Council weighs options for two city-owned parcels as potential housing sites

City Planner Rowan Fairfield told the White Salmon City Council on Nov. 19 that the Whitson lot and the former Youth Center site on Jewett each present different opportunities and constraints for future housing development.

The Whitson lot, about three-quarters of an acre, is flat, has full street access and nearby utilities, and is zoned R2 with a Public Use Overlay. Fairfield said a prior yield study suggested the site could accommodate roughly 15–22 units depending on unit size and layout, and that partners such as Columbia Cascade Housing Corp. view it as potentially suitable for townhomes or a land-trust model despite being smaller than their typical project sites.

By contrast, Fairfield described the Jewett lot as approximately one-quarter acre with alley access, a moderate slope and several significant trees. The site is zoned commercial, which requires commercial uses on the ground floor and makes stand-alone affordable housing unlikely without rezoning or a public-use overlay. Fairfield said those regulatory changes would be “a heavy lift.”

Council members asked practical questions about next steps. Councilor Jason Hartmann asked whether the City could trade or sell parcels to acquire a larger site; Fairfield said land trades are used elsewhere and could be explored. Councilor David Lindley asked whether the school district should be included because of parking and access considerations; Fairfield agreed the district should be involved early. Councilor Patty Fink recommended that the Community Development Committee help explore childcare and housing needs and noted interest in mixed-use options on Jewett.

Fairfield outlined the required procedural steps if the City moves forward: surplus the land through a public hearing and findings, then decide whether to sell, ground-lease, or develop via partnership, followed by robust public engagement and an RFP that would specify design goals such as energy efficiency and culturally rooted elements. He also warned that affordable-housing timelines are long; if an RFP were issued in 2026, funding may not be secured until 2028.

Mayor Marla Keethler and multiple councilors emphasized separating the two-lot discussions to allow focused work: Jewett appears more amenable to near-term mixed-use consideration, while the Whitson lot involves additional dependencies including commitments to the Fire Authority and the future of a primary school site.

The Council gave staff direction to pursue more analysis and community engagement in 2026 and to return with specific recommendations on surplus processes, potential trades, and outreach plans.