Council approves rezoning for 31‑lot 'French Meadows' subdivision after closed‑record review
March 17, 2026 | Richland , Benton County, Washington
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After a closed‑record review, the Richland City Council voted to approve Ordinance 2026‑05 to rezone approximately 10.3 acres (Parcel 1‑2098‑101‑2790‑001) from suburban agriculture to R1‑10 single‑family residential to allow the French Meadows preliminary plat.
The council conducted the review on the record compiled by the hearing examiner; the city attorney reminded the council that the proceeding was quasi‑judicial and asked members to disclose any conflicts or ex parte contacts. The City Clerk read the procedural limits: no new evidence is allowed and only persons who participated in the hearing‑examiner proceeding could make summary arguments to the council.
Planning Manager Mike Stevens summarized the request on behalf of applicant RPS Planning and property owner Robin French, noting the parcel's location near the French Orchard, the proposal for a 31‑lot residential subdivision, and that the comp plan designates the area for low‑density residential. "The request is to rezone one parcel approximately 10.3 acres in size from suburban agriculture to single family residential R1‑10," Stevens said.
Council member Meyer moved to approve the ordinance; the motion was seconded and the roll‑call vote recorded ayes from Mayor Teresa Richardson, Mayor Pro Tem Van Dyke, Council members Holton, Jones, Meyer, Samuel and Witten. The clerk announced the ordinance passed unanimously.
Per the closed‑record process, the rezone decision will be forwarded to the hearing examiner, who will complete the subdivision (preliminary plat) review and issue a formal decision on the proposed 31‑lot French Meadows project. The city attorney and planning manager emphasized that council's role was to review the hearing‑examiner record and apply the city's ordinances and comprehensive plan to that record; the council made no findings of new fact during the meeting.
No public testimony introducing new evidence was heard at the council meeting; the council closed the hearing and proceeded to deliberation and vote during the same session.
The council conducted the review on the record compiled by the hearing examiner; the city attorney reminded the council that the proceeding was quasi‑judicial and asked members to disclose any conflicts or ex parte contacts. The City Clerk read the procedural limits: no new evidence is allowed and only persons who participated in the hearing‑examiner proceeding could make summary arguments to the council.
Planning Manager Mike Stevens summarized the request on behalf of applicant RPS Planning and property owner Robin French, noting the parcel's location near the French Orchard, the proposal for a 31‑lot residential subdivision, and that the comp plan designates the area for low‑density residential. "The request is to rezone one parcel approximately 10.3 acres in size from suburban agriculture to single family residential R1‑10," Stevens said.
Council member Meyer moved to approve the ordinance; the motion was seconded and the roll‑call vote recorded ayes from Mayor Teresa Richardson, Mayor Pro Tem Van Dyke, Council members Holton, Jones, Meyer, Samuel and Witten. The clerk announced the ordinance passed unanimously.
Per the closed‑record process, the rezone decision will be forwarded to the hearing examiner, who will complete the subdivision (preliminary plat) review and issue a formal decision on the proposed 31‑lot French Meadows project. The city attorney and planning manager emphasized that council's role was to review the hearing‑examiner record and apply the city's ordinances and comprehensive plan to that record; the council made no findings of new fact during the meeting.
No public testimony introducing new evidence was heard at the council meeting; the council closed the hearing and proceeded to deliberation and vote during the same session.
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