Spokane city officials are discussing more ways to work wildfire preparedness into the city's draft Comprehensive Plan. The plan, known as Plan Spokane 2046, outlines Spokane’s 20-year strategy for land use and development.
Some preparedness language made it into the draft before the Spokane Complex wildfires broke out. But last week, the city’s planning commission indicated they will be continuing the discussion.
Spokane city council member Kitty Klitzke is the liaison to the plan commission. After wildfire evacuations in the Indian Trails neighborhood resulted in gridlock, she said some of her constituents are calling for a temporary ban on new development.
"I think some folks would like to see a moratorium until there's at least a solid evacuation plan and some commitment to building more routes, at least for evacuation, if not to create some connectivity up there," she said. "We don't have a great grid system up there, so that's what people are reacting to."
Public comment on the draft comprehensive plan will close Oct. 2. The plan commission’s hearing on the full Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for Nov. 2.
City planning director Spencer Gardner said that hearing could be moved if more discussion is needed.
"If there needs to be continued discussion about some of the topics that came up today related to wildfire preparedness and things like that, absolutely," Gardner said. "Our intent is not to move this forward until the bodies that are responsible to review and provide recommendations...are ready to do so."
