Population growth vote delayed

Spokane County commissioners delayed a decision on future population growth Tuesday after neighborhood activists said that the commission appeared headed toward creating sprawl.

The commission is in the midst of updating its 20-year growth plan and must pick among three state population forecasts to use for updating infrastructure and other county needs.

The population figures are a key component in determining how far to extend urban growth boundaries, which outline where development can occur. The higher the county estimates, the more property that could be declared available to new construction.

After hearing from five people who favored using the state’s medium population forecast, the board voted unanimously to delay a decision on the growth figures until May 23. Commissioners had hinted that they favored the higher state estimate.

Those who spoke at Tuesday’s hearing cited separate studies completed by the Spokane Regional Transportation Council and Avista that show population increasing closer to the medium forecast.

“I’m mystified why you’re bypassing all this advice,” said county resident Julia McHugh, who grilled the commissioners with questions on the figures for several minutes.

The state’s high population estimate for Spokane County in 2025 is almost 658,000. Spokane and Spokane Valley leaders have lobbied the county to pick the state’s medium forecast, which would put the county at 562,000.

About 442,000 live in the county now.

Commissioner Mark Richard said using the higher number could increase the supply of land and help create a variety of affordable housing options.

“Are we going to take away these choices? Not under my watch,” Richard said.