Council approves rezone from R-1 to Small Convenience Center for lots near North Fortieth Avenue

The Yakima City Council, sitting in a quasi‑judicial capacity, voted 7–0 to adopt an ordinance rezoning multiple parcels in the vicinity of 103–107 North Fortieth Avenue and 3902 Summit View Avenue from single‑family residential (R‑1) to Small Convenience Center (SCC). The planning commission had unanimously recommended approval and the council limited its review to the planning record for the non‑project rezone.

Why it matters: The rezone changes the allowable underlying zoning classification for the parcels; staff emphasized tonight that the council was only deciding whether to rezone the land — not approving any specific development. Any future development would require separate land‑use review and may trigger public notice and environmental review depending on the scope of a subsequent application.

Hearing and public comments

Senior Planner Errol presented the planning division’s record and noted that the applicant (Lincoln Legacy West LLC) submitted a non‑project rezone with a conceptual plan but no formal land‑use application. During the planning commission record, adjacent property owners raised concerns about traffic and neighborhood impacts; staff advised that those matters would be addressed in a later land‑use application if and when an applicant files.

Two speakers addressed the council during the hearing: Daniel Tilley identified himself as a proponent who has worked on the proposal for several years and described the site as commercially compatible with surrounding parcels; neighbor Sean Exner said he had lived adjacent to the site for 25 years and expressed concern about traffic impacts on neighborhood streets and safety for children.

Council action

Councilmember McLean moved to pass the ordinance rezoning the identified parcels from R‑1 to SCC; the motion was seconded by Councilmember DCO and passed by roll call vote 7–0. The ordinance text and parcel numbers were read into the record and the council adopted the Planning Commission’s recommendation to change the zoning map.

Next steps

Because the rezone is non‑project in nature, any development proposal will require a separate application, at which point public notice and environmental review rules will determine whether additional testimony or hearings are required. Staff said applicants must submit official land‑use applications for any future development proposals and that neighborhood concerns raised during this hearing will be considered in those reviews.

Ending

The ordinance to amend the zoning map was adopted at the meeting; council emphasized the limited scope of the decision to rezoning only and reminded the public that development details will be addressed through later review processes.