Planning commission opens public hearing on 2025–2029 Tri-Cities fair housing assessment; commissioners offer detailed recommendations

The Pasco Planning Commission opened a public hearing on the Tri Cities 2025–2029 Assessment of Fair Housing, heard a staff presentation on identified barriers and proposed actions, and received detailed commissioner feedback before unanimously closing the hearing.

“By identifying these disproportionate obstacles, the consortium can develop more targeted and effective policies to promote inclusive, equitable housing opportunity throughout the Tri Cities,” Sharon, city staff presenting the assessment, told the commission. The Tri Cities Home Consortium includes the cities of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland and coordinates a five-year fair-housing assessment that informs the consolidated plan and community-development priorities.

Sharon summarized key barriers in the report: limited supply of affordable housing, shortages of accessible units for seniors and people with disabilities, limited awareness of fair-housing rights, language access gaps and transportation barriers that impede access to jobs and services. Proposed actions for 2025–2029 include increasing affordable-housing partnerships (for example with local housing authorities and Habitat for Humanity), expanding owner-occupied rehabilitation for accessibility, promoting accessible design standards, supporting accessory dwelling units and strengthening outreach and translation services.

Commissioners offered substantive feedback. Commissioner Pat Jones called the assessment “honest and open” and urged additional emphasis on substance-use disorder and long-term supports for homeless or high-need populations: “Sobriety is a key factor that’s holding back many homeless people from improving their situation,” Jones said, and suggested exploring options that reduce the requirement for private investors to make a profit when providing deeply affordable or specialized care facilities.

Jones also urged the consortium to expand adult English-language instruction and to consider creative housing types, including small homes and converted or operated facilities (for example publicly run or nonprofit-operated motels or dorm-type housing) to address affordability and service needs. He asked for stronger, coordinated funding partnerships to support transit because multiple agencies and school districts benefit from public transportation.

Commissioner Hatfield, who cited decades of experience in the medical community, underscored gaps in long-term care and treatment capacity and said some solutions are controlled at the state level; Hatfield also noted a recent state law limiting residential rent increases may affect affordability locally.

Commissioner Rachel Teal, who identified herself as a Pasco School District teacher, praised the assessment for listing languages beyond Spanish — including Burmese and Ukrainian — and urged stronger city–school district partnerships for adult English instruction and outreach. Teal asked whether Pasco’s implementation of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations includes public blueprints or streamlined permitting; staff said they would look into current resources and report back.

The commission moved to close the public hearing; the motion was made by Commissioner Pat Jones, seconded by Commissioner Hatfield, and passed unanimously. Sharon told the commission the next steps are a city-council workshop on May 27 and a formal adoption scheduled for June 2, after which the consortium plans to submit the assessment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) alongside the consolidated plan.

No formal adoption or binding action by the planning commission occurred at the hearing; commissioners’ remarks were recorded for inclusion in the final plan and staff confirmed all comments would be incorporated into the record.