City staff recommends approval of Goodwill thrift store and employment center at Wigley Drive

City of Pasco planning staff recommended approval July 9 for a special permit requested by Goodwill Industries of the Columbia to construct a thrift retail store and an employment/support services center at 7511 Wigley Drive.

Planner Aaron Gunderson described the site as a roughly 4.96‑acre parcel in C‑1 retail business zoning. The proposal includes roughly 41,000 square feet of retail and support space and an adjacent 10,500 square‑foot area for potential future offices. Gunderson said the site meets off‑street parking requirements for the proposed uses, and he noted a previous Goodwill special permit at the same location had lapsed because building permits were not pulled in the time required by the earlier approval.

Gunderson said staff re‑evaluated the environmental checklist and concluded the original Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance remained applicable because changes since 2020 were minimal and previously required mitigations (traffic impact analysis and archaeological discovery protocol) have been satisfied. Recommended conditions include public‑works improvements (Road 76 to city standards), ADA ramp upgrades if necessary, interior storage rules (no outside storage except in screened areas), and signage discouraging after‑hours donations at outdoor drop boxes.

Jeff Madison, representing Goodwill, testified the facility would ‘‘provide 30 new jobs’’ and serve as a workforce center offering job placement assistance, training, mock interviews, short‑term certificate classes and other services. Madison said Goodwill has recently partnered with area employers to source staff and that the organization will contribute to street improvements identified in the city’s transportation plan.

No speakers appeared in opposition at the hearing. The examiner received staff exhibits into the record and closed the evidentiary record for the Goodwill special permit item.