Council sets Sept. 23 hearing for Blue Mountain/Walla Walla Land Trust de‑annexation of farm land

The City Council set a Sept. 23 public hearing to consider a request by Blue Mountain Resource LLC (doing business as the Walla Walla Land Trust) to de‑annex roughly 11.5 acres on Southwest 12th Street.

Community Development staff described the property as farmland currently leased to Hay Shaker Farms, an organic operation that uses draft horses. The new owner (Blue Mountain Resource LLC) purchased the land to preserve it for agricultural use; staff said a long-term lease with the farm will remain in place. Staff said the proposed de‑annexation would remove the parcel from city limits while keeping it in the county and that it “checks the box” under RCW 35A.140 for exclusion of agricultural land from city limits.

Planner Michael Merritt said the request is intended to take development pressure off the parcel and allow the city to reallocate scarce urban growth area (UGA) acreage to other parts of College Place that have higher development potential. He noted the county makes final determinations on UGA reallocations and that the city will request reallocation to shift UGA from this parcel to other sites with better development potential. Council members praised the preservation effort and supported proceeding to a hearing; no council member opposed setting the hearing.

Council moved and seconded a motion to set the Sept. 23 hearing for the de‑annexation of 328 SW 12th Street; the motion passed unanimously. Staff will prepare required notices and materials for the hearing and will coordinate with county officials regarding UGA reallocation steps.