[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6524378,"mediaKeyId","3869000-53542ba21b206e8bda9d719af607fe91","parentId",3869000,"title","Kennewick council vacates irrigation easements at 5651 to support a new housing development","audioSeconds",252,"startMs",2359000,"endMs",2611000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3869000-53542ba21b206e8bda9d719af607fe91&start=2359&end=2611","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3869000-53542ba21b206e8bda9d719af607fe91/thumbnail_2359000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6524378/Kennewick-City/Benton-County/Washington/Kennewick-council-vacates-irrigation-easements-at-5651-to-support-a-new-housing-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6524378-5e001c6c435d07b14004f29827cff4aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1776190200&Signature=FN~40tWMW-yj578PtzwPJTulyuXTDYlCgV~gHdtUm-472NXuwJIlW0LEetTyTwn~xIqp55YDinYlDQUlkvt~RIYuFNlOF0F2zUWLQbjugpTphE~NznDLH9tbYhrvIHigf~LfBslIcZ5aNx-EIBqWOmSixRYBAYiftO0K58UxfdgjygnWpPoF02nADiK0KAjiR8NaDc3Z56m0z-kY9GZEmWXfjh7su~so9fxDMRbE1aFb0dsQgSGEl4PzCzGDOFsLg3IejqNhNY6RvtmyVb0X5P9OjvlEzenGXuo3himnRKzfYF9JMT6IXKduDZtJd4om4qJngCjWEkdR5V1Hq1KzFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kennewick","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Kennewick City Council on June 17 adopted a resolution approving the vacation of portions of a 15‑foot and a 10‑foot irrigation easement at 5651 West 30th Place (a triangular area just south of the Southridge High School parking lot) to allow a private development to proceed.

City staff described the request as part of working with a developer on wall locations and establishing new easements for utilities. Staff said the city has adequate right‑of‑way for sidewalks and that utilities did not object to the vacation; staff recommended approval. The developer's representative, Greg Elmore of Bend, Oregon, thanked city staff and described Kennewick as \"easily top 5 jurisdictions to work with\" because staff were \"proactive\" and \"tough but fair.\"

The council adopted the resolution and authorized the mayor to execute necessary documents. The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous, 6–0.

Why it matters: Vacating portions of the irrigation easements removes an obstacle to the developer's site plan and is intended to allow the project to proceed with properly located walls and newly recorded utility easements.

Clarifying details from staff and the hearing: the easements proposed for vacation were 15 feet and 10 feet wide; the location cited was adjacent to Southridge High School's parking lot. Staff said new easements for utilities would be established as needed and that utilities had no objections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kennewick - City Council - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Kennewick City Council unanimously approved a resolution to vacate portions of two irrigation easements at 5651 West 30th Place to accommodate a private development; staff said utilities raised no objection and the applicant thanked staff for a proactive process.","taxTitle","Kennewick City, Benton County, Washington","taxId",5807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6524381,"Kennewick council approves zone change on South Union Street to allow broader commercial uses",536,1781000,2317000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3869000-53542ba21b206e8bda9d719af607fe91&start=1781&end=2317","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3869000-53542ba21b206e8bda9d719af607fe91/thumbnail_1781000.jpg","/articles/6524381/Kennewick-City/Benton-County/Washington/Kennewick-council-approves-zone-change-on-South-Union-Street-to-allow-broader-commercial-uses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6524381-fdda38f56fab32c0713bdef3048c8605/orig.mp4?Expires=1776190200&Signature=YsyThzBLsIaaekXsWplZs6t9RAKk42Hgt1B5bdLyrJglRb3Kw64CZ7BnrmEvwi6nxE2dTV9Zh7XSMH9hcMwZ7I73bo~KQzejdmLHIHRPY4mRWc8nPU1iLGJ0o9wHB1dkB6q5leJl2FcpqTV7ILSgeJO~HrqV7sxJ6seKbpkISVqEz41dQ49hul-j6oi8QvGfEm~W7I6tjCL1qfKqgpL~UCC-a3qpd0PWhEAENh4WaEo5EQRlLtDzpYr1bjMREMNRZNI5stLxyCaU~lI33xnGu16M3YLA-xkBhND9mihp5qSaOEdb4PbFYMG2DzZnsRJpS~XNaxSaBBbQmpG-t7pFFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kennewick City Council on June 17 voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance COZ2025-03, changing zoning for property on South Union Street from Commercial Neighborhood (CN) to Commercial Community (CC).

The application, submitted by Paul Knutson of Knutson Engineering on behalf of the Ford Group, covers roughly 3.81 acres and includes three separate lots illustrated in staff materials. Staff and the planning commission concluded the application met the findings required for a change of zone; the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.

City staff explained the distinction between CN and CC zoning: CN typically supports smaller, service‑oriented uses for surrounding neighborhoods (for example laundromats or small retail), while CC allows more intense, larger‑scale commercial and retail uses. The applicant indicated preliminary plans that could include indoor RV storage behind the frontage and a small strip‑mall style retail area facing Union Street; no detailed site plan had been submitted to the council for final development approval.

Council members asked about traffic and access near the library crossing on Union Street; staff said specific traffic and access controls would be evaluated when a development application is submitted, including access control and potential right‑in/right‑out measures.

