The City of Pasco hearing examiner closed the public record June 11 on a special-permit application to expand an existing church building at 3211 West Burnett Road and said a written decision will be issued within 10 working days.

Staff recommended approval with conditions for the proposal, which would add a 4,800-square-foot (60-by-80-foot) addition to the existing church, increase on-site parking and serve as an expanded place of worship for the congregation.

Ivan Barragan, Planner II for the City of Pasco, told the hearing examiner the property is 1.45 acres and is zoned R-1, low-density residential. Barragan said portions of the packet referenced a 16-foot wall height but that the structure’s peak height is 24 feet. He said the applicant reported a maximum seating capacity of 332 and that the expansion triggers a requirement for an additional 40 parking spaces for a total of 83 spaces in accordance with Pasco Municipal Code parking standards. Barragan also said the city issued a mitigated determination of nonsignificance under the State Environmental Policy Act on May 19, 2025.

The applicant’s agent and pastor, Joab Romero, testified he represents the church applicant (recorded in the file as submitted by “I A F C J”), and said the church has outgrown its current space. Romero said the existing building has capacity for about 84 people; the congregation has held two worship services each Sunday since 2020 and now has the financial means to expand. Romero said the congregation is “mostly the Hispanic community,” that services are in Spanish with English translation and that, once expanded, the church hopes to make meeting space available to the broader community.

No members of the public testified on the permit at the hearing. The hearing examiner admitted the planning staff file, project materials and noticing documents into the record and closed the public portion of the hearing for this item. The examiner reminded listeners that, except as provided by the Pasco Municipal Code, decisions on special permits are final unless appealed to Franklin County Superior Court within 21 days of the decision date.

If approved, staff recommended that the conditions listed in the June 11 staff report be incorporated into the decision. The hearing examiner said he will issue his written decision within 10 working days following the close of the record.