The Hermiston City Council voted 5–2 on Aug. 11 to adopt Ordinance 23‑76 annexing roughly 3.7 acres at 2455 NE Seventh Street and designating the parcel R‑3 (medium‑high density residential). The ordinance will take effect 30 days after adoption.

The annexation brings a tax lot owned by Jabber Investment LLC into the city limits and withdraws the listed real property from certain special districts, city staff said. Planning Director Clint Spencer said the city based its decision on the criteria in Chapter 15005 of the Hermiston Code of Ordinances and on the city’s comprehensive plan and transportation system plan.

The annexation matters because the R‑3 zoning allows multifamily development that neighbors say could change traffic patterns and the character of nearby single‑family neighborhoods. “We have the same development rights as everyone else,” Planning Director Clint Spencer told the council when describing the planning commission’s findings and recommendation. The planning commission held a hearing in July and recommended approval.

Supporters included Christie Batiola of Harms Engineering, who represented the applicant and said the staff report’s facts were correct and that the applicant requested approval. Several written letters and in‑person comments opposed annexation; neighbors raised concerns about driveway placement, headlights, traffic generation and three‑story buildings.

Council deliberations repeatedly returned to traffic and speed on nearby Pumpkin Center Road. Council members noted Pumpkin Center is a county road and that the county controls speed limits; Councilor Brown asked that the city send a letter to the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners requesting a speed study and consideration of lower limits in residential stretches. City Manager Smith said staff would send a request.

The council first approved the staff’s findings of fact unanimously, 7–0. The council then voted to impose conditions of approval; that motion passed 6–1 with Councilor Litton recorded in dissent. On the final adoption of Ordinance 23‑76 the council approved the ordinance 5–2; Councilors Litton and Kelso voted against final adoption.

City staff clarified a few technical items during the meeting: the staff report described the annexed acreage as 3.69 acres, while the legal description in the ordinance includes an additional 33 feet of Pumpkin Center Road and lists 3.78 acres; staff said the difference stems from inclusion of the right‑of‑way strip in the deed description. Council members also noted a typographical error in the draft ordinance title that referenced East Theater Lane; staff amended the title to East Pumpkin Center Road before adoption.

Any future development on the parcel was not before the council at the annexation hearing. City staff and the council reminded residents that site design, landscape screening and parking lot screening would be considered under subsequent development review and that site obscuring fencing is required where parking abuts residential lots. Spencer and other staff said applicants and future developers must meet the city’s site and parking standards as part of later reviews.

Public comment at the hearing focused on neighbors’ concerns about privacy, noise, traffic and driveway alignment. A number of residents and written letters opposing annexation were entered in the record. The council and staff encouraged neighbors to raise concerns again during any future site‑plan or subdivision reviews.