The council adopted the ordinance by motion. The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous, 6–0.

Why it matters: Rezoning will make the subject property a permitted conforming commercial use under the CC designation; the applicants said the change would bring a previously nonconforming use into compliance and allow potential development consistent with the city's review processes.

Key participants and roles at the hearing included the applicant (Paul Knutson of Knutson Engineering), staff (Mr. Donovan presented the staff report), the Ford Group (owner), and the planning commission, which had recommended approval.","The Kennewick City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance COZ2025-03 on June 17, rezoning three lots on South Union Street from Commercial Neighborhood (CN) to Commercial Community (CC) to permit uses including indoor RV storage and potential small retail, per the applicant's preliminary plans.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6524383,"Kennewick residents press city for action over alleged auto‑repair operation on West Fourth Avenue",2474,742000,3216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3869000-53542ba21b206e8bda9d719af607fe91&start=742&end=3216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3869000-53542ba21b206e8bda9d719af607fe91/thumbnail_742000.jpg","/articles/6524383/Kennewick-City/Benton-County/Washington/Kennewick-residents-press-city-for-action-over-alleged-autorepair-operation-on-West-Fourth-Avenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6524383-5c7675dd70e5578cb648f9aa8952903b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776190200&Signature=Wlt3EWGqG4gMnJ32ewWNJFyRQwvhVQ-X1NVQMR1AIj7d4YpJdZX-Ecf32X9FavF~Sl~SCc6l-IZ5YsHiu25XV9NaNQnsOqLp7BqXCv~jaQ~r-d2J3-q0xmGd505H7-xmhHKHq3oLrOuGTQyPaotvH0bC7saXVGq7qepUpdJmRnEf11diaQZbWrjQEMBQ1hMzISBEsm6fzmIe5b46cbwg75bXTikLUK9p~d9BXxw2gmpXq9tquj8I3ffp4zv0ICLV6bZv-piS84Zy~CS4E1zXDRO0ldvVAXWruHRZaOllo37Jp2tCy-HesfgAOPlpdFVd-MVjw2VOXKlvFL3Q0mb-rQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Kennewick residents used the city council public‑comment period on June 17 to urge the council and city staff to take action against a property they say operates as an informal auto‑repair business at 3408 West Fourth Ave.

\"My neighbor and I are frustrated with what we see as a lack of action with city agencies,\" resident Kai Carpenter told the council, listing complaints that include loud late‑night engine revving, welding and fighting, vehicles parked in the street blocking access, and possible improper disposal of automotive fluids. \"I have contacted the police department, code enforcement, fire marshal, and my city councilman. We feel we have taken the appropriate steps up the chain to get some resolution for our neighborhood.\"

Another neighbor, Nancy Lenhart, said she has lived in her home for 39 years and described the property as having \"a river of nothing but oil, antifreeze\" that she can smell when collecting the mail. Lenhart said she has been woken at 2–4 a.m. by noise from the site and that a trailer was once left in the middle of the road without lights.

A third resident described repeated late‑night activity and said the property appears to be running a business from a residential lot.

Residents said they have filed records requests and were told by at least one person that \"they're building a case,\" but that little visible enforcement had followed. Carpenter and others said the police had been called to the address \"over 100\" times.

City Manager Ehrman responded near the meeting's end, acknowledging staff have been working on the issue and saying city staff will continue to pursue remedies: \"Your comments have not gone on deaf ears ... I know they've been working on it already behind the scenes.\" Ehrman did not announce a specific enforcement action at the meeting.

Why it matters: Residents said the property poses potential public‑safety and environmental risks (flammable fluids, runoff into unpaved areas), blocks pedestrian/vehicle access where sidewalks are missing, and reduces neighbors' ability to use their homes without disturbance. They told the council the situation has caused stress and expense for home security measures.

What happened next: Council did not take an immediate enforcement vote during the public‑comment period. Multiple residents said they had already contacted KPD, code enforcement and the fire marshal; the city manager indicated staff are continuing to address the complaints.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the address cited was 3408 West Fourth Ave; residents reported frequent late‑night activity, noise that can continue into the early morning hours, vehicles without plates, and alleged improper disposal of vehicle fluids. Residents said they had made FOIA/record requests to KPD, KFD and code enforcement and had collected what they described as documentation of repeated calls and incidents.

Community relevance: The complainants identified immediate neighborhood impacts (blocked streets, noise), potential environmental impacts from automotive fluids, and possible public‑safety risks from blocked roadways and late‑night activity. The city manager said staff are engaged but no new enforcement outcome was announced at the meeting.

Votes at the meeting related to administrative business (not specific to the complaint) included unanimous council approval of the agenda and consent agenda earlier in the meeting.","At the June 17 Kennewick City Council meeting, several residents urged city action over a property at 3408 West Fourth Ave they say is operating as an informal auto‑repair business, creating noise, street obstructions and possible environmental hazards. City staff said they are working on the matter.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kennewick council vacates irrigation easements at 5651 to support a new housing development

Kennewick council approves zone change on South Union Street to allow broader commercial uses

Kennewick residents press city for action over alleged auto‑repair operation on West Fourth Avenue