Planner briefs commission on critical‑areas code amendments focused on wetlands, slopes and aquifer protection

City planning staff walked commissioners through the final critical-areas amendment package, the last of ten amendment packages the city undertook as part of its code-update process.

Planner Alisa said state rules require jurisdictions to identify and protect five categories of critical areas: wetlands, frequently flooded areas, fish and wildlife habitat, geologically hazardous areas and critical aquifer recharge areas. She told the commission the city will review its code to ensure conformance with the state's updated wetland guidance and will adopt standards for steeply sloping, highly erodible soils identified between Medical Lake and West Medical Lake.

Alisa noted a key challenge for the city: several municipal wellheads are located outside city limits in unincorporated Spokane County, so protection of those sources requires coordination with county authorities. "We don't know exactly where our aquifer is," Alisa said, noting that a recent PFAS study reached the edge of the city but provided no detailed within-city mapping.

Staff told commissioners they will rely on Spokane County studies and hired consultants for wetland identification and that geotechnical work will inform any geologically hazardous-area standards. Commissioners took the briefing and did not request changes at this meeting; the package will next move through the city's adoption process with additional technical review as required.