"In May, Spokane County and the city of Spokane adopted policies outlined in the Fairchild Joint Land Use Study to protect Fairchild Air Force Base from development that could threaten the base’s ability to conduct current and future missions. These policies restrict the type and density of development acceptable in the areas immediately surrounding the base. These local governments should be applauded for their efforts to champion one of the region’s most important economic engines.
What is extremely troubling is that our county commissioners have been muzzled when it comes to discussing one of the greatest threats to Fairchild’s future, namely the proposal by the Spokane Tribe to build an off-reservation casino/resort near the base. Under the terms of the study, a commercial developer wouldn’t be allowed to move forward with the plan the tribe has proposed. The tribe is not bound to honor those rules, and every indication suggests the Spokanes intend to ignore them. Why then are the commissioners’ hands tied on this very important issue?" Get the Story: