City Council Approves Map For Growth Study

Tue., July 27, 1999

By Kathy Mulady kathymu@spokesman.com

Spokane City Council members pushed the long-delayed comprehensive plan a small step closer to completion Monday.

The council approved a map showing study areas for growth using “current patterns.”

It’s not a final boundary, it’s not even the proposed final boundary, but it gives planners an area to begin calculating the fiscal and environmental impacts of growth.

The map is the first of three alternatives the city is studying.

The map shown to the council Monday represents the lowest density alternative.

Two more maps will be presented to the council, both showing “focused growth” scenarios that plan for growth at higher densities and require less land.

The city is required by the state Growth Management Act to plan for the arrival of almost 70,000 more people over the next 20 years and designate areas for future growth.

The current map shows the city growing primarily to the north, up toward Gleneden, and to the southwest, as well as to the Moran-Glenrose area and to Yardley on the east.

Bernard Daines, the founder and former owner of Packet Engines, which makes high-speed computer networking equipment, has filed lawsuits against the city and county. The suits, in part, accuse the city of illegally using the state’s Growth Management Act to expand the city’s boundaries, and its tax base.

His attorney, Cary Driskell, said the city’s future growth should be constrained within the existing city limits.

“We think that’s the only area they can plan for,” said Driskell.

Councilman Rob Higgins noted that the city’s boundaries haven’t grown significantly since 1907.

After a series of public hearings, the council is expected to choose one of the alternatives early next year as a basis for the comprehensive plan.

The comprehensive plan, a collection of maps, plans and documents detailing how and where the city will develop, is expected to be finished by April.

The final boundary will be sent to county commissioners for approval after the city adopts its comprehensive plan.

What’s next Alternatives Two more maps will be presented to the council in the future, both showing “focused growth” scenarios that plan for growth at higher densities and require less land. After a series of public hearings, the council is expected to choose one of the alternatives early next year as a basis for the comprehensive plan.

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