Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI) praised the Spokane County Commissioners for their decision to adopt the Fairchild Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) ordinance yesterday afternoon to protect Fairchild Air Force Base from sensitive developments that could encroach upon the base.

"The County Commissioners took a much needed step in protecting the base," said Rich Hadley, President and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated. "Adopting the JLUS shows the County is committed to the base now and into the future."

GSI and Forward Fairchild, a committee of GSI, meet with top officials at the Air Force each year to advocate for military construction funding and new missions. We are always told to protect the base from encroachment to preserve its mission. After the last Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, the Air Force advised our community to develop land-use regulations.

The City of Spokane will consider the Fairchild JLUS on April 30. The cities of Airway Heights and Medical Lake will also consider the study at another date.

GSI will lead a delegation next week to Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Forward Fairchild members will meet with the Air Force to discuss the base and its future.