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West Richland approves zoning change to allow power generation facilities in select industrial and transition zones
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 15-25 to create a separate definition for power generation facilities and permit them conditionally in urban transition and light industrial districts; staff said no specific project has been submitted yet.
West Richland — The City Council on June 17 adopted Ordinance 15-25 to create a separate land‑use definition for “power generation facility” and allow such facilities as a conditionally permitted use in urban transition and light industrial zoning districts.
The amendment removes power generation facilities from the existing “major utility facility” definition in the West Richland Municipal Code and establishes a standalone definition and permitting pathway, Community Development Director Eric Mendenhall told the council. “We thought we at least provide an opportunity for that to happen within the urban transition… and then also in the light industrial,” Mendenhall said, noting staff have not yet received a project application.
Why it matters: The change is intended to clarify zoning code language and allow conditional review of power generation projects where the city believes such development could be appropriate. The city’s CD subcommittee and the planning commission recommended approval.
Public process and council action
Mendenhall said staff and the CD subcommittee reviewed the text amendment and that the planning commission recommended the ordinance. The council opened and closed a public hearing with no comments and then moved to adopt Ordinance 15-25; the motion passed unanimously.
Council comments and follow‑ups
Council member Richard Bloom asked about remaining code conflicts; Mendenhall said additional code cleanup items will return to council for consideration but are not part of the current ordinance. The council did not receive any public testimony during the hearing.
Attribution and limits
This article reports the council’s vote and summarizes staff remarks and council questions from the June 17 meeting. It does not describe any specific project because none was submitted to the city at the time of the meeting.
