Spokane Residents Raise Concerns Over 20-Year Growth Plan

Environmental groups worry plan could weaken protections for natural areas, wildlife, and tree canopy

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Spokane's comprehensive growth plan, PlanSpokane 2046, has drawn concerns from environmental groups who say the plan could weaken protections for natural areas, wildlife, and the city's tree canopy in favor of expediting development. The public comment period on the plan's Environmental Impact Statement closed on Wednesday, with groups like Spokane Urban Nature (SUN) arguing the city's push to develop could remove the need for environmental reviews.

Why it matters

Spokane is projected to see significant population growth over the next 20 years, with over 23,000 new residents expected to move to the city. This growth will drive the need for more than 22,000 additional housing units. Environmental groups are concerned that the city's efforts to streamline development could come at the cost of protections for Spokane's natural assets, which provide important ecological benefits.

The details

SUN says the city's draft plan could waive environmental review to speed up infill development, which the group fears could lead to "clear cuts and diluting of properties before anyone gets a chance to intervene." SUN has outlined several key concerns, including the need for a comprehensive inventory of Spokane's trees and natural lands, the requirement for an enforceable critical areas ordinance, and opposition to a blanket environmental review exemption for all neighborhoods.

  • Public comment on the PlanSpokane 2046 Environmental Impact Statement closed on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Spokane Urban Nature (SUN)

An environmental group that has raised concerns about the potential impacts of Spokane's comprehensive growth plan on the city's natural areas, wildlife, and tree canopy.

Jeff Lambert

A founder of Spokane Urban Nature who supports high-density housing but wants to ensure adequate protections are in place.

City of Spokane

The local government responsible for developing the PlanSpokane 2046 comprehensive growth plan, which has drawn criticism from environmental groups.

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What’s next

The city has stated that it is still in the public feedback phase of the comprehensive plan update and that addressing climate and environmental priorities is a central focus of the overall effort.

The takeaway

Spokane's rapid growth over the next 20 years has raised concerns among environmental groups that the city's efforts to streamline development could come at the cost of protections for the city's natural assets, which provide important ecological benefits. The debate over the comprehensive plan highlights the ongoing tension between development and environmental preservation in fast-growing cities.