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Pasco hearing examiner hears amendment to used‑car lot special permit; staff clarifies scope, applicant agrees to storage‑only limit
Summary
The hearing examiner took testimony Sept. 10 on SP2025‑012, a major amendment to an existing special permit at 1424 West Fourth Avenue to add an approximately 4,000‑square‑foot shop for vehicle storage. Staff corrected report square‑footage errors and said the permit covers storage only; the examiner will issue a written decision within 10 working
The City of Pasco hearing examiner on Sept. 10 heard SP2025‑012, an application to amend a special permit for an existing used‑car dealership at 1424 West Fourth Avenue (parcel 112011019) to add an approximately 4,000‑square‑foot shop for storage of vehicles.
Aaron Gutterson, Planner II and project manager for the special permit, told the hearing there were minor corrections to the staff report: the property is an existing used car dealership (not vacant), the office space is approximately 2,158 square feet, and the correct total square footage figure in the staff findings is about 6,158 square feet. Gutterson summarized the proposal as a major amendment to Special Permit SP2017020 and said staff recommended approval with conditions.
Gutterson presented site details: the parcel is about 0.91 acres (approximately 39,755.56 square feet), has access from West Court Street and North Fourth Avenue, and is within a commercial land use designation. He said the project is exempt from SEPA under the cited WAC exemption and described the standard conditions staff recommends, including limiting the permit to the parcel and requiring substantial conformity with the submitted site and building plans.
Applicant Manuel Mendoza testified under oath and said he and his family operate the dealership and seek to build the shop for storage and to support their business. Mendoza said, “I agree” when asked if he accepted the conditions read into the record. He also told the examiner the shop would not be used for mechanical or body work. Staff confirmed that the amendment under review authorizes storage only and does not permit mechanical or body work without subsequent review or an additional permit: “At this point they're basically limited to storage,” a staff member said.
Staff outlined proposed conditions of approval: the permit applies to parcel 112011019 and any subsequent subdivisions thereof; the site plan must be developed in substantial conformity with the approved site plan and building plans; changes in the use or increased intensity may require additional review or a new special permit; and the applicant must comply with federal, state and local zoning, building, fire and safety codes.
No members of the public in the hearing room offered testimony on this item. The hearing examiner closed the public record and said he would issue a written decision within 10 working days.
Why it matters: The proposal would allow the existing dealership to add an enclosed storage/shop area behind the lot. Staff emphasized the amendment is limited to storage; more intensive automotive activities would require further permitting. The permit conditions tie future changes to additional review and code compliance.
Next steps: The hearing examiner will issue a written decision within 10 working days and will include findings and conditions if the permit is approved.
