Project Description

The EIS will assess the environmental consequences of U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approval of a proposed master plan for the development of a mixed-use development which may include a casino resort and hotel, commercial retail uses, offices, medical facilities, recreational, cultural, and entertainment facilities, and related parking upon an approximate 145-acre parcel of trust land adjacent to the western city limits of Airway Heights, Spokane County, Washington. The project site is near the northwest corner of U.S. Highway 2 (US-2) and Craig Road, and approximately 10 miles west of Spokane. It is located in the southwest quarter of 22-25-41, excluding US-2, and the north half of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, excluding the east 830 feet of the south 491.5 feet of 22-25-41, excluding roads.

The project site would also include internal access roads, parking areas, and associated landscaping. Conceptual traffic analyses suggest possible roadway and/or intersection improvements along Craig Road and US-2 adjacent to the proposed project site.

Currently, the master planning team is evaluating three proposed project alternatives, which are preliminary and subject to change, and that will be evaluated in the EIS. These three alternatives include Alternative 1 – Smaller Casino with Surrounding Mixed-Use Development; Alternative 2 – Larger Casino with Surrounding Mixed-Use Development; and Alternative 3 – Non-Gaming Mixed-Use Development.

Click on the following links to view the three alternative site plan maps: Alternative 1 – Site Plan; Alternative 2 – Site Plan; and Alternative 3 – Site Plan. The building program for each alternative is summarized in Table 1 (below):



TABLE 1 – Proposed Project – Building Program Summary for Each Proposed Alternative
Alternative 1 – Smaller Casino with Surrounding Mixed-Use DevelopmentCasino: 1,500 slot machine casino with 47 table games
Hotel: 300 hotel rooms within one hotel tower (max. height = 160 feet).
Restaurants and bars: 57,800 square feet
Meeting Rooms: 35,800 square feet
Retail: 716,220 square feet
Parking: 6,900 spaces total

  • Structured – 2,160 spaces
  • Surface – 4,740 spaces

Tribal Cultural Center: 10,930 square feet
Vernal Pool/Wetland Area – Protected Open Space: Approximately 10 acres
Spoko Fuel Gas Station & Convenience Store (existing): 6,600 square feet
Total Enclosed Building Area: 1,526,270 square feet
Construction: First phase of development tentatively proposed to begin in the 4th quarter of 2010. Development proposed to reach full build-out in 2013.

Alternative 2 – Larger Casino with Surrounding Mixed-Use DevelopmentCasino: 3,000 slot machine casino with 75 table games
Hotel: 900 hotel rooms within one horseshoe-shaped hotel tower (max. height = 160 feet).
Entertainment: 78,000 square feet
Restaurants and bars: 73,800 square feet
Meeting Rooms: 35,000 square feet
Retail: 826,820 square feet
Parking: 9,420 spaces total

  • Structured – 4,460 spaces
  • Surface – 4,960 spaces

Tribal Cultural Center: 10,930 square feet
Vernal Pool/Wetland Area – Protected Open Space: Approximately 10 acres
Spoko Fuel Gas Station & Convenience Store (existing): 6,600 square feet
Total Enclosed Building Area: 2,234,000 square feet
Construction: First phase of development tentatively proposed to begin in the 4th quarter of 2010. Development proposed to reach full build-out by end of 2016.

Alternative 3 – Non-Gaming Mixed-Use DevelopmentHotel: 700 hotel rooms within one horseshoe-shaped hotel tower (max. height = 160 feet).
Restaurants and bars: 69,000 square feet
Entertainment: 130,000 square feet
Meeting Rooms: 73,000 square feet
Retail: 569,900 square feet
Parking: 6,760 spaces total

  • Structured – 2,200 spaces
  • Surface – 4,560 spaces

Tribal Cultural Center: 10,900 square feet
Vernal Pool/Wetland Area – Protected Open Space: Approximately 10 acres
Tribal Enterprise Offices: 120,000 square feet
Spoko Fuel Gas Station & Convenience Store (existing): 6,600 square feet
Total Enclosed Building Area: 1,680,000 square feet
Construction: First phase of development tentatively proposed to begin in the 4th quarter of 2010. Development proposed to reach full build-out in 2013.