An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an informational document that provides
the City, public, Tribes, and agencies with environmental information to be considered
in the decision-making process. An EIS is required under the State Environmental
Policy Act (SEPA) for larger projects or for major plans, regulations, and programs.
An EIS describes potential environmental impacts, reasonable Alternatives, and ways
to avoid or minimize negative impacts that could result from implementation of the
Comprehensive Plan. The EIS evaluation and mitigation measures would inform the
Spokane Comprehensive Plan periodic update.
The public, Tribes, and agencies will be invited to provide comments on the Draft EIS.
The Final EIS will include all comments received on the Draft EIS and responses from the
City of Spokane. The Final EIS may include revisions to the Draft EIS based on comments
received and new information learned. The Final EIS may also evaluate a Preferred
Alternative developed in the range of the Alternatives examined in the Draft EIS.
2 What is the Spokane Comprehensive Plan?
A “comprehensive plan” is the name given to identify the community’s long-range plan
for growth and is required by the Growth Management Act (GMA). It provides guidance
for all aspects of the city’s growth and development over a long period, typically 20
years. The plan is made up of a vision, goals, policies, and implementation strategies
that state how the city should grow physically, socially, and economically.
Spokane’s Comprehensive Plan is the product of many, many people including
hundreds of community members, the city Plan Commission, City Council and Mayor.
The City’s Comprehensive Plan was originally adopted in 2001 and last updated in 2017.
1
[Page 2]
3 What is a periodic update?
Spokane is preparing a periodic update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan for a new
planning period of 2026 to 2046, called PlanSpokane 2046. A “periodic update” is the
state’s term for a full review of a Comprehensive Plan to make sure it is in conformance
with any legislative changes to state law. Each chapter of the plan will be updated
to address new growth targets for population and jobs, and to meet changes to the
Growth Management Act (GMA) since 2017, including considerations around Climate
Planning and Planning for Housing at all income levels.
The Land Use Plan Map may be amended to create more housing and job opportunities
and respond to growth targets, community needs, transportation investments, and
environmental conditions. Zoning and other development regulations may also be
amended to implement the Land Use Plan Map. Critical area regulations would be
evaluated and recent state planning rules would be addressed.
4 What topics will be evaluated in the EIS?
Natural and built environment topics proposed for study in the Comprehensive Plan
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) include those listed below. Each Alternative would
be evaluated with these topics.
• Earth and water quality
• Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions
• Plants and animals
• Land use patterns and urban form
• Relationship to plans and policies
• Population, employment, and housing
• Transportation
• Public services: police, fire and emergency medical services, parks, schools, and libraries
• Utilities: power, water, wastewater, and stormwater
2
[Page 3]
5 What Alternatives will be studied in the EIS?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required to identify and analyze Alternative
approaches to meeting the goals of a proposal. In the case of Comprehensive Plans,
these “EIS Alternatives” represent different growth strategies. Alternatives should
represent a diverse range of options that can highlight the impacts of different potential
choices. The Alternatives should be broad enough that the final Preferred Alternative,
which is included in the final plan, will fall within the range of the Alternatives studied.
The City anticipates studying three Alternatives in the Draft EIS described below.
• No Action Alternative: This State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) required
Alternative is the continuation of the current Comprehensive Plan and associated
zoning and regulations. Growth would continue as planned under current rules.
Under this Alternative, the Plan would not be updated.
• Action Alternatives: Two Action Alternatives will be evaluated in the Draft EIS.
The Alternatives are under development and will explore different ways the City
can both meet Growth Management Act (GMA) requirements and accomplish
PlanSpokane 2046 themes to create a resilient, connected, and livable city. Public,
Tribal, and agency input during the scoping process will help Spokane form the
Alternatives for study in the EIS. Alternative features are anticipated to include:
• Meet Spokane’s population and housing growth targets for the period
2026-2046.
• Consider new or expanded locations for neighborhood commercial
services.
• Explore employment opportunities in existing or expanded centers.
• Consider changes to land uses where there are new investments in
transportation.
A Final EIS would study a Preferred Alternative in the range of the studied Alternatives,
potentially including components of all of the different Alternatives.
6 What is the schedule?
The City will match Growth Management Act (GMA) requirements for the periodic
update schedule. Currently the City is planning to issue the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) in fall 2025 and the Final EIS in spring 2026. The City intends to integrate
the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and GMA process by issuing the Draft Plan
and Draft EIS concurrently.
3
[Page 4]
EIS Schedule – Tentative
7 When can I provide comments on the EIS?
The City is providing a 60-day comment window during the scoping period in the first
quarter of 2025. See the Determination of Significance and Scoping Notice for
how to provide your comments in writing or attend several workshop opportunities. The
notice is available at: https://my.spokanecity.org/planspokane/about/.
The City will provide an additional comment period following release of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Additional information on dates and how to
provide comment will be provided in the Draft EIS. Comments are accepted throughout
the Periodic Update process – please see below on how to participate.
8 How can I participate in PlanSpokane?
The City of Spokane invites your participation.
• Visit the project website to learn about the PlanSpokane 2046 planning process,
• Subscribe to the PlanSpokane newsletter on the project website
(https://my.spokanecity.org/planspokane/about/),
• Attend workshops, meetings, and hearings hosted by the City,
• Respond to surveys,
• Provide written comments, and
• Contact the Planning team at PlanSpokane@spokanecity.org or (509) 625-6500.
For more information, please see the project website:
https://my.spokanecity.org/planspokane/about/.
EIS Fact Sheet
City of Spokane
PlanSpokane 2046
[Page 1]
EIS Scoping Fact Sheet
Date: February 5, 2025
1 What is an EIS?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an informational document that provides
the City, public, Tribes, and agencies with environmental information to be considered
in the decision-making process. An EIS is required under the State Environmental
Policy Act (SEPA) for larger projects or for major plans, regulations, and programs.
An EIS describes potential environmental impacts, reasonable Alternatives, and ways
to avoid or minimize negative impacts that could result from implementation of the
Comprehensive Plan. The EIS evaluation and mitigation measures would inform the
Spokane Comprehensive Plan periodic update.
The public, Tribes, and agencies will be invited to provide comments on the Draft EIS.
The Final EIS will include all comments received on the Draft EIS and responses from the
City of Spokane. The Final EIS may include revisions to the Draft EIS based on comments
received and new information learned. The Final EIS may also evaluate a Preferred
Alternative developed in the range of the Alternatives examined in the Draft EIS.
2 What is the Spokane Comprehensive Plan?
A “comprehensive plan” is the name given to identify the community’s long-range plan
for growth and is required by the Growth Management Act (GMA). It provides guidance
for all aspects of the city’s growth and development over a long period, typically 20
years. The plan is made up of a vision, goals, policies, and implementation strategies
that state how the city should grow physically, socially, and economically.
Spokane’s Comprehensive Plan is the product of many, many people including
hundreds of community members, the city Plan Commission, City Council and Mayor.
The City’s Comprehensive Plan was originally adopted in 2001 and last updated in 2017.
1
[Page 2]
3 What is a periodic update?
Spokane is preparing a periodic update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan for a new
planning period of 2026 to 2046, called PlanSpokane 2046. A “periodic update” is the
state’s term for a full review of a Comprehensive Plan to make sure it is in conformance
with any legislative changes to state law. Each chapter of the plan will be updated
to address new growth targets for population and jobs, and to meet changes to the
Growth Management Act (GMA) since 2017, including considerations around Climate
Planning and Planning for Housing at all income levels.
The Land Use Plan Map may be amended to create more housing and job opportunities
and respond to growth targets, community needs, transportation investments, and
environmental conditions. Zoning and other development regulations may also be
amended to implement the Land Use Plan Map. Critical area regulations would be
evaluated and recent state planning rules would be addressed.
4 What topics will be evaluated in the EIS?
Natural and built environment topics proposed for study in the Comprehensive Plan
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) include those listed below. Each Alternative would
be evaluated with these topics.
• Earth and water quality
• Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions
• Plants and animals
• Land use patterns and urban form
• Relationship to plans and policies
• Population, employment, and housing
• Transportation
• Public services: police, fire and emergency medical services, parks, schools, and libraries
• Utilities: power, water, wastewater, and stormwater
2
[Page 3]
5 What Alternatives will be studied in the EIS?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required to identify and analyze Alternative
approaches to meeting the goals of a proposal. In the case of Comprehensive Plans,
these “EIS Alternatives” represent different growth strategies. Alternatives should
represent a diverse range of options that can highlight the impacts of different potential
choices. The Alternatives should be broad enough that the final Preferred Alternative,
which is included in the final plan, will fall within the range of the Alternatives studied.
The City anticipates studying three Alternatives in the Draft EIS described below.
• No Action Alternative: This State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) required
Alternative is the continuation of the current Comprehensive Plan and associated
zoning and regulations. Growth would continue as planned under current rules.
Under this Alternative, the Plan would not be updated.
• Action Alternatives: Two Action Alternatives will be evaluated in the Draft EIS.
The Alternatives are under development and will explore different ways the City
can both meet Growth Management Act (GMA) requirements and accomplish
PlanSpokane 2046 themes to create a resilient, connected, and livable city. Public,
Tribal, and agency input during the scoping process will help Spokane form the
Alternatives for study in the EIS. Alternative features are anticipated to include:
• Meet Spokane’s population and housing growth targets for the period
2026-2046.
• Consider new or expanded locations for neighborhood commercial
services.
• Explore employment opportunities in existing or expanded centers.
• Consider changes to land uses where there are new investments in
transportation.
A Final EIS would study a Preferred Alternative in the range of the studied Alternatives,
potentially including components of all of the different Alternatives.
6 What is the schedule?
The City will match Growth Management Act (GMA) requirements for the periodic
update schedule. Currently the City is planning to issue the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) in fall 2025 and the Final EIS in spring 2026. The City intends to integrate
the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and GMA process by issuing the Draft Plan
and Draft EIS concurrently.
3
[Page 4]
EIS Schedule – Tentative
7 When can I provide comments on the EIS?
The City is providing a 60-day comment window during the scoping period in the first
quarter of 2025. See the Determination of Significance and Scoping Notice for
how to provide your comments in writing or attend several workshop opportunities. The
notice is available at: https://my.spokanecity.org/planspokane/about/.
The City will provide an additional comment period following release of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Additional information on dates and how to
provide comment will be provided in the Draft EIS. Comments are accepted throughout
the Periodic Update process – please see below on how to participate.
8 How can I participate in PlanSpokane?
The City of Spokane invites your participation.
• Visit the project website to learn about the PlanSpokane 2046 planning process,
• Subscribe to the PlanSpokane newsletter on the project website
(https://my.spokanecity.org/planspokane/about/),
• Attend workshops, meetings, and hearings hosted by the City,
• Respond to surveys,
• Provide written comments, and
• Contact the Planning team at PlanSpokane@spokanecity.org or (509) 625-6500.
For more information, please see the project website:
https://my.spokanecity.org/planspokane/about/.
4