Cluster@%*#
The following is a message from Futurewise:
Most people in Spokane County agree that we need to direct growth to our urban centers and protect our rural areas. Yet our cities continue to be plagued by vacant lots, while 25% of our growth is occurring in our rural areas. 
Causing more and more septic systems to be dug, and the highest rate of new unregulated well drilling in the state. In Spokane County farms are being crowded out, and the wells of some longtime residents are running dry. We can do better!
Opportunity:
Spokane County is updating its Rural Cluster regulations and seeking feedback.
What you can do:
1. Attend a workshop: ask questions and give feedback.
April 9th 6pm, Green Bluff Grange, 9809 E. Green Bluff Rd.
April 16th 1pm at the Public Works Building, Commissioners Hearing Room, 1026 W Broadway
2. Take the Survey: Spokane County has created a nine question online survey to collect feedback on Rural Clusters Regulations. For specific suggestions on how to answer the survey visit www.futurewise.org/spokane/ruralclusters
3. Please spread the word, tell your friends and neighbors about this important decision!
The following changes to the rural clusters regulations are needed to preserve what makes Spokane County a great place to live:
• Prohibit clustering in the Small Tract Agricultural zone. Clustering should continue to be prohibited in the Large Tract Agricultural and Forest Lands zones. Clustering brings too many non-farm and non-forest residents to agricultural and forestry areas. These incompatible uses interfere with a farmer’s or forester’s ability to undertake operations that are sometimes necessary such as harvesting in the evening or in the early morning. Residential tenants and pets also trespass and harm crops and livestock.
• Permanently protect the open space parcel from future development within the Rural Conservation (RCV), Small Tract Agricultural (STA), Rural Traditional (RT), or Rural-5 (R-5) zones and in all zones where the open space parcel is predominately critical areas. Property owners are given density bonuses in some zones and reduced road and capital facility costs. In return, the open space tracts should be permanently protected. This will help protect rural character, wildlife habitat, and water quality.
• Limit the allowed uses within the open space parcel to small scale agriculture, forestry, habitats, and undeveloped open space. Ensure that the land remains open by prohibiting the construction of new structures, except for well houses, on the open space parcel. This will help protect rural character, and critical areas in the open space parcel, and ensure the open space parcel is used for its proper purpose.
• The number and configuration of lots along the road is a very important issue that should be addressed. A wall of houses along county roads is incompatible with the rural character of Spokane County. Option 1 that sets a road setback of 200 feet is best, but carefully designed standards for lots along the road in Option 2 could help.
• Adopt administrative design guidelines to minimize impacts to wildlife and wildlife corridors and habitats, impacts to working farms and forests, impacts to wetlands, streams, and other critical areas, impacts on adjacent landowners, and the visual impacts of the cluster from proposal from roadways. This will help to protect rural character and the environment.
