream water quality and aquatic habitat
- Protecting large, connected landscapes is significantly more effective than piecemeal mitigation
Given this, PlanSpokane should:
- Designate the Hangman/Thorpe/Latah corridor as a priority conservation area, with policies that limit fragmentation of intact habitat
- Avoid expansion of urban or high-density residential development into the most ecologically intact portions of this corridor
- Prioritize conservation zoning tools, including clustering and transfer of development rights (TDR), where development pressure exists
- Protect and restore habitat connectivity, consistent with WAHCAP priorities
- Align with Tribal restoration priorities by safeguarding watershed-scale ecological function
- Incorporate stronger protections for seasonal wetlands (including vernal pool features where present), shrub-steppe, and ponderosa pine systems
Equally important, PlanSpokane must ensure that community engagement and notification processes are conducted with a high degree of rigor and consistency, particularly in areas facing significant land use change. Recent concerns raised by neighborhood councils and the Community Assembly indicate that notification and engagement expectations under Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) are not always being met in a timely or transparent manner by the City's Planning Department.
To support equitable and effective planning, the City's Planning Department should:
[PDF page 3 of 3 begins within the following paragraph.]
- Ensure early, concurrent notification of Neighborhood Councils and the Community Assembly for proposals and planning actions affecting their boundaries and surrounding areas
- Align engagement practices with SMC requirements for public notice, transparency, and inclusive participation
- Treat neighborhood councils as essential partners in land use decision-making, particularly in areas with high conservation value and community interest
Improving these processes will not only strengthen public trust, but also ensure that planning outcomes better reflect both community priorities and adopted policy frameworks.
Finally, this corridor presents an opportunity to support low-impact public access and environmental education, including trails and conservation areas that connect residents to Spokane's natural landscapes while maintaining ecological integrity.
The decisions made through PlanSpokane will shape this landscape for generations. A conservation-forward approach to the Hangman/Thorpe/Latah corridor - grounded in Best Available Science, aligned with Tribal and state priorities, and responsive to clear community support - represents a responsible and forward-looking path for the City.
Thank you for your consideration.
Brian Antonio Muegge (Pronounced "MEG-e")
Gonzaga University 16' - Go Zags!
Brian Muegge
Apr 14, 2026
Local Resident
[PDF page 1 of 3]
Greetings Spokane PC and Jill:
Hope the morning is going well. Unfortunately given this PC meeting is taking place at 2pm during my regularly scheduled full time work, I won't be able to attend in person, so I wanted to provide my public comment below. In the future, I would strongly recommend conducting these meetings outside of standard business hours if the goal is to better engage the public. 2pm is not an ideal time for anyone with a full time job with standard hours. Find my full comment below:
To The Planning Commission and City Planning Staff:
I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Preferred Alternatives for PlanSpokane. I strongly urge the City to adopt and strengthen alternatives that prioritize permanent conservation, low-impact land use, and ecological connectivity in the Hangman Creek (Latah Creek), Thorpe, and greater Latah Valley corridor.
This landscape represents one of the more intact and connected habitat corridors remaining in the Spokane region, linking upland shrub-steppe and ponderosa pine systems to the riparian and aquatic habitats of Hangman Creek. State and regional datasets, including the Washington Habitat Connectivity Analysis Project (WAHCAP), identify this corridor as a priority landscape for maintaining regional habitat connectivity.
The importance of this area is further reinforced by demonstrated community support for conservation outcomes, particularly through public engagement around the Thorpe Road Department of Natural Resources (DNR) parcel. Community members, neighborhood councils, and conservation stakeholders have consistently expressed a clear preference for open space preservation, habitat protection, and low-impact use in this particular corridor. These public signals should be meaningfully reflected in the Preferred Alternatives and final plan policies.
In addition, the corridor overlaps with mapped Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) areas and supports habitat suitable for multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need, particularly those associated with shrub-steppe, grassland, and riparian systems. These habitat types are increasingly rare and fragmented across the Inland Northwest.
[PDF page 2 of 3 begins within the following paragraph.]
Tribal governments, including the Spokane Tribe of Indians, have identified the Hangman Creek watershed as a priority for restoration and cultural resource protection, including ongoing and planned efforts to restore watershed function and native fish populations. These efforts depend on maintaining upland habitat integrity, hydrologic function, and landscape connectivity throughout the watershed. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe, that also has ancestral claims to the Hangman Drainage, is working on Hangman Creek restoration efforts with plans to boost Salmon reintroduction efforts via hatchery enhancements. This is planned within the city limits within this Hangman corridor and thus should be rigorously accounted for by the Planning Commission and the City's Planning Department.
Furthermore, under the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.172), the City is required to include the Best Available Science in developing policies for critical areas. The science is clear:
- Habitat fragmentation is a primary driver of biodiversity loss
- Upland land use directly influences downstream water quality and aquatic habitat
- Protecting large, connected landscapes is significantly more effective than piecemeal mitigation
Given this, PlanSpokane should:
- Designate the Hangman/Thorpe/Latah corridor as a priority conservation area, with policies that limit fragmentation of intact habitat
- Avoid expansion of urban or high-density residential development into the most ecologically intact portions of this corridor
- Prioritize conservation zoning tools, including clustering and transfer of development rights (TDR), where development pressure exists
- Protect and restore habitat connectivity, consistent with WAHCAP priorities
- Align with Tribal restoration priorities by safeguarding watershed-scale ecological function
- Incorporate stronger protections for seasonal wetlands (including vernal pool features where present), shrub-steppe, and ponderosa pine systems
Equally important, PlanSpokane must ensure that community engagement and notification processes are conducted with a high degree of rigor and consistency, particularly in areas facing significant land use change. Recent concerns raised by neighborhood councils and the Community Assembly indicate that notification and engagement expectations under Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) are not always being met in a timely or transparent manner by the City's Planning Department.
To support equitable and effective planning, the City's Planning Department should:
[PDF page 3 of 3 begins within the following paragraph.]
- Ensure early, concurrent notification of Neighborhood Councils and the Community Assembly for proposals and planning actions affecting their boundaries and surrounding areas
- Align engagement practices with SMC requirements for public notice, transparency, and inclusive participation
- Treat neighborhood councils as essential partners in land use decision-making, particularly in areas with high conservation value and community interest
Improving these processes will not only strengthen public trust, but also ensure that planning outcomes better reflect both community priorities and adopted policy frameworks.
Finally, this corridor presents an opportunity to support low-impact public access and environmental education, including trails and conservation areas that connect residents to Spokane's natural landscapes while maintaining ecological integrity.
The decisions made through PlanSpokane will shape this landscape for generations. A conservation-forward approach to the Hangman/Thorpe/Latah corridor - grounded in Best Available Science, aligned with Tribal and state priorities, and responsive to clear community support - represents a responsible and forward-looking path for the City.
Thank you for your consideration.
Brian Antonio Muegge (Pronounced "MEG-e")
Gonzaga University 16' - Go Zags!