Hearing examiner to recommend R‑1 zoning for 6.23‑acre Big Sky annexation area; recommendation will go to Pasco City Council

The City of Pasco hearing examiner took testimony June 11 on a zoning-determination request filed as part of an annexation by Big Sky developers and said he will forward a recommendation to Pasco City Council as required by city code.

Ivan Barragan, Planner II with the City of Pasco, presented the zoning-determination application ZD2024-003 and said the area under consideration is approximately 6.23 acres located at the northwest corner of Convention Drive and Burns Road, including 6821 Burns Road (parcel 115160102) and the eastern 83 feet of 6820 Cultural Road (parcel 115160013). Barragan said the properties are currently zoned RS-40 under Franklin County jurisdiction and are designated low-density residential in the city’s comprehensive plan. Staff recommended designating the area R-1, low-density residential, to align with the comprehensive-plan designation.

Barragan reviewed the notice and annexation process requirements and said the hearing-examiner recommendation must be forwarded to City Council at or near the time the council holds a public hearing on the 60% annexation petition; following annexation, council is required to adopt a separate ordinance to establish zoning for the annexed area. He said the city determined the proposal exempt under WAC 197-11-800 (6)(c)(1-3).

Peter Harpster, agent for the applicant, said he supports staff’s recommendation and explained that the 83-foot strip of the northern parcel is included to account for future right-of-way when Convention Drive is extended north; Harpster said that extension is anticipated in early 2027. No members of the public testified. The hearing examiner admitted the planning materials into the record, closed the public portion of the hearing for this item and said he will issue his written recommendation within 10 working days.