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Kennewick council approves zone change on South Union Street to allow broader commercial uses
Summary
The Kennewick City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance COZ2025-03 on June 17, rezoning three lots on South Union Street from Commercial Neighborhood (CN) to Commercial Community (CC) to permit uses including indoor RV storage and potential small retail, per the applicant's preliminary plans.
The Kennewick City Council on June 17 voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance COZ2025-03, changing zoning for property on South Union Street from Commercial Neighborhood (CN) to Commercial Community (CC).
The application, submitted by Paul Knutson of Knutson Engineering on behalf of the Ford Group, covers roughly 3.81 acres and includes three separate lots illustrated in staff materials. Staff and the planning commission concluded the application met the findings required for a change of zone; the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.
City staff explained the distinction between CN and CC zoning: CN typically supports smaller, service‑oriented uses for surrounding neighborhoods (for example laundromats or small retail), while CC allows more intense, larger‑scale commercial and retail uses. The applicant indicated preliminary plans that could include indoor RV storage behind the frontage and a small strip‑mall style retail area facing Union Street; no detailed site plan had been submitted to the council for final development approval.
Council members asked about traffic and access near the library crossing on Union Street; staff said specific traffic and access controls would be evaluated when a development application is submitted, including access control and potential right‑in/right‑out measures.
The council adopted the ordinance by motion. The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous, 6–0.
Why it matters: Rezoning will make the subject property a permitted conforming commercial use under the CC designation; the applicants said the change would bring a previously nonconforming use into compliance and allow potential development consistent with the city's review processes.
Key participants and roles at the hearing included the applicant (Paul Knutson of Knutson Engineering), staff (Mr. Donovan presented the staff report), the Ford Group (owner), and the planning commission, which had recommended approval.
