Moses Lake council approves annexation designation while airport commission raises overlay safety concerns

The Moses Lake City Council on Thursday approved a revision to an AMJ LLC annexation application that designates the southern 59 acres of the parcel as R‑1 (low‑density residential) and the northern 19 acres as C‑2 (general commercial). The vote cleared the application to proceed in the annexation process, but it does not finalize building permits or subdivision approvals.

The decision follows public comment from Jeremy Davis, vice chair of the Moses Lake Municipal Airport Commission, who told the council the property at the southwest corner of Wheeler Road and Road L NE lies inside the Moses Lake Municipal Airport overlay district and could conflict with airport safety rules. "The property is located within Zone 6," Davis said, citing the overlay, "which permits densities of one unit per five acres and should be reviewed to ensure there will not be a height hazard, smoke, glare, electronic interference, wildlife attractant or other airspace hazards." He asked council and staff to review the overlay rules and related materials before moving the development further.

Planning staff described the AMJ item before the council as a technical revision to an earlier motion to accept the annexation petition and comprehensive plan designations. Vivian (planning staff) said the motion being considered was a completion of the earlier action: the northern portion remained commercial and the southern portion should be designated low‑density residential as shown in the comprehensive plan. Councilmember Lombardi moved the revision; the motion passed with the council voting in favor.

Council members and staff discussed next steps if the annexation and later development proposals run into airport overlay restrictions. Planning staff noted that overlay concerns typically are enforced at building permit stage and that the city and developer can use development agreements or permit conditions to clarify allowable uses and avoid conflicts. Staff also said the annexation acceptance is a process step and that detailed review of zoning restrictions, including the airport overlay, would occur later in land‑use review.

Davis said he had documents — including a June 24, 2022 Department of Aviation letter to a previous applicant — that recommend adding title notices to inform prospective buyers of aircraft noise and other impacts, and he offered to provide those documents to staff. Council members asked staff to ensure developers are aware of overlay restrictions and agreed the city should follow up with applicants so development proposals account for airport safety requirements.

The council’s action on the AMJ application authorizes the annexation process to continue with the revised comprehensive plan designations; it does not approve parcels for immediate development. Council and staff said they would continue coordination with planning and airport stakeholders as the annexation and any subsequent applications move forward.