Pasco staff says city is short about 4,000 affordable/multifamily units; offers four options for rezoning

City planning staff told the council that new state population and housing targets require adjustments to Pasco's zoning to accommodate projected growth.

Miss Matson presented the land capacity analysis (LCA) required for the comprehensive-plan periodic update and said the city must plan for about 18,831 housing units in the next 20 years across the city and urban growth area. The modeling indicates Pasco has a relative surplus of single-family capacity but a shortfall of approximately 4,000 units in the 0'to'80% area median income (AMI) band, the range typically served by multifamily housing.

Staff outlined four primary options for council consideration: (1) increase density where multifamily is already allowed (targeting mixed-use and R-4 zones), which modeling suggests would add ~970 units; (2) allow more "missing middle" housing citywide (duplexes, triplexes, small flats) while carefully targeting areas such as Riverview; (3) increase allowable heights in commercial/mixed-use areas (a paperwork-efficient option but with limited near-term market interest); and (4) expand mixed-use zoning in targeted corridors. Matson cautioned that no single option will close the entire deficit on its own and staff expects to combine strategies.

Councilmembers and the planning commission signaled support for targeted increases (option 1 and cautious use of option 3) rather than broad citywide rezoning. Public commenters emphasized transportation and existing traffic bottlenecks in areas where density could increase. Staff will refine options with consultants and return with policy language for future hearings.