Council adopts text changes to Yakima zoning code to clarify land-use review, downtown standards and tenant-change rules

The Yakima City Council on May 6 adopted two ordinances amending the Yakima Municipal Code Title 15, following recommendations from the city Planning Commission and staff.

Trevor Martin, planning manager, told the council the amendments refine the definitions and the table of permitted land uses and clarify application and site-plan requirements. "That 1, 2, or 3 talks about the level of land use criteria that's supposed to take place," Martin said, describing the city’s three-tier review system: Type 1 administrative review, Type 2 administrative review with a 14-day notice period, and Type 3 conditional-use-style review that requires public notice and a hearing.

The package before council included changes the Planning Commission reviewed over multiple meetings, plus a staff recommendation to consider a separate revision to the short-subdivision (Title 14) public-notice process at a later date. Martin said the changes seek to streamline administrative requirements, remove redundant application items and move some site-plan detail to administrative policy so the public has a clearer, single checklist.

The second ordinance addressed downtown design standards, parking clarity for the downtown business district, and a "Type 1 business review exemption" intended to speed tenant-change approvals in commercial spaces that are already built out. Under that exemption, tenant improvements for a new commercial occupant in an existing building would generally not trigger a new land-use review when no exterior or land-use-related change occurs.

Council members supported the edits as clarifications to streamline permitting. Councilwoman Decio moved to adopt the planning commission recommendation for the first ordinance and Deputy Mayor Brown seconded; the council voted 7–0 to pass it. A second ordinance containing downtown and mixed-use clarifications — including a newly added section 15.09.0.026 — was likewise moved and seconded and passed 7–0.

Martin said the planning department will return with any related Title 14 proposal for council consideration and a public hearing once staff and the commission finalize timing. The council set future notice and hearing steps as needed on the follow-up items.

Ending: The unanimous votes mean the code edits take effect according to normal ordinance timelines; staff said they will circulate updated code language and administrative site-plan checklists to applicants once the ordinances are codified.