Richland hearing examiner hears rezone and 74‑lot preliminary plat for Estates at White Bluffs; record left open for follow‑up

Gary McLean, the City of Richland hearing examiner, conducted an open‑record public hearing on a site‑specific rezone application and an associated preliminary plat for a development called the Estates at White Bluffs. The rezone request is to change roughly 29.2 acres from suburban agricultural to R‑1‑10 (single‑family residential, 10,000 sq. ft. average lots). The preliminary plat application, submitted by Story Family 5, LLC and represented by Nathan Machiella, seeks approval to divide the property into 74 residential lots and several tracts for infrastructure and open space.

Staff planning manager Mike Stevens told the examiner that the proposed R‑1‑10 zoning is consistent with the city’s low‑density residential comprehensive plan designation and recommended the rezone. Stevens urged that the rezone be considered before final action on the preliminary plat because the plat design assumes the R‑1‑10 standards. Stevens said agencies reviewed the project and that the applicant addressed prior Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife comments by hiring a biological consultant and proposing mitigation for shrub‑steppe habitat.

The applicant’s